Dove Hunting Guide | ShotgunWeb

Dove hunting is the most participated-in form of hunting in the United States. It's accessible to beginners, social by nature, and provides excellent wing shooting practice for the clay shooter.

Opening day tradition: In many states, dove season opens September 1st, marking the unofficial start of hunting season. It's a time for friends and family to gather, often in agricultural settings, for a social hunt.

Understanding Doves

The mourning dove is the primary target in the U.S., with over 20 million harvested annually:

Mourning Dove Facts

• Weight: 4-6 ounces
• Flight speed: 40-55 mph
• Erratic, twisting flight pattern
• Feed on seeds and grain
• Need water twice daily
• Migratory species (federal regulations apply)

Daily Pattern

• Morning: Leave roost for water, then to feeding fields
• Midday: Rest in trees near food sources
• Afternoon: Return to feeding, then water
• Evening: Return to roost

Where to Hunt

Agricultural Fields

Harvested sunflower, wheat, milo, or corn fields are prime locations. Doves feed on waste grain. Position yourself along field edges or flight lines.

Water Sources

Stock tanks, ponds, and creek edges attract doves, especially in arid regions. Late afternoon near water can be productive as birds come to drink.

Power Lines & Fence Rows

Doves use these as resting perches. Lines near feeding areas concentrate birds. Set up where you have clear shooting lanes.

Flight Lines

Birds travel predictable routes between roosting, feeding, and watering areas. Scout before the season to identify these corridors.

Equipment for Dove Hunting

Shotgun

Gauge: 12 or 20 gauge are ideal. 28 gauge and .410 work for experienced shooters but are challenging.

Action: Semi-auto, pump, or over/under all work. Semi-autos help manage recoil over a long shoot.

Choke: Improved Cylinder to Modified. Doves are small and most shots are 25-35 yards. Tight chokes miss more than they help.

Ammunition

Shot size: #7.5 or #8 lead shot is standard. Some hunters prefer #6 for longer shots.

Load: Standard 1 oz or 1-1/8 oz loads. Light target loads work well and reduce fatigue.

Quantity: Bring more than you think. The average is 5-7 shells per bird for experienced shooters.

Other Gear

Essential

• Dove stool or bucket
• Shooting glasses (wraparound)
• Ear protection
• Hat with brim
• Shell bag or vest
• Cooler for birds

Helpful

• Decoys (spinning wing effective)
• Camo clothing or earth tones
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Plenty of water
• Game shears for cleaning

Shooting Technique

Doves are deceptively difficult. Their erratic flight and small size challenge even experienced shooters:

Read the Bird Early

Identify incoming birds as far out as possible. Plan your shot—pick up the bird's line and anticipate where you'll shoot.

Mount Smoothly

Don't rush the mount. A smooth, consistent mount to the bird's line beats a jerky, fast mount every time.

Lead Appropriately

Crossing shots require lead. Most misses are behind. A dove at 30 yards crossing needs 4-6 feet of lead depending on speed and angle.

Follow Through

Keep the gun moving after you pull the trigger. Stopping the swing causes misses behind.

Pick Your Shots

Don't shoot at everything. Wait for birds in range and in a good shooting position. Quality shots beat quantity.

Common Mistakes

Shooting too far: Doves look closer than they are. Keep shots under 40 yards; 25-35 is ideal.

Using too tight a choke: Full choke punches holes through the pattern. IC or Light Modified provides better coverage.

Poor concealment: Doves have excellent eyesight. Movement and bright colors flare birds. Stay still until you're ready to shoot.

Not marking birds: Doves fall fast and blend in. Watch where they fall and retrieve immediately.

Regulations to Know

Federal migratory bird rules apply: Doves are regulated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. States set seasons within federal frameworks, but some rules are universal.

Three-shell limit: Shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than 3 shells total (1 in chamber, 2 in magazine).

Bag limits: Federal maximum is 15 doves per day; some states have lower limits. Know your state's regulations.

Shooting hours: Generally 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Some states restrict to half-hour before to after.

HIP registration: The Harvest Information Program requires registration in most states. It's free and takes minutes.

No baiting: You cannot hunt over fields where grain has been placed specifically to attract birds. Naturally occurring or harvested fields are legal.

Dove Hunting & Clay Shooting

Dove hunting and clay shooting complement each other perfectly:

Sporting clays prepares you: The varied target presentations in sporting clays mimic dove hunting's incoming, crossing, and quartering shots.

Same fundamental skills: Mount, lead, follow-through—what works on clays works on doves.

Off-season practice: When dove season ends, clay shooting keeps your skills sharp until next September.

Dove Hunting