Doves

[Setterman]

Decided to take the dog for one last run before diving head first into Grouse cover, and decided to go to Forks of The river WMA this afternoon.

There were hundreds of doves using the fields later this afternoon and no one there to shoot them.

Thought some of the local folks might enjoy a good late season shoot, and there is more then enough out there right now to keep guns blazing until a limit is in hand. Wish I had enough time to chase grouse and doves, but it's time to focus on Grouse for me. Good luck to any one who gets the chance to go.

 

[bcartervol98]

I may have to check that out. I have given up deer hunting for the year but had no idea there would be any numbers of doves around this time of year. I have never hunted The Forks as I was told it wasn't worth it to deer hunt there by everyone that knows the area. Any specific areas I should target? Might go there Sunday and Dove hunt instead of hitting the woods squirrel hunting. I like doves way better than squirrels. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Thanks for the heads up Setterman. I went this morning, only one there. Saw a bunch early but with no one to help move them, I never had a good opportunity unless I was directly between where they were coming from and where they were headed. I did notice a definite flight pattern and will head back tomorrow afternoon.

I couldn't believe the amount of trash left in the field. I don't see why hunters find it so hard to pickup their shell hulls, water bottles, coolers, chairs, etc....

bcarter, I'll probably be there Sunday 1:30-2. Let me know if you want to join me or have me show you the field and where I was seeing doves.

Buzz

 

[bcartervol98]

I should be there about the same time if not a bit earlier. I will be in a white GMC Terrain and will have my 10 year old with me. Maybe we can set up so we can move them the right way! Wasn't planning on dove hunting this late gotta put the plug back in the shotgun tonight lol.

 

[bcartervol98]

Buzzard PM sent.

 

[Mike Belt]

The last dove segment of the year is one of the best, if not the best dove hunt I've ever been on provided the field is set up right. We had corn and milo planted in a small field for the birds. During the earlier segments a few strips were cut for shooting then. In December most of the rest of the field was cut. At that time of the year there is no better food source left in most areas. You have a monopoly. It's not unusual to get high winds late in December so be prepared for some fast shooting. Those birds coming in with a tail wind are zipping!

 

[cathunter]

Did you all do any good at forks of the river?
Btw been on tn deer for a long time . Had to register as a Newby . I used to be stilllookin.

 

[MidTennFisher]

I sure wish that wasn't so far away from me or I'd make a trip. I love those tasty little critters. This year has been my first year to get back into small game hunting since I was a kid. Lots of Dove action for a few weeks when it started and now I don't see any around. Next year I'm taking a day or two off work during the week to hit the fields sunrise to sunset and get as many as I can before the fun is over.

 

[MidTennFisher]

The last dove segment of the year is one of the best, if not the best dove hunt I've ever been on provided the field is set up right. We had corn and milo planted in a small field for the birds. During the earlier segments a few strips were cut for shooting then. In December most of the rest of the field was cut. At that time of the year there is no better food source left in most areas. You have a monopoly. It's not unusual to get high winds late in December so be prepared for some fast shooting. Those birds coming in with a tail wind are zipping!

I've seen you mention before that the late segment of Dove season is the most productive for you. Are you referring to only private land or are you finding them on designated dove fields on the WMAs?

 

[Mike Belt]

As much as I love to dove hunt I haven't been in several years. I don't have any private land hunts any more and every public land hunt I've been on has been a wash. So far I've seen no difference in not going versus going to a public land hunt. If you ever get the chance to set up a dove field on private property though, that's the way to do it. On the last hunt you'll have the only food source around and if you had birds earlier you should be covered up with them late.

 

[MidTennFisher]

Yea I occasionally jump a few here and there while I'm walking through WMA woods and fields, not designated dove fields, to scout and hunt for small game. My Father and I are going to try and put in a good sized field on his land and hopefully have action lasting until later in the year.

 

[rukiddin]

The last dove segment of the year is one of the best, if not the best dove hunt I've ever been on provided the field is set up right. We had corn and milo planted in a small field for the birds. During the earlier segments a few strips were cut for shooting then. In December most of the rest of the field was cut. At that time of the year there is no better food source left in most areas. You have a monopoly. It's not unusual to get high winds late in December so be prepared for some fast shooting. Those birds coming in with a tail wind are zipping!

Couldn't agree more. Before moving here, we dove hunted every season. Even after moving, we go home every year for thanksgiving and every other Christmas. Kinda a bonus when some of my best friends are farmers. Haha. Had plenty of good hunts in September but we have had some "knockdown drag out" shoots at thanksgiving and Christmas every year.
My buddy called me this morning thinking I was back home for Christmas. He said "you need to get over here in the morning cause there was 2-300 sitting on the power lines over the fields by the house". I almost cried cause I had to tell him this was our year to be in TN. Hahahaha

I don't think a cold front moves the birds out quite as bad as the cold fronts you get in September. A lot less of the "here today, gone tomorrow" that you sometimes get in the early season.

 

[Mike Belt]

I think you're right on the cold fronts. I think the birds that are here now are here to stay. In September a cold front will move "local" birds out and you're caught in between those that have left and those that haven't migrated down yet. That's the problem with a dove field. You can do everything right and be covered up with birds 2 or 3 days prior to opener and a cold front with rain will move every bird out. That doesn't hold true at the end of the year.

 

[MidTennFisher]

All I know is I'd be in Heaven on Earth if I stumbled upon hundreds of doves in a field like Setterman did! Every field of corn I've found on the WMAs is completely bare. Cut down to the dirt and the corn cobs are completely bare, not a single kernel of corn to be found so nothing to attract any doves. These aren't designated dove fields either that get swarmed with hunters, they're scattered around the WMAs. I haven't bothered to spend an afternoon in the designated fields because I just don't think there would be any birds. I did send an email to TWRA asking when in the year they're cut and if the timing is right, I'd like to dove hunt there rather than deal with the crowded fields. Never got a reply. I haven't bothered to spend an afternoon in the designated fields because I just don't think there would be any birds.

With the vacation days I'm taking for the Christmas and New Year holidays I do plan to do some small game hunting. I'll mainly be looking for rabbits and squirrels because that's what I expect to find. A field full of doves would be a nice surprise.

 

[rukiddin]

All I know is I'd be in Heaven on Earth if I stumbled upon hundreds of doves in a field like Setterman did! Every field of corn I've found on the WMAs is completely bare. Cut down to the dirt and the corn cobs are completely bare, not a single kernel of corn to be found so nothing to attract any doves. These aren't designated dove fields either that get swarmed with hunters, they're scattered around the WMAs. I haven't bothered to spend an afternoon in the designated fields because I just don't think there would be any birds. I did send an email to TWRA asking when in the year they're cut and if the timing is right, I'd like to dove hunt there rather than deal with the crowded fields. Never got a reply. I haven't bothered to spend an afternoon in the designated fields because I just don't think there would be any birds.

With the vacation days I'm taking for the Christmas and New Year holidays I do plan to do some small game hunting. I'll mainly be looking for rabbits and squirrels because that's what I expect to find. A field full of doves would be a nice surprise.

Don't be afraid to get out and ride the roads and look for birds on private land this time of year. In my experience, farmers are a bit more inclined to let you dove hunt a field later in the year, even more so after deer season goes out. A lot of farmers let people dove hunt and they never get asked again after opening day. Worse they can say is no, if they say yes, Don't bring a bunch of people and pick up your empties and trash. Let the "one and done'ers" have the fields n sept. The real fun is this time of the year!!!!!!