Public Dove Fields

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Weegee

Weegee

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
480
City & State/Province
Sumner County
I've never been dove hunting before, but I'd like to see what it's all about this year. Anybody hit the public fields at Yanahli, Percy Priest, Haley Jacqueth, or Old Hickory? I've heard it can get a little dicey, but I'm fairly young and stupid so I'd like to try it for myself. Based on the TWRA website it seems like Old Hickory is youth only?
 
Never been to those but read the rules for the spot you pick out, some require steel shot these days and shotgun cant hold over 3 shells counting the 1 in the chamber, good luck and have fun.
 
My buddy leases one of his fields to TWRA. Has been doing it for years, except last year( corn was now ready to chop ) Lassacass Tn area. It is in Wilson co on the rutherford co line Check with TWRA later around mid august to find public hunts or pm me for info
 
You're brave for wanting your first dove hunt to be on a public field!! Hopefully it doesn't ruin it for you lol

It's a love hate relationship for me


I do 90% of my dove hunting on public fields because USUALLY there's plenty of birds. You may or may not get a limit but you will have action. I have a great time on public fields even though it can be frustrating. You will probably witness between 5-10 people who have no business owning a gun much less being allowed to shoot them. You will have between 1-5 people literally sit on top of you and not only screw your shots up, but put both themselves and you in danger if they're not careful. I HATE THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE!!!!!

They show up to the field 5 minutes before 12 or the last hour and a half of light AFTER everyone has already set up their own spots with a confused look of "I can't believe there's this many people here what should I do? where should I sit?" They stand there scanning the field having you believe they are trying to find a spot to not interfere with anybody but 99 times out of 100 they are gonna plop down in the most awkward and annoying spot that they shouldn't sit at lol.

Last and certainly not least are my favorite: Sky busters. The guys who are glad hunting season is open and they get to squeeze the trigger at something. I hate to lump them in this category, but I see the duck hunting guys doing this a lot. They will shoot at them a mile high and 100 yards away it seems like. They're easy to spot since they usually show up 3 or 4 trucks deep and if 1 single bird flies over all 10 in their group will shoot at it lol.


Go a couple weeks before season and start scouting. If you think you have it figured out and know where you're going to sit then get there early and be prepared to wait it out. We sat down last year at 5:45 a.m. we brought plenty of water and snacks. You will have fun and will want to keep doing it but public fields can be crazy!
 
Mud Creek said:
You're brave for wanting your first dove hunt to be on a public field!! Hopefully it doesn't ruin it for you lol

It's a love hate relationship for me


I do 90% of my dove hunting on public fields because USUALLY there's plenty of birds. You may or may not get a limit but you will have action. I have a great time on public fields even though it can be frustrating. You will probably witness between 5-10 people who have no business owning a gun much less being allowed to shoot them. You will have between 1-5 people literally sit on top of you and not only screw your shots up, but put both themselves and you in danger if they're not careful. I HATE THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE!!!!!

They show up to the field 5 minutes before 12 or the last hour and a half of light AFTER everyone has already set up their own spots with a confused look of "I can't believe there's this many people here what should I do? where should I sit?" They stand there scanning the field having you believe they are trying to find a spot to not interfere with anybody but 99 times out of 100 they are gonna plop down in the most awkward and annoying spot that they shouldn't sit at lol.

Last and certainly not least are my favorite: Sky busters. The guys who are glad hunting season is open and they get to squeeze the trigger at something. I hate to lump them in this category, but I see the duck hunting guys doing this a lot. They will shoot at them a mile high and 100 yards away it seems like. They're easy to spot since they usually show up 3 or 4 trucks deep and if 1 single bird flies over all 10 in their group will shoot at it lol.


Go a couple weeks before season and start scouting. If you think you have it figured out and know where you're going to sit then get there early and be prepared to wait it out. We sat down last year at 5:45 a.m. we brought plenty of water and snacks. You will have fun and will want to keep doing it but public fields can be crazy!
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Thanks, that's consistent with what I've heard, LOL. I have never shot any kind of bird at all but would like to see what it's all about because I like eatin em. Gonna do a little trap shooting at some point before the season so IF any come within range I have a better chance of knocking them down…
 
Mud Creek said:
You're brave for wanting your first dove hunt to be on a public field!! Hopefully it doesn't ruin it for you lol

It's a love hate relationship for me


I do 90% of my dove hunting on public fields because USUALLY there's plenty of birds. You may or may not get a limit but you will have action. I have a great time on public fields even though it can be frustrating. You will probably witness between 5-10 people who have no business owning a gun much less being allowed to shoot them. You will have between 1-5 people literally sit on top of you and not only screw your shots up, but put both themselves and you in danger if they're not careful. I HATE THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE!!!!!

They show up to the field 5 minutes before 12 or the last hour and a half of light AFTER everyone has already set up their own spots with a confused look of "I can't believe there's this many people here what should I do? where should I sit?" They stand there scanning the field having you believe they are trying to find a spot to not interfere with anybody but 99 times out of 100 they are gonna plop down in the most awkward and annoying spot that they shouldn't sit at lol.

Last and certainly not least are my favorite: Sky busters. The guys who are glad hunting season is open and they get to squeeze the trigger at something. I hate to lump them in this category, but I see the duck hunting guys doing this a lot. They will shoot at them a mile high and 100 yards away it seems like. They're easy to spot since they usually show up 3 or 4 trucks deep and if 1 single bird flies over all 10 in their group will shoot at it lol.


Go a couple weeks before season and start scouting. If you think you have it figured out and know where you're going to sit then get there early and be prepared to wait it out. We sat down last year at 5:45 a.m. we brought plenty of water and snacks. You will have fun and will want to keep doing it but public fields can be crazy!
Click to expand...
That's a great summary on what it's like. You gotta love it, but sometimes it's frustrating as heck.
 
Be sure to read up on the field you intend to hunt, especially if it's on opening day. Pearcy Priest is a draw hunt and there are requirements for arrival time etc.
 
Another thing to bring to a public field is as your are loading up for gun, seat, shells, etc, get another bucket or big bag and stuff it full of all of the patience and understanding you can find. Hopefully on a good field everyone else will bring some also.
BE SAFE,
 
Reckon folks that do FB will have to post something about leased fields if they have put it out already, have searched and no info yet
 
Mud Creek said:
You're brave for wanting your first dove hunt to be on a public field!! Hopefully it doesn't ruin it for you lol

It's a love hate relationship for me


I do 90% of my dove hunting on public fields because USUALLY there's plenty of birds. You may or may not get a limit but you will have action. I have a great time on public fields even though it can be frustrating. You will probably witness between 5-10 people who have no business owning a gun much less being allowed to shoot them. You will have between 1-5 people literally sit on top of you and not only screw your shots up, but put both themselves and you in danger if they're not careful. I HATE THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE!!!!!

They show up to the field 5 minutes before 12 or the last hour and a half of light AFTER everyone has already set up their own spots with a confused look of "I can't believe there's this many people here what should I do? where should I sit?" They stand there scanning the field having you believe they are trying to find a spot to not interfere with anybody but 99 times out of 100 they are gonna plop down in the most awkward and annoying spot that they shouldn't sit at lol.

Last and certainly not least are my favorite: Sky busters. The guys who are glad hunting season is open and they get to squeeze the trigger at something. I hate to lump them in this category, but I see the duck hunting guys doing this a lot. They will shoot at them a mile high and 100 yards away it seems like. They're easy to spot since they usually show up 3 or 4 trucks deep and if 1 single bird flies over all 10 in their group will shoot at it lol.


Go a couple weeks before season and start scouting. If you think you have it figured out and know where you're going to sit then get there early and be prepared to wait it out. We sat down last year at 5:45 a.m. we brought plenty of water and snacks. You will have fun and will want to keep doing it but public fields can be crazy!
Click to expand...
You left out the people that will shoot mockingbirds, blue jays, killdee's and robins. Some even in front of a officer.

All your reasons listed are why you couldn't pay me to step foot on a public dove field. I enjoy wingshooting way too much to deal with stupid people with guns…..
 
Weegee said:
I've never been dove hunting before, but I'd like to see what it's all about this year. Anybody hit the public fields at Yanahli, Percy Priest, Haley Jacqueth, or Old Hickory? I've heard it can get a little dicey, but I'm fairly young and stupid so I'd like to try it for myself. Based on the TWRA website it seems like Old Hickory is youth only?
Click to expand...
I don't know what it's like in Tennessee but in my home state of Illinois public land dove you can expect:
1. The clown next to you claiming he shot the bird you are going to pick up even though you shot it. Came close to blows a couple times.
2. Low crawling to retrieve your birds because people will shoot right over your head.
3. 20 guys shooting at 1 bird.
 
rukiddin said:
You left out the people that will shoot mockingbirds, blue jays, killdee's and robins. Some even in front of a officer.

All your reasons listed are why you couldn't pay me to step foot on a public dove field. I enjoy wingshooting way too much to deal with stupid people with guns…..
Click to expand...


Saw a guy last year shoot multiple kill dees. Saw another shoot a song bird off a power line. He walked up to retrieve it, saw his mistake and threw it in the high grass. You can definitley see the worst in hunters there IMO. Littering is another huge problem. Spent shells, boxes, cigarettes/packs, dip cans, drink bottles, etc. I hunt with a guy who is a transplant from Ohio. He was an army brat that has lived all over including Alaska. He said Tennessee is the worst when it comes to littering. The last 2 years we have done a small sunflower & millet field with plans to expand and even add another bigger field next year. We dont shoot there much maybe one or two times a season just trying to let the birds get use to it. If all goes as plans I doubt we do any more public land huntz unless our fields just aren't producing like we hope. It can be a mess and very frustrating!
 
Weegee said:
Well I hunted at Percy Priest today. Didn't get shot at, didn't have any arguments over who shot what bird. There were a good number of birds flying around, and if I was a better shot I would've cleaned up. I did manage to shoot 5, so for my first dove hunt I'm pretty stoked!
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Good job for your first hunt
 
Weegee said:
Well I hunted at Percy Priest today. Didn't get shot at, didn't have any arguments over who shot what bird. There were a good number of birds flying around, and if I was a better shot I would've cleaned up. I did manage to shoot 5, so for my first dove hunt I'm pretty stoked!
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Congrats! Quick question. When you get drawn, is it just for that day? Or do you get that staked position for the rest of the month at priest? Are there draws for each weekend there after? Trying to see if I could still hunt it but missed that first draw on the first. Thx!
 
philsanchez76 said:
Congrats! Quick question. When you get drawn, is it just for that day? Or do you get that staked position for the rest of the month at priest? Are there draws for each weekend there after? Trying to see if I could still hunt it but missed that first draw on the first. Thx!
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No, that was only for opening day. From then on out it's first come, first serve. But you do have to shoot from staked positions. I know the field is open saturdays and sundays but it might be open other times as well.
 
Weegee said:
No, that was only for opening day. From then on out it's first come, first serve. But you do have to shoot from staked positions. I know the field is open saturdays and sundays but it might be open other times as well.
Click to expand...
Thx for reply! I may have to try it out.
 
Weegee said:
No, that was only for opening day. From then on out it's first come, first serve. But you do have to shoot from staked positions. I know the field is open saturdays and sundays but it might be open other times as well.
Click to expand...
Thx for the inspiration @Weegee i shot my very first public land dove this evening! I might be hooked.
 

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