All right Tucker, I'm prepared to eat crow (or dove as the case may be)

[jethro]

Since you appear to be the resident southeast dove hunting expert, would you, or anyone else for that matter, care to enlighten me on the best way to get on these things, this time of year?

As we speak, the wires over the bean fields are saturated with about three dozen fat ones, and I cannot seem to predict when they will be flying in or out, based on weather (rain or sun, hot or cold), or time of day.  Trying to sneak up on them only begets a flurry of whistling wings that I would need a turkey choke on an 8 gauge to reach.

Any words of wisdom?   

When do you go out, time wise? 
How long do you set out?
How does the weather affect things?
How do you know if things are going to be productive?
Do you set in a blind or camo'd position?
Amount of orange?


The wife has agreed to cook anything I kill, and I've got two weeks left in the season to put squab on the table.

Thanks!

jc

[pdog06]

.Shoot them while they're on the wires. That always gives guys like me in that line of business lots of work   IT HAS HAPPENED. Once while I was in the aerial bucket only 300ft from the doves they were shooting at

The church across the street from my work has 100 or so on the roof every afternoon. Very tempting sometimes

[jethro]

I have seriously contemplated what 7-1/2 shot would do to that heavy duty electric line that powers my home. 

I have determined that its not worth the ribbing I would get from my wife. 

[Eric in NC]

The best is to have a field where a friendly farmer left a few rows of corn for you to hide in when he harvested the field.  Other than that, edge of field in the bushes.  As far as times and directions - sunrise and late evening have always worked best for me and directions, you just have to watch and figure out their patterns.

Next year grow some "bait" where you want to hunt them!

[big honkin jeep]

One of my favorite pastimes,
Preferably get a couple of buddys in the field with you to keep em flying.Find a spot  near the wires. (they are like highway for the birds they follow em) No orange for cryin out loud, Camo helps but I've seen guys in white t shirts and jeans do OK if they are still.A blind is not necessary if you're still but a lot of guys will get beside a pole along the wires along the edge of a field or beside a haybale to break up their silhouette. Make yourself comfortable,be STILL(very important) and wait. If you have a water hole or a source of grit (fine sand/sand bar the birds need it for their gizzards to digest the seeds they eat) they will come to it in the evenings.(great spot for 1 or 2 guys) I usually do best early in the morning or late in the evening when they are flying in to feed or flying out to get water, grit and to roost.If you're seein birds it should be productive. If you see a pattern as to how they are coming in thats a good spot to be.
Good luck and remember when it comes to dove shooting the more the merrier (Within reason)
BHJ
 PS.here are a couple of my favorite memories
I met this kid and his uncle on a WMA. I dont remember their names but it reminds me of being out there with my grandaddy with my old single shot.


I met this guy I remember he was a plumber at a church fund raiser but I don't remember his name. His dog was named Coco and had been hit by a car. Coco didn't get around very good (slow and stiff) but loved to retrieve so my brother and I let him retrieve every bird we shot. A great old dog.

[JCalhoun]

Good pics. 

[jethro]

BIRD DOWN!

got one late morning yesterday before the high wind warning popped up here.  I was standing next to the pole. Just went out with the 20 ga single shot and two shells about 9:00 to see if it would work.

And yes, I missed with the other shell.

Need to be out at dawn in order to see the real action I suppose - about 2-3 dozen left the trees after I shot.

Need a double barrel also.

I would have to say the the farm could probably support 4 or 5 hunter's safely.  Might have to plan a get together next year after the corn's been picked.

Thanks guys.

[jethro]

Next year grow some "bait" where you want to hunt them!

According to the "man", I can't dump a bag of corn to attract birds, but for some odd reason, a whole field of corn grown for agricultural purposes is not bait.

Strange.

This next planting season, the farmer plants corn. 

[big honkin jeep]

Just be sure the farmer uses the OLD combine when he harvests. You know, the one with a couple of teeth missing at the bottom.
BHJ