September 1st was the opening day of this years 60 day season and reports are looking good. Not only are the numbers up for our group, but the state is reporting larger than usual numbers of dove over public dove fields.
Dove hunting is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing hunting sports in Oklahoma. There is always some fast action available, it’s a sport that can be enjoyed by both adults and their kids, and you don’t have to travel very far to hunt. All you need is a grain field and you will find the doves. In fact, the State of Oklahoma has several fields in the WMA’s set up just for dove hunting. Check out your local WMA’s for available fields. If you hunt in the northeast as I do, Keystone is one of your best bets. They have 5 wheat fields that are managed just for doves. We took our limit within a very short time on opening morning. Skiatook has 2 fields, but they are usually packed with hunters during the earlier part of the season.
Tips for hunting doves:
1. Choose a good area with a variety of terrain when you want to hunt doves. Look for open fields with trees along the sides where the birds can roost. Look for areas where a water hole is nearby. Ponds next to these fields are attractive to doves. Find a field that has lots of wild flowers and wheat since doves are drawn to eat there.
Wear camouflage clothing to blend in with the surroundings when you hunt doves. Stay as still as possible with no sudden movements because doves are very skittish and sensitive to movement. Raise you gun to your shoulder slowly and quietly. Stand at the edge of a tree line, not out in the open.
2. Study the flight pattern and path of doves as you wait for a chance to shoot. If a flock of doves has just flown across a particular area, chances are good that another flock is shortly behind.
3. Hunt doves using a 12 gauge shotgun. Most experienced hunters use ammunition that is 3 ¼ drams and 1 1/8 oz. of number 8 shot. Most prefer to use a modified cylinder on the shotgun. For new hunters, most experts recommend using skeet chokes on the shotgun. Skeet chokes provide a wider pattern of pellets when shot, thus giving a better chance to hit more birds when you hunt doves.
Happy Hunting!
