I was taught at a young age that if I wanted to kill doves, I had to be a good shot, and to hunt in and around sunflower and other grain fields. Because that was what my father taught me, I did not think there was any other way. Well, over the years, my thought process has changed a little.
A hunter still has to be a good shot in order to kill one of the acrobatic flyers, and grain fields are still very good areas to hunt. But I’ve learned that rivers are also good areas to hunt near, especially the gravel bars associated with rivers.
What makes up a good gravel bar? A few things are a must, such as sunflower or grain fields in close proximity to the gravel bar. Of course, sunflower fields are the favorite among many hunters, but these fields are few and far between unless they are specifically planted for attracting doves.
Before season rolls around, scout the area for fields by driving backroads or floating a canoe down the river. While driving country roads within a mile or two of the river, pay attention to what crops are planted and whether or not doves are working the fields. Keep note of what you see.
If you find birds, ask the landowner permission to hunt. If the birds head towards the river at night, all you need to do is figure out which gravel bar they’re going to.
If you decide to float a canoe down the river to do some scouting, don’t forget to take your fishing pole. Consider taking to the water a few days before the season opens, and find the bars the doves are using. Because you will not find every grain field during your scouting, the best way to find doves is by being at the bars when the doves show up.
Scouting with a canoe is great because you can easily locate gravel bars and fields the birds are feeding in, and you’ll enjoy the relaxation you get while canoeing.
So the question remains: Why are gravel bars so attractive to doves? There are four things doves need: food, water, grit, and sleep. A gravel bar has water, grit, and a place to sleep. Food is often very near.
Doves use grit to grind their food in their gizzard. Large sand grains and tiny weathered rocks found along gravel bars are perfect for doves to use as grit.
I can’t think of a better place for doves to get water than from a river. Another great thing about rivers is that they normally have plenty of cottonwood, oak, and willow trees for the birds to roost in.
If you’ve ever hunted doves before, you know that they hardly ever fly a straight line. Instead, they look like a roller coaster flying through the air, going up and down, side to side.
Avoid chokes that shoot a tight pattern. Full and modified chokes are too tight when hunting these acrobatic birds. You will hit more doves with an improved cylinder or even a skeet choke. It does not take a big shot to bring a small dove to the ground. Number 8 or 9 are both good shot sizes.
Try to set up on gravel bars a couple of hours before dusk. You can do this alone, but if you have some hunting partners with you, it will be easier to cover more ground. Plus, it’s fun to hunt with others.
Always dress in head-to-toe camouflage, and take a seat. A five-gallon bucket with a lid and seat cushion is all you need. However, a better choice might be a bucket with a rotating seat that will let you shoot in a 360-degree radius without having to stand up. Always position your seat in an area that will conceal your outline and movement.
It’s best to hunt in the evening as the birds come in to get the grit and water before heading to the roost. Early in the morning, there are very few birds needing water and grit. Midday is when birds will be in the shade or feeding.
Dove season might still be a few weeks away, but now is the time to start scouting for gravel bars. Take a leisurely drive in the evening with your family, or put your boat or canoe on the river along with a rod and reel. And search out the gravel bars the doves are using. You might soon think of dove hunting as more than just sunflowers and birds.
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