2023 dove hunting thread

[Nick87]

Packing up the truck now for tomorrow morning. Every thing from the dog to coolers to red ryders. Sure was a lot easier when I was younger... a gun, some shells and a bucket to sit on. Good luck guys and post some pics up here. @mtmiller try to down play the pics a little you make everyone else's camera phone look like shit .

 

[Dave N]

FINALLY bought my hunting license today! No doves were seen when I got home.

 

[Jbotto]

I won’t be going out tomorrow. I gotta be at work for a bit and then one last weekend of yard work awaits. I’ve been watching a few fields on my drive and I think I have a few spots picked out for next weekend!

 

[millerkiller77]

Huge weather shift in my area. 25° temp drop over two days and rain inbound, the birds aren't moving as normal.
Dove migration patterns has been on a steady detour/ decline for quite a few years and "hunter" pressure has equally increased. Thankfully, most dove hunters don't have the wherewithal to pursue Chukkar so they seem to be thriving and expanding.

 

[Nick87]

Anybody else out today?

 

[JEL]

We had lots of doves around all summer but they seem to have moved on for the most part. Seeing few to none now. Not worth the effort here.

 

[JShane]

This is the part of the season where I know how you guys feel about me in January.

 

[Nick87]

 

[Birdbander]

Drove to Indiana to join friends for our annual dove hunt (no season in Michigan). Yesterday's opener was a bust, they just weren't flying in our area. Hit managed government ground today. Lots of birds flying but only a small portion within range for us. Two of us ended with 9 apiece. Tomorrow will be a morning & afternoon hunt then finish up with a morning hunt Monday. I'm thankful I'll be heading home with at least one meal for my wife and I.

 

[Nick87]

Drove to Indiana to join friends for our annual dove hunt (no season in Michigan). Yesterday's opener was a bust, they just weren't flying in our area. Hit managed government ground today. Lots of birds flying but only a small portion within range for us. Two of us ended with 9 apiece. Tomorrow will be a morning & afternoon hunt then finish up with a morning hunt Monday. I'm thankful I'll be heading home with at least one meal for my wife and I.View attachment 290524

Nice!

 

[brymoore]

Son and I have shot and ate a few dove and pigeons.

 

[Dave N]

Now I know why I never saw any! You guys shot them all!

 

[Nick87]

 

[wihunter12]

Hunted for a couple hours this morning, got a few doves and a bonus teal.

 

[Sawtooth]

Went out for the last two hours of the day with my son yesterday. Not many birds were flying with a cold front and rain on the way. I shot 9 and my son got 8. This morning was overcast and about the same as yesterday. My buddy and I each shot nine.

 

[Nick87]

Went out for the last two hours of the day with my son yesterday. Not many birds were flying with a cold front and rain on the way. I shot 9 and my son got 8. This morning was overcast and about the same as yesterday. My buddy and I each shot nine.

Those are still pretty solid numbers imo.

 

[Sawtooth]

The past few years we have had quite a few of the invasive eurasian collared dove in our hunting area. Often making up three fourths of our bag, and no limit on this invasive species, we were averaging 15-25 birds a day. For some reason, this year's numbers are much lower. I shot three last night and two this morning. The photo below was from 2020.

 

[nontyp]

I took my kids out on friday afternoon. We had never hunted doves before. Man it’s a fun time especially if you bring your kids along. There were probably 10 guns hunting this public field and I'm sure everyone limited out.

 

[Black_Squirrel]

Slow for us. A lot of birds feeding on private, not many on/near the public.

 

[WildWill]

My group shot a few.