Dove Hunting Tips

September is right around the corner and that means dove hunting all across the country will be opening. Be sure to spend a little bit of time scouting just prior to opening day to find roosts, feeding fields and waterholes. Places that are holding doves late in August should still produce birds in early September. Another thing to scout for is flyways that the doves are using consistently to travel between roost, feed and waterholes.

Water Holes
Early and late in the day, I make sure that I am sitting at a water hole. One key thing to remember is that doves decoy just like waterfowl do, and full body style dove decoys seem to work the best…. use a lot of them. Once your decoys are out it’s as simple as wearing camouflage and waiting. If you’ve done your homework and you’re sitting a waterhole that the doves are using the doves will come. *By the way, early in the season I prefer to shoot trap/skeet load.

Tree & Field Edges
If you can find a field edge with some trees that the doves are using as a roost, you’ve hit jackpot! I’ve had situations here in Idaho when I’ve had my limit within minutes. A good roost on the edge of a field is one of my favorite places to dove hunt. As with most hunting, scouting can pay huge dividends once you start actually hunting.

That’s pretty much it. Doves are fairly simple and straight forward to hunt, but they are one of the most challenging birds to shoot. They fly erratically and they are fast. They can embarrass the best of shooters. After a few days of dove hunting, shooting for other game birds will seem easy. They’re a great way to start the season.

We have good dove hunting here in the states, but if you really want to experience some incredible dove hunting you need to plan a trip to Mexico or Argentina. The dove hunting at either of these places will blow your mind!