Dove hunting is just right around the corner for most hunters. During the later part of August is the best time to be scouting out areas for hunting doves. Dove season opens at the beginning of September for most, and if you will take the time to observe the area that you plan to hunt, you will most likely have a more successful hunt.
Dove are hunted with a choice of 12, 16, or 20 gauge shotgun. Most hunters prefer an automatic, because dove are quick to fly off, and this gives the hunter an opportunity for 3 quick shots before the dove fly out of shooting range. You want to take a shot at a dove, it is best to make sure they are within 25 to 35 yards before shooting.
Doves tend to hang around where there are lots of trees. You want to look for watering holes and areas that have gravel bars, gravel quarries, or graveled roads. Doves feed on seeds out of fields on bare ground, and they need the grit from the sand to help digest the seeds through their gizzards. You will usually find them watering and eating grit in the afternoon, and returning to feeding areas until time to roost again. They tend to eat out of newly harvested fields. You can set up decoys along watering holes that are clipped to branches of trees to attract the dove. Make sure you face them into the direction of the wind, because dove take off and land into the wind. Dove tend to go where other dove are, so if you can manage to attract them, other dove will follow.
Doves will roost in nearby trees, and leave early of a morning to migrate into the fields. They will stay in areas with watering holes, and go back out in the evening to feed again. If it is a windy day, they tend to seek shelter out of the wind.
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