FML Outdoors.com

Good Eats!

Back in September, 2008, Minnesota opened the first Dove hunting season. At that time, my daughter was 10-years old. September is a great time of year to get young children expose to the sport of hunting (especially before cold weather sets-in).

Now just think…You don’t have to:

• Wake up at 4:30 a.m.
• Fight for a spot in the cattails.
• Invest in a boat, motor and trailer
• Freeze your butt for one lonely Teal or Wood Duck

Simply stand in a grassy field or along a fence or wooded treeline. I use dove decoys. Clip them to a wire strung between two conduit poles or find a barbed wire fence or tree branch (make sure the fence isn’t electrified!) The decoys are much smaller and cheaper than duck decoys!

Doves will fly solo and in larger groups once migrating, which allows for some great shooting. Oh…and did I say they were fast?

Look for areas between small grain (wheat, sunflowers, switchgrass) and ponds. Gravel pits are a strong attraction because Doves eat grit to help digest the little seeds. They will travel between these areas starting around 9 – 10 a.m. then again after 3 p.m. until sunset.

Yes, it takes a few Doves to make a meal. I like to serve them as appetizers before a four-course meal of Pheasant, Grouse and Venison!