Quick Answer
The presence of natural cover significantly influences dove behavior, causing them to congregate and move through areas with dense vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, and grasses, in search of food and shelter. Doves often use these natural cover types to escape from predators and harsh weather conditions. Effective dove hunting requires identifying and exploiting these natural cover patterns.
Identifying Dove Congregations
When scouting for dove hunting, look for natural cover that provides a mix of food and shelter. Doves are attracted to areas with a combination of grains, such as corn, wheat, and milo, and dense vegetation like cattails, cattail-like plants, and shrubs. Focus on finding areas with a high concentration of these natural attractors, often near water sources like rivers, lakes, or ponds. When scouting, pay attention to the types of vegetation and the surrounding landscape features, such as field edges, fence lines, and power lines.
Exploiting Dove Migration Patterns
Early season dove hunting often involves exploiting their migration patterns and natural cover usage. Doves tend to move along established flight paths, often following rivers, roads, and power lines. Identify these flight paths and the associated natural cover, then set up your decoy spread accordingly. A good early season spread should include a mix of decoys placed in areas of dense vegetation, such as cattails and shrubs, and along the edges of these cover types. This will help to mimic the natural dove congregation patterns and increase your chances of success. Aim for a spread of 20-30 decoys, with 10-20 placed in dense cover and 10-20 placed along the edges.
Find more answers
Browse the full Q&A library by topic, or jump back to the topic this question belongs to.