Written by Marty Fischer, photography by Amber Decell and Rob Kinney
If you spend much time on social media where wingshooters gather to compare notes, you’re most likely starting to see photos of dove fields being prepared for opening day, doves flying around fields and birds sitting on power lines in or around fields. Millions of dove hunters will be showing up with friends and other hunters nationwide in a few days with hopes of finding the right spot in a field so they can work on shooting a limit of birds.
On many dove hunts, hunters will draw numbers for predetermined stand locations in a field. In that scenario it’s the luck of the draw for where you hunt, but if you can pick your spot, what do you look for to insure the most shooting?
Morning Birds
You will find that doves are creatures of habit. Much like any bird or animal we hunt, they need food, water and a place to rest when they aren’t feeding or drinking. Getting a handle on the locations for roosting and watering areas around your hunting spot is step one. The birds will feed before going to water in the morning and when they come off of the roost, they are hungry!
The doves start flying at most morning shoots just before sunrise with the majority of the action taking place in the first two hours. The birds have usually fed and headed to drink or rest by 10:00 a.m. so if you know where their watering area is, picking a spot where they will exit the field after feeding can be good too.
Grab a dove hunting stool from your local Walmart.
Afternoon Birds
There is a bit of a difference between birds at dawn and birds on an afternoon hunt. At first light the birds are generally lower than they are after the sun is high in the sky. The low light keeps the birds on the deck and for the most part they will flying a straight line into the field.
In the afternoon the birds tend to fly a bit higher since there is more light due to a higher sun. This gives them a better look at where they want to land. Keep in mind that doves prefer more open ground for feeding, so the areas in a field where the birds can land and walk around to feed are going to be better for closer shots.
Consider the Terrain
If you can find some breaks in the tree cover around a field, that can be a good spot since it gives those low flyers quick access to the field. I will set up in a gap between tall trees if possible. That open air space is a perfect runway for birds to get into a field.
While many dove fields are fairly flat some fields have a bit of rising or falling terrain. If there is a high point in your hunting location, consider going there too since that high spot lets the birds get on the ground to feed quicker and provides an easier access and departure safety net for the birds if needed. Remember that the birds are coming to the field to feed. They want to get on the ground as quickly as they can.
If there’s a power line in or around the edge of a field, that’s always a good spot. Many birds will land on a line or in a tree before entering a field. Some landowners will place false powerlines in a field as an attractant to birds coming to feed. A spot under or near a powerline usually provides great shooting if the birds are there.
When you are hunting in an area surrounded by tall trees, it’s best to pick a shooting location far enough out in the field that will allow you to see the birds if they are coming from the direction of the trees. Setting up too close to the trees will force you to take lots of quick overhead shots since the birds will be over your head before you see them.
Should you find yourself in an area where the birds are flying towards the tall trees, they will usually gain altitude in order to clear the treetops as they exit the field. Consider setting up your shooting location a little further away from the trees when that is the case.
Don't Face the Sun
One of the things that can be frustrating is taking shots while looking into the sun. You can minimize that by getting a handle on where the sun will be during your hunt. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West so your early morning and late day shooting will be affected if you find yourself facing the sun where most of the birds are coming from.
With the sun positioning throughout the day in mind and hopefully an idea where the birds usually come from in a field, choose a hunting spot that will give you the best visibility for the hunt
Keep in mind that if you find a spot where most of your shots face North, you won’t have a sun problem at any time of the day.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A few pointers on how to pick the best spot in a dove field. Use these pointers and pick a good location. Try to match your Mossy Oak camo for the vegetative or ground backgrounds where you will be hunting. Put these pieces of the puzzle together and you’ll be ready for a great day of dove hunting.
