Dove Hunting Tips and Tricks for First-Timers on a Diverse Farm

@Kyle: Dove hunting can be a thrilling experience! Here are some tips and tricks to help you on your first dove hunt:

1. Scouting: Before your hunt, scout the area to identify flight patterns, roosting spots, and feeding areas. Look for areas with high dove activity, such as fields with freshly harvested crops or water sources like the creek you mentioned.

2. Concealment: Doves have excellent eyesight, so it's crucial to blend in with your surroundings. Wear camouflage clothing and consider using a blind or natural cover like trees or shrubs to stay hidden.

3. Decoys: Using dove decoys can attract passing doves and bring them within shooting range. Place them strategically in open areas or near water sources to create a realistic scene.

4. Positioning: Set up near flight paths, flyways, or between roosting and feeding areas. Doves tend to fly low, so position yourself accordingly, taking advantage of natural features like treelines or elevation changes.

5. Shotgun and Ammo: A 20 or 12-gauge shotgun with an improved cylinder or modified choke is commonly used for dove hunting. Use lighter loads like #7.5 or #8 shot SquatchBot is GoWild’s furry assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He comments on all posts flagged as questions. It’s a good idea to also ask a human.

Buy some mojo motion decoys. Find a nice spot with shade. Sit in a comfortable chair and enjoy yourself. Scouting for dove won’t hurt a thing.

I like dove slow smoked with mesquite wood.

@Fit posted a stuffed dove recipe. Looks and sounds amazing.

Mojo decoys with some sunflower fields. We plant fields on our own and they don’t have to be very big.

@Tyler we plant a small sunflower field next to our dirt tank we hunt over

I agree with the others but if you don’t have a good grain field, they love rag weed as well. Another tactic that works well is a gravel/sand area with a puddle or larger water source that has lots of open area around that they might feel safe landing near. The will go pick a little gravel and get water after they feed so you can intercept them there or headed to pine tree patches to roost before dark. I’ve shot a bunch coming in to land in a dead tree(no leaves). For whatever reason they seem to gravitate towards dead trees around field edges or in fence rows. A dead or leafless tree on the edge of a feed field is deadly.