Hunting for Mourning Doves: Best Practices

Understanding Mourning Dove Behavior

Doves are simple in pattern but sensitive to pressure.

Key Behaviors

• Travel daily between feeding fields, water, and roosts

• Prefer open ground and perches over dense cover

• Fly fast and erratically when pressured

• Stick to the same flight lines until disturbed

The more lightly pressured the area, the more predictable the birds.

Essential Gear for Dove Hunting

Shotguns & Chokes

• Gauge: 12 or 20

• Choke: Modified or Improved Cylinder

• Shells: #7.5 or #8 shot

The goal is a forgiving pattern that handles quick crossing shots.

Clothing & Comfort

• Lightweight camo or neutral earth tones

• Hot-weather boots or breathable hiking shoes

• Seat, bucket, or dove stool

• Hydration and sunscreen

Early September can be brutally warm—prepare for heat.

Accessories

• Small cooler for birds

• Dove belt or shell bag

• Ear protection

• Shooting glasses

Minimal gear keeps you mobile between fields.

Scouting: The Foundation of Success

1. Locate Key Feeding Fields

Ideal spots include:

• Sunflower fields

• Wheat or milo stubble

• Cut corn

• Native seed heads and open pastures

Walk edges at sunrise or sunset to confirm dove traffic.

2. Identify Water Sources

Doves love:

• Muddy pond edges

• Small stock tanks

• Low-water creek crossings

If it’s hot and water is scarce, these become prime hunting spots.

3. Find Roosting Trees

Look for:

• Dead snags

• Power lines

• Lone trees near fields

Doves sit high with long sightlines. Roosts help predict morning and evening direction of travel.

Best Practices for Setting Up Your Dove Hunt

1. Hunt the Flight Line

Watch where doves:

• Enter fields

• Exit fields

• Transition between food and water

Set up along these pathways rather than guessing.

2. Use Concealment Wisely

You don’t need a blind—just reduce movement.

Tips:

• Sit in shade

• Use brush or cover only to break your outline

• Keep hands and face movement minimal

Doves flare more from motion than from poor camo.

3. Spread Out in Groups

Too many hunters clustered together push doves off flight lines.

• Space 40–60 yards apart

• Cover different angles

• Coordinate safe shooting lanes

Spread-out shooters also improve bird retrieval and safety.

Decoy Strategies That Improve Shot Opportunities

When to Use Decoys

Decoys help:

• Direct traffic

• Slow birds down

• Create landing points

Especially useful:

• Over water

• Near field edges

• On dead trees or fences where birds naturally perch

Best Decoy Choices

• Clip-on dove decoys for fences

• Spinning-wing dove decoys (very effective early season)

• Shell decoys on open dirt near feed sources

Placement Tips

• Create small landing zones

• Place spinners 10–20 yards from your seat

• Use perching decoys on dead snags or power poles for realism

Decoys won’t fix a bad location—but they enhance a good one.

Shooting Tips for Mourning Doves

Practice Crossing Shots

Most dove shots happen:

• Left-to-right

• Right-to-left

• Quartering passes

Practice these angles before opening day.

Lead the Bird—More Than You Think

Doves fly deceptively fast:

• Maintain smooth gun movement

• Don’t aim ahead—swing through the target

• Pull the trigger as the bead sweeps past the beak

Misses usually come from aiming behind the bird.

Keep Shots Ethical

• Limit shots to 30–40 yards

• Avoid flock shooting—pick one bird

• Allow low birds to pass if the background isn’t safe

Dove hunting is high-volume—responsibility matters.

Early, Mid, and Late Season Tips

Early Season (Opener)

• Birds are unpressured

• Decoys and spinners work extremely well

• Hunt food early in the morning and late evening

Mid Season

• Birds shift to less pressured fields

• Water hunts become more productive

• More scouting required

Late Season

• Doves concentrate around:

  • Food shortages

  • Warm microclimates

  • Bare, open ground

• Move often until you locate fresh birds

A simple shift of 50 yards can make or break a late-season hunt.

Safety Best Practices

• Maintain safe shooting zones with nearby hunters

• Do not shoot low birds

• Wear eye and ear protection

• Mark downed birds immediately

• Bring plenty of water and monitor heat stress

The early season heat can sneak up on even experienced hunters.

Tips for Consistent Dove-Hunting Success

• Scout fields before hunting

• Hunt flight lines, not random spots

• Use decoys near water and field edges

• Stay still until birds are committed

• Shoot one bird at a time

• Stay mobile and change fields if activity slows

• Bring more shells than you think you need

Good dove hunters move with the birds instead of waiting for birds to find them.

Why Book a Dove Hunt Through Find A Hunt?

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned wingshooter, guided dove hunts offer access and comfort early in the season. Booking through our hunt marketplace gives you:

• Access to high-traffic private dove fields

• Professionally planted sunflower or grain fields

• Comfortable setups near water and shade

• Group packages for friends, families, and corporate events

• Easy comparison of outfitters, dates, and pricing

A guided dove hunt makes opening day stress-free and action-packed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shells should I bring?

Several boxes—you’ll shoot more than you expect.

Are decoys necessary?

No, but they help shape flight lines and create shooting opportunities.

What’s the best choke?

Modified or Improved Cylinder for fast, close-in shots.

When is the best time to hunt?

Morning and late afternoon when birds travel between roost, food, and water.

Do doves return to the same fields?

Yes—until pressure or food changes.

If you want a version tailored to a specific state or outfitter’s property (Texas, Kansas, Georgia, or Argentina high-volume hunts), just let me know and I’ll customize it.