Outdoors Angle: Prepare For The Dove Season

Steve Carney Outdoors
Steve Carney Outdoors

The Flag Outdoors Expert Steve Carney has your weekly Outdoors Angle right here!

     I absolutely love dove hunting! This is a sport that has gained popularity during the last decade or so and hunters really enjoy this prolific and sporting bird that is a real challenge on the wing. The southern United States have had dove seasons for decades while here in the midwest we are on our 10th season.

     The key to a successful dove hunt is finding a grain field. The proliferation of corn and soybean fields have made grain fields such as milo, oats and wheat tough to come by. Many farmers have converted from grain to corn and beans because of the obvious price advantage. If you can obtain permission on a grain field, you can bet the doves will be concentrated because their options are limited.

     Early mornings and late evenings are prime time. Doves make a couple of forays into the grain fields during the early morning hours and then one last feeding period around an hour before dusk. I enjoy using decoys to get the birds to at least slow down and take a look. They can get up to speeds of 55 MPH on the wing which makes for a challenging wingshot.

Steve Carney is The Flag WZFG Outdoors expert. He can be heard every Thursday morning at 8:05 on AM 1100 and 92.3 FM WZFG. Check out his weekly podcast on am1100theflag.com and hear his Outdoors Angle reports every Friday on AM 1100 and 92.3 FM WZFG. You can also visit stevecarneyoutdoors.com for more information.