Practice your shooting

Practice and experience will make it possible for you to get a limit of doves with less than a box of shells. Until then, be prepared to burn lots of powder and get lots of experience. Trying to get your shotgun to deliver a shot string to arrive at a location 30 yards away at the same instant your dove moving 73 feet per second flies into that spot is not easy. Before opening day is over, you will be convinced that those doves can see you pull the trigger. They can turn on a dime to go sideways or up and down as needed to dodge the BBs you have headed in their direction. They can hook a wing and do a flight maneuver that will nullify all the practice you had on the skeet range. Nothing seems to work for you anymore as the excitement of opening day has you taking shots from impossible positions with head, gun, and feet all pointing in different directions.

Sporting clays can give some preparation for what lead may be needed but doves are tricky with very slow flight speeds while hovering over a mesquite tree and mach I speed while flying downwind 45 yards high at 50 MPH. Pointing at his nose can drop the first bird but the other bird might out fly an eight foot lead.

Pattern your gun to determine its effective range. Don’t take shots at a range that will only put a couple pellets in the bird. It takes at least 3 or 4 to make a clean kill. Also, don’t turn a tasty dove into hamburger by shooting too close. Know your gun. An open choke 410 with a 24” barrel will do fine with an 18 yard shot but a full choke 12 gauge would do its best on a 40 yard high flyer. Almost any shotgun will work for dove if you first determine the effective range of the gun and the ammunition you are using. Shot size 71/2 is good for medium to long range shots using modified or full chokes. Size 8 is great for more open chokes at 20-25 yards. A Chandler Rod and Gun Club member could help by introducing you to a HE, 4H, or NRA Certified Instructor to help evaluate your gun and its effective range.

Practice and patience are your two best aids in taking an early season limit. Practice on clay targets as you would shoot at doves. Shoot targets while sitting on a stool or ice chest when you call for your target. Practice pointing your feet in the direction you are going to shoot rather than twisting your body around to the target. Patience can be a valuable asset. Take the time to get ready for a good safe shot and your chance of hitting is much better. Pick a shooting location with a level area for your feet to turn without stumbling when you adjust your shooting direction. If the bird might be too far away by the time you are ready, forget it and wait for a good shot. Lots of novice hunters take hurried shots from twisted positions and end up missing or chasing wounded birds after poor hits. Spend your time hunting, not chasing cripples. Keep focused on your predetermined safe shooting area while waiting for a good shot. This is usually a very short wait during the early season. Your patience will allow you to use what you have practiced and your reward will be more clean hits with fewer shots.

Practice your safety

Hunter Education graduates have an advantage. They have learned TAB and know how to use it. If you are not familiar with TAB, ask a HE grad or any Chandler Rod and Gun Club member.

Doves seem to enjoy confusing the hunters. About the time you have figured out their flight pattern and where you can safely shoot, one will sneak up behind you and fly away laughing as you spin around wondering where he came from. When you give up on him and turn back to the area you had planned, you see the last of a big flight going out of range just where you had predicted they would be. Don’t let the doves make you dizzy and uncomfortable with safety. Decide where the birds are flying and position yourself so you have a good safe shooting zone. Concentrate on that zone and ignore the doves trying to distract you from other angles.

Doves are experts at using cover. They will fly on the other side of your best friend, your vehicle, your dog, other hunters, their dogs, or any tree, bush etc big enough to keep your shot from reaching them. Your safety skills will be tested. Keep muzzles pointed in a safe direction, safety on, and finger off the trigger. Do not take low shots or point your gun at anything under treetop high (45 degrees). Unload your gun while chasing birds or changing locations. Take your time! Don’t be in a big hurry to fill your limit. Spending some extra hunting time in the field is not a bad thing. Let the other hunters see that you carry the gun with the action open. You will get a reputation for being a safe hunter. The respect you earn as a safe responsible hunter may just get you an invitation to share in other hunting adventures. Try to maintain safe separation from other shooters. Watch other hunters and get yourself and your dog far away from any hunter taking unsafe low shots. Close up shotgun blasts are usually fatal. A load of birdshot at 50 yards would be painful but probably survivable.

Dove Hunting Field Needs

An experienced dove shooter will need a box of shells to get a limit. A novice shooter will need 4 or 5 boxes that will not guarantee a limit. Gusty winds or highflying birds will make shooting much more difficult and you may need double the ordinary number of shells. An extra box of shells can earn sincere gratitude. A bird vest is inexpensive and makes it easy to carry downed birds, ample ammunition, water bottles, dog water spray bottle, etc. White pants and shirts tend to flare incoming birds. Brown and camo are popular with some item(s) in blaze orange for safety. Ear and eye protection are necessary. It is not uncommon to be ‘dusted’ by falling shot, which would be dangerous if it fell into an unprotected eye.

Take a few extras like first aid supply, extra extra water, towrope, jumpers, trash bags, roll of paper towels, etc. Make sure your first aid kit includes tweezers or pliers to pull cactus needles. A folding table to hold cleaning materials and hunting gear is sure handy. Folding stools beat standing or dragging a cooler around for a seat.

Maps, GPS, compass, and written directions are usually necessary to determine exact location and verify permission to hunt. If private land, have written permission or know where the owner can be found to verify that you have permission to hunt. The maps will help find an alternative location if ‘no hunting’ signs have gone up overnight. Start your range clean up when you arrive. Your filled trash bags speak well for you to the landowner or wildlife manager who may visit your hunting site.

Dove Hunting Necessary Extras

Your ‘necessary extras’ checklist must include your current hunting license with the AZ migratory bird stamp (not the state and/or federal waterfowl stamp) with signature. Ice and containers to keep your cleaned birds cool and dry with a feathered wing attached are necessary to safeguard the meat until you get home

Bring water. Bring some more water for your vehicle. Bring some more extra water for your dog, your companions, and their dogs. This water supply will be adequate for hunting farm areas close to town. Hunting the more remote desert areas requires additional water. Water on your dogs back and the outside of the ears can help them survive the heat. Make frequent use of your dog water spray bottle. Washing lead and blood off your hands and arms is a health necessity. Washing salty perspiration off your face and neck before leaving the hunting area feels like pure luxury. But it all takes water.

Prime time for doves is also prime time for snakes. After sunrise, they will most often be found in the shade of rocks or near the base of desert vegetation. Look before reaching under bushes or between rocks for downed birds. High boots and thick pants are recommended but for extra protection consider snake proof chaps. The chaps are great when cooler quail season arrives and you plan a hunt in bushy snake habitat. Conventional leather hunting boots provide much better protection against snakes and cactus than tennis shoes.

DEET is the best defense against West Nile Virus and a must for personal comfort if you are hunting in an area near standing water. A long sleeve light cotton shirt is good protection for bugs including bees and almost as cool as a short sleeved shirt.

Sunscreen may not be needed if birds are plentiful, your aim is good, and you are on the way home with your limit iced down an hour after sunrise. However, you may get stuck, discover a gold mine, or otherwise delay you departure so have some sunscreen at hand. A big straw hat is good desert camo and great sun protection.

Dog control is essential for the safety of the dog and your hunting enjoyment. Have a leash and any other necessary tools as may be needed to control your dog. Your dog should work for you and not interfere with other dogs and hunters. Some leash time can help a young dog get thru the initial excitement of a season opening hunt with lots of other dogs, birds, and shooting sounds. Continuous yelling of commands to a dog running loose will not earn favorable attention or an invitation to another hunt. Dogs, companions, and their dogs are all part of the hunting experience. Be prepared for your needs and stay alert to the needs of your hunting companions. Make it a pleasurable outing that forms the basis for many more future hunting trips.

Enjoy your time in the Great Outdoors.

Tom Slaughter 070504r1