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John N. Felsher's Bird Hunting Adventures
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Early September dove opener
kicks off annual Southern tradition
kicks off annual Southern tradition
Alan Clemons takes a shot at some September doves and shows off a
few birds he killed while hunting at Mallard Manor in northern
Mississippi. The early September dove opener traditionally kicks off
hunting seasons across the South.
few birds he killed while hunting at Mallard Manor in northern
Mississippi. The early September dove opener traditionally kicks off
hunting seasons across the South.
Although some seasons begin earlier, the September dove opener
traditionally marks the beginning of a new hunting season across the South.
In many places, dove hunting evolved into the major social event of the
early fall. Families and friends gather to walk the fields, followed by a
cookout later that evening. Many sportsmen, though, only hunt doves on
opening day and forget about them for the remainder of the season.
Most people in the South hunt mourning doves and Eurasian collared
doves. An exotic species native to south Asia, Eurasian collared doves
spread to Europe and the British Isles. Introduced into the Bahamas in the
1970s, they arrived in Florida during the 1980s. From there, they spread
across much of the southern United States.
Slim and small with a long tail that tapers to a point, a mourning dove
shows black spots on its upper wings with brown above the wings and a
pinkish tint below. The flapping wings produce a distinctive fluttering
whoosh.
Generally much bigger than mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves
grow nearly as large as pigeons. The distinctive grayish-black collars
around their necks and a squared tail provide the best identifying features
on lighter-colored collared doves.
Both species feed upon a variety of seeds, including sunflower, millet
and corn. They often visit the same fields and sometimes flock together,
although collared doves often live in more urban areas. People may see
both around grain bins and barns.
Doves must drink every day. People frequently see them around
streams, stock tanks or gravel ponds. They often ingest small pebbles that
help them crack and digest hard seeds. A place with scrubby brush located
near a feeding field with access to a pond containing a gravel bar or a
sandy bank might provide an excellent place to wait for doves.
Swift and erratic, doves make challenging targets, although hunting
them does not require excessive effort. People can hunt doves primarily in
two ways. One, wait for them in a likely place. Two, jump them.
Sometimes, sportsmen can combine both activities.
A highly social activity, people do not need to remain silent, although
keeping still and hidden when doves approach helps. A group of hunters
can spread out around the edges of a field to stake out good areas and
wait for birds to fly over them. Dressed in camouflage and holding
shotguns loaded with number 7.5 or 8 shot, they wait in cover. A timber or
brush line along a good field might offer an excellent place to intercept
doves as they fly from roosting and feeding areas.
Sitting on a comfortable chair in a good location could create an
excellent opportunity to expose children to bird hunting. People can also
keep a nearby ice chest filled with snacks and drinks to increase the
comfort. In early season, temperatures usually soar into the 90s across
much of the South, so dove hunters need to drink plenty of liquids.
For people too impatient to wait for birds to fly over them, jumping doves
might present an option. People could walk through a field, hoping to flush
birds from thick cover. Sportsmen can also walk slowly through areas of
low scattered brush or scan treetops and wires for sitting doves. Usually,
birds erupt from the trees with a whistling clatter that instantly alerts trained
ears to the presence of doves. Some doves might not fly very far, allowing
hunters to stalk and possibly jump them again.
Sportsmen can help biologists study doves. Wildlife agencies from 26
states cooperated to band a number of doves in diverse places to
determine harvest and survival rates plus geographic distribution. Anyone
bagging a banded dove should report it by calling (800) 327-BAND (2263).
Sportsmen may also report banded birds on line at www.pwrc.usgs.gov.
traditionally marks the beginning of a new hunting season across the South.
In many places, dove hunting evolved into the major social event of the
early fall. Families and friends gather to walk the fields, followed by a
cookout later that evening. Many sportsmen, though, only hunt doves on
opening day and forget about them for the remainder of the season.
Most people in the South hunt mourning doves and Eurasian collared
doves. An exotic species native to south Asia, Eurasian collared doves
spread to Europe and the British Isles. Introduced into the Bahamas in the
1970s, they arrived in Florida during the 1980s. From there, they spread
across much of the southern United States.
Slim and small with a long tail that tapers to a point, a mourning dove
shows black spots on its upper wings with brown above the wings and a
pinkish tint below. The flapping wings produce a distinctive fluttering
whoosh.
Generally much bigger than mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves
grow nearly as large as pigeons. The distinctive grayish-black collars
around their necks and a squared tail provide the best identifying features
on lighter-colored collared doves.
Both species feed upon a variety of seeds, including sunflower, millet
and corn. They often visit the same fields and sometimes flock together,
although collared doves often live in more urban areas. People may see
both around grain bins and barns.
Doves must drink every day. People frequently see them around
streams, stock tanks or gravel ponds. They often ingest small pebbles that
help them crack and digest hard seeds. A place with scrubby brush located
near a feeding field with access to a pond containing a gravel bar or a
sandy bank might provide an excellent place to wait for doves.
Swift and erratic, doves make challenging targets, although hunting
them does not require excessive effort. People can hunt doves primarily in
two ways. One, wait for them in a likely place. Two, jump them.
Sometimes, sportsmen can combine both activities.
A highly social activity, people do not need to remain silent, although
keeping still and hidden when doves approach helps. A group of hunters
can spread out around the edges of a field to stake out good areas and
wait for birds to fly over them. Dressed in camouflage and holding
shotguns loaded with number 7.5 or 8 shot, they wait in cover. A timber or
brush line along a good field might offer an excellent place to intercept
doves as they fly from roosting and feeding areas.
Sitting on a comfortable chair in a good location could create an
excellent opportunity to expose children to bird hunting. People can also
keep a nearby ice chest filled with snacks and drinks to increase the
comfort. In early season, temperatures usually soar into the 90s across
much of the South, so dove hunters need to drink plenty of liquids.
For people too impatient to wait for birds to fly over them, jumping doves
might present an option. People could walk through a field, hoping to flush
birds from thick cover. Sportsmen can also walk slowly through areas of
low scattered brush or scan treetops and wires for sitting doves. Usually,
birds erupt from the trees with a whistling clatter that instantly alerts trained
ears to the presence of doves. Some doves might not fly very far, allowing
hunters to stalk and possibly jump them again.
Sportsmen can help biologists study doves. Wildlife agencies from 26
states cooperated to band a number of doves in diverse places to
determine harvest and survival rates plus geographic distribution. Anyone
bagging a banded dove should report it by calling (800) 327-BAND (2263).
Sportsmen may also report banded birds on line at www.pwrc.usgs.gov.
