Don’t give up on doves when October arrives

The real or perceived absence of targets is an example of why little dove hunting takes place after the second weekend in September.

But is dove hunting really done for the season so soon?

It’s true that a few days of abnormally cold weather can send local doves scurrying, especially if the cold is accompanied by strong north winds.

These doves are soon replaced by birds from farther north who arrive here after the cold spell has passed.

Missouri’s fall weather and crop production combine to attract huge numbers of migrating doves. These birds begin arriving in early October and peak about the middle of the month.

This year, cold weather didn’t move the doves out of “my” field, but rather the heavy rains Hurricane Ike bequeathed central and western Missouri.

The overabundant moisture caused the wheat and weed seeds doves had been concentrating on to sprout, making them useless as dove food.

Because of a wet spring, shifting to an endless number of harvested corn fields isn’t an option for doves yet.

That may be bad news for the birds, but it’s good news for dove hunters.

Locate one of the few corn fields that’s ready for the combine or that’s been cut for silage, and the odds are good you’ll have found a dove bonanza.

Under normal weather conditions, I do a lot of my dove shooting around ponds. This year’s a partial exception because most farm ponds are brimful.

Doves require a band of bare shoreline around their water sources, and, if they can’t find a pond that fills the bill, they’ll drink out of wheel ruts.

The answer is to cultivate the friendship of livestock farmers who allow their cattle to drink directly from their ponds. There’s almost always bare ground around these ponds no matter how full they are.

Public land is another good option for October dove hunting.

At least a few doves can be found on virtually every Missouri Department of Conservation property, but a number of conservation areas are managed specifically to produce good shooting.

Descriptions and locations of these areas can be found on the MDC’s Web site.

Most of these areas require the use of nontoxic shot, and other special regulations may be in force. The early-season need to draw for a chance to shoot is almost certainly no longer necessary.

If you go, be aware that late season doves aren’t as gullible as their opening day counterparts.

Be prepared to take longer shots at faster moving, zig-zagging birds even if you wear full camouflage.

Although not every late season dove hunter would agree, I feel like I improve my chances by using heavy game loads and switching to a modified or full choke.

Reader response to last week’s column was overwhelming. So many readers suggested other goofy game laws that I may do a sequel sometime this winter.

Several corespondents thought I was being disrespectful of the MDC’s enforcement division with my insistence on the term game warden. Most of them shared that disrespect.

Blame it on a long line of strict English teachers, but I like precise titles.

While it’s true that some law enforcement officers are called agents, the term primarily refers to someone or something that affects changes. Warden means guardian or keeper.

There’s no doubt whatever that we wouldn’t enjoy the bountiful wildlife we take for granted today were it not for the willingness of men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line to act as its guardians and keepers.