Dove hunting season just around the corner

Photo courtesy of MDC

September 1 falls on a Tuesday this year, so the good population of doves will have several days to dodge hunters before the big Labor Day weekend.

That is fine with many hunters including George Franklin, a retiree who has spent many opening days at work.

"This year, I will be able to surprise the birds on opening day," Franklin said. "With dove hunting, the first week of the season is pretty much it for me. After that first week the birds get smart, and by the second week of the season they will be adjusted to the hunters or a few cool nights will move them further south."

Reports from hunters and farmers in the state show a good population of doves just prior to opening day. The season will run through Nov. 9 with a daily limit of 15 birds and a possession limit of 45.

As usual, in places where there is plenty of food and water for the birds, they will start to bunch up. Veteran dove hunters know where to find these hot spots on opening day.

I remember several years ago when Jack Martin of Marshall, told me he found such a spot while cutting silage. He said, "I don't recall seeing so many doves, there must have been more than a hundred birds in one small area. When I passed them within 30 yards they flew, but came right back."

For many years I had an excellent spot to open the dove season. There were several dead cottonwood trees near a small pond next to an old grain field, that lured a lot of birds that didn't want to leave. My gun barrel was hot in the 35 minutes it took to bag a limit.

Farnklin has a favorite spot where he usually starts his first hunt of the season. Along with his shotgun, he carries a rod-and-reel. He said, "There is a nice farm pond where the doves like to get water on their way to roost. The pond also has some big bass and bluegill, so whenever I go dove hunting there, I bring along some fishing gear.

"When the hunting is slow, I pick up the rod and load it with a grasshopper and usually catch a mess of fish. It doubles my pleasure."

The veteran dove hunter was surprised this week when he checked the pond and saw six blue wing teal on the water. These early migrants tend to arrive in early September.

Franklin said, "It should be a good teal season since the forecast shows a lot of teal will be heading south this year. I guess I will have to get a duck stamp this season."

The 2015 teal season opens Sept. 12 and runs through Sept. 27 with a daily limit of six birds.Also there a few hunters in the state that look forward to Sept. 1 as snipe- and-rail seasons opens.

Rail hunting can be difficult and should you be able to bag a limit of 25 birds, you still don't have enough for a big meal. After fighting bugs and heat in knee-deep water, for a few small rails, is reason enough for most hunters to go rail hunting only once.

Snipe, on the other hand, are fast flying birds that are a challenge as well as good eating. If you bag a limit of eight snipe, you are a rare hunter and you might have a hard time convincing your friends that there really is a bird called "snipe."

The rail season runs through Nov. 9 while the snipe season continues through Dec. 16.