Learn to Hunt Dove

Mourning Dove ID: All About Birds - Mourning Doves

Eurasian Collared-Dove ID: ​All About Birds - Eurasian Collared-Doves

The "Mourning" and "Eurasian Collared" are two primary dove species in Kentucky. They both have unique traits that make it easy to distinguish between them. Eurasian collared doves resemble mourning doves but possess a black slash across the back of their necks. Mourning doves also typically have pointed tails and black spots on their back. There is no limit on Eurasian doves (leave head and/or wing on during transport for ID). However, hunters should stop after reaching the 15-bird daily limit of mourning doves because the two species cannot be easily distinguished on the wing.

Most hunters concentrate on areas where the doves feed. Their diet is almost exclusively seeds. Weed and grass seeds are supplemented by waste grain from farming operations. Having feet designed for perching, not scratching, they look for their food on standing plants or on the surface of the soil. While some seeds may seem preferred at a given time, the dove primarily takes advantage of the present-day opportunity and frequently changes their feeding location.

Doves typically need to visit water twice daily. Rain puddles and heavy dew may suffice during wet periods but will go to streams or ponds for water. The best watering locations will include mud flats or sandbars, where the birds can sit in the open to get water without ambush cover for ground-based predators.

Doves prefer the forest canopy as their shelter, and most nests are found here. However, they may be seen as ground nesters in some locations, vulnerable to more predators. In the natural world, doves are the prey of many animals, from hawks that catch them in flight to snakes (primarily raiders of nests) and wild or feral cats.

While the mourning dove is primarily a migratory species, some individuals may be less inclined to migrate from the south during the spring or to the south in the fall. Typically, they gather in flocks during late summer, and most flocks depart to the south with the first cold weather. The failure to migrate south in the fall creates problems during severe winters, as the birds do not have enough fat reserves to survive repeated cold days and cannot scratch through snow to find food.

Hunting Safety

Dove shoots typically involve several hunters shooting over a small area. Stay at least 50 yards apart to create space between hunting groups. Never shoot at low-flying birds. Make sure you can see the sky behind your targeted bird. By shooting only the high birds, incidents will be avoided. These high flyers sometimes present the most challenging shots for the shooter.

 

Use a Retriever

Ethical hunters strive to retrieve every bird. When birds fly in large flocks, the hunter may be able to down more than one bird at a time. A well-trained retrieval dog can assist the hunter in finding crippled and dead birds. It is recommended that the birds be retrieved as soon as there is an opportunity. They can then be laid in the shade to cool, plus an accurate count toward the limit can be maintained.

Shoot only High Birds

Dove shoots typically have several hunters shooting over a small area. By shooting only the high birds, incidents will be avoided. These high flyers also offer the most challenging shots for the shooter.

Most hunters report using only the dove's breast. They split the skin on the breast, peel it back, and cut the breast out of the bird. Some hunters prefer to pick (or pluck) the feathers off the complete bird and eat wings, legs, and breasts. To remove the entrails from a picked bird, it is recommended to split their back for easy access to the small body cavity. Birds that have been picked may either be cooked whole or in halves.

Doves do not need to be cleaned in the field, as their body heat is lost due to the small size of the body. However, it can be done when doves are not flying if you prefer to pick them. Cutting out the breast or removing entrails is usually done after the shooting is complete and the gun will no longer be handled. If birds are cleaned in the field, it is a simple courtesy for the landowner to bury or carry out the feathers and entrails. 

As with all games, carefully remove all shots before freezing or preparing your doves. One way to freeze doves is to breast them out and carefully clean the meat. Then, using a muffin tin, cover the breasts with water and freeze. Once frozen, pop them out and vacuum seal them. They can be stored this way for up to two years.