Bring more doves in range

For decades, dove hunters traditionally just picked a place to wait for the birds to fly over them, while waterfowlers relied upon decoys to bring birds in closer. Dove hunters can take a few tips from waterfowlers to bag more birds this fall.

Popular with waterfowlers, spinning-wing decoys create a strobe effect that looks like wings flapping. Birds can see that flash for miles. Since so many predators want to eat them, doves congregate in pairs or groups for safety. When doves spot that wing flash, they instinctively head to that place where they think their cousins found security or food.

“All gregarious birds with white under their wings are attracted to that flash,” said Terry D. Denmon, president of Mojo Outdoors (www.mojooutdoors.com) in Monroe, La. “That’s how they find other birds.”

Many people place spinning-wing decoys directly in front of them. Birds do swoop down low over spinners and sometimes even land next to them. However, birds heading directly toward a spinner might also spot sportsmen hiding behind it. Alerted birds could flare before entering shotgun range.

Instead, force doves to focus their attention elsewhere. Always place spinning-wing decoys facing into the wind like landing birds, but off to one side where they present the best shots at the optimum range.

“In most places, doves come in from multiple directions,” Denmon said. “If we want to shoot doves at 25 yards, we put a spinning-wing decoy out 25 yards.”

How doves feed

Doves typically feed on bare ground where they can easily find seeds. Ever mindful of predators, doves commonly arrange themselves in a circle to feed so they can watch for danger in all directions. Place a few static dove decoys on the ground around a spinner to simulate feeding doves.

Many static decoys come with devices to clip them onto branches or fence wires. When hunting along a fence or tree line, attach a few decoys to the fence or place them on branches on either side of the hunters.

“I usually add about a dozen static decoys around the spinning-wing decoy in about a 10- to 15-yard circle as if they are feeding,” Denmon said. “If I’m sitting on a fencerow or tree line, I’ll scatter a few static decoys up and down the line.”

After feeding in the morning, doves frequently perch on high powerlines or high branches to rest at midday or early afternoon. Some landowners erect fake powerlines to attract birds. These high perches give doves great vantage points to watch for predators.

Use an old fishing rod to “cast” dove decoys over non-working wires. NEVER ATTEMPT THIS WITH LIVE WIRES! After casting the decoy over a non-working wire, reel it up so that it looks like a dove perching on a powerline, something birds commonly expect to see. Sportsmen can also use this technique to place decoys high in open tree branches.

Water and grit

Doves need water and grit, such as sand or small gravel pieces, to help them digest seeds. A watering hole could mean a pond or even just a puddle in a gravel road. Doves seldom go directly to water. Instead, they normally perch in a tree or other high place to look around for danger before dropping to the ground.

Attach a few static decoys to tree or bush branches overlooking the watering hole to mimic birds staging in that area. Place a spinner near the shoreline. Add a few static decoys in the sand close to the water to simulate doves “gritting” or drinking.

Try these tricks to fool more birds and bring these swift fliers closer for better shots at them.

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