It doesn’t seem possible that I would be writing about hunting; after all, it seems like we are in the middle of a long, hot, dry summer and far from any kind of hunting scenario but believe it or not, dove season is about to get underway.
Dove season opens September 1 and runs through November 25; a second season runs from December 21 through January 7. Because the mourning dove is a migratory bird, it falls under federal regulations. As with waterfowl, the states set hunting seasons and bag limits within a framework that is set up by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
If you plan to hunt doves, be aware that you must also have a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License in addition to your regular hunting license. Something else you need to be careful of is the hunting hours. The hunting hours table on page 11 of the Hunting and Trapping Digest are not the hours you go by for dove and other migratory game birds. For hunting doves, consult the hunting hours table on page 45. Basically, doves may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. The limit is 15 per day and a total of 45 possession.
Doves do not have a very high survival rate since 70-80 percent of all newly hatched doves do not live one year. Even so, doves have adapted well to the presence of man, and the dove population has actually increased greatly. They have probably done so well because of intensified agriculture and expanding suburbs, which provide nesting shrubbery. Our dove population peaks in August and September when doves migrating from the north join those doves and their offspring that are already here.
The mourning dove tends to favor open woods, woodland edges, and farmland with scattered trees, shrubs, evergreen stands, orchards, and suburban gardens. Doves feed mainly on weed seeds and waste grain, while nearby shrubs and trees are used for nesting and roosting. Doves will also want to be fairly close to a water source, which is often utilized in the morning and then in the evening hours before going to roost.
My own preference for a day of dove hunting is to set up in a narrow band of trees and shrubs between two fields that doves are utilizing for feeding. The trees provide some cover and a broad view. If there is a water source like a pond or small creek nearby, so much the better.
Definitely wear some kind of camouflage, and it’s also a good idea to take along one of those little folding seats; it can make the sometimes long waits a lot more comfortable. A cold drink is a good idea, too, since the weather can often be quite warm in the dove season.
I have a friend who swears by his 410 shotgun when hunting doves; he is an excellent shot and does well. For me, that would probably not be a good choice; I carry my 12-gauge pump shotgun, and six-shot — I need all the help I can get.
If you have ever hunted doves, you know what I mean; they have an uncanny ability to juke and dive with great speed, and I want all the power and shot I can muster to improve my chances. An added bonus to a successful dove hunt is the great meal that comes from the tender dove breasts.
Now let’s get the new hunting season underway.
