North Texas Dove Day

A stringer of mourning dove next to a fine 20-gauge shotgun near the windmill that provided the fast action.

Growing up in Dallas, adventures for big game like elk and mule deer seemed far away. But just past the city-limit sign, dove hunting was attainable. Fields dotted with colorful sunflowers and small stock ponds attracted birds by the drove. Luckily, a friend owned land we could hunt. With barely enough money for gas and a handful of shells, we drove there after school and on the weekends. Back then, a teenager could still have a shotgun on the gun rack in his pickup in the high school parking lot, if that tells you how long ago it was.

With pride, I remember wearing a new Redhead, size XL camo vest on opening day. The vest was big and baggy, but it made me feel like a wellprepared hunter. The elastic holders held 12 shotgun shells and the two front pockets meant room for empty shells. Dead birds went in the larger pocket in the back. I don’t remember how much I paid for it at Oshman’s Sporting Goods, but I do remember it took some effort to save up enough money. Today, decades later, I wear that same vest on at least one dove shoot every September—a sort of bird hunting time machine. For “some reason,” it fits tighter today than it did back when I was captain of the track team. Those once vacant fields north of Dallas where I hunted in my youth are now covered in concrete and apartments. Thankfully, there are plenty of other places to shoot doves in Texas.

A hot grill loaded with bacon-wrapped dove breasts. Add a slice of onion and jalapeño between the breast and the bacon for more flavor.

Texas doves Like thousands of other Texans, Sept. 1 is a revered day on my calendar. What other tradition attracts doctors, mechanics, soccer moms, kids, and hairdressers to the outdoors? For some it’s a social event, but everyone loves fast action. My favorite dove day tradition is an afternoon shoot over a windmill pond followed by a feast on the grill. Dove breasts will be wrapped with bacon, onion, and jalapeños and cooked over mesquite coals

The author with a stringer of dove from an afternoon shoot in September 2021. Notice his favorite, vintage dove vest he bought back in 1985.

with venison sausage. Fried potatoes and a tossed salad add color to the buffet line. Watermelon slices and vanilla ice cream will cool the tongue after too many spicy dove poppers. Laughter and storytelling usually last well into the night. I love it.

According to information from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas boasts an estimated 300,000 dove hunters each year. That’s about 30 percent of the national total. There are an estimated four to five million mourning doves harvested each year. About 80 percent of the doves harvested in Texas are shot in the first month of the season. There are 11 species of doves and pigeons in Texas. Three species, mourning, white-winged and white-tipped, are considered migratory game birds with hunting seasons in Texas. Two species, Eurasian collared and rock pigeons, are federally unprotected and may be hunted year-round. Six species are non-hunted (Inca, common and ruddy ground doves; band-tailed, white-crowned and red-billed pigeons). To legally hunt doves in Texas, you need a hunting license and a Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp endorsement. Shooting is legal from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Download the Outdoor Annual for daily bag limits, possession limits and exact season dates for the 2022 season. Dove basics

Two primary tactics come to mind for shooting doves. Hunting fields is one way. Wild sunflowers attract doves. Find a twisted mesquite or tall elm tree near the field’s edge, then hide in the shade.

If you’re not squeamish, cut open the stomach of a dead dove to examine what seeds it has been eating. Learn to identify these seeds and you will learn where the birds are feeding, and where to focus your next hunt. Typically, the best field shooting is during the first two hours of the morning and late afternoon. On hot days, doves will loaf or roost in trees at midday.

Hunting near water is effective. Anywhere water is limited, guarding a windmill is a fine idea. Hide in the shade and wait near the water’s edge. In the Panhandle, I usually hunt afternoons only at water. Leaving the birds alone in the mornings seems to make the afternoon action even better. In good years, a limit is expected over water on any two-hour afternoon sit.

Decoys have become as much a part of my dove gear list as the gun and shells. A few clip-ons, plastic fakes on a fence and a motorized Mojo decoy 20 yards from my location bring birds in for a close shot. Placement is key. Put the decoys where circling birds can see them easily. I typically bring

six or seven clip-ons and one or two motorized decoys. The little bit of extra work it takes to set them up is worth it when birds are circling the spread for point-blank shots.

Other gear requirements are minimal. I prefer an over-under 20-gauge, but a semi-auto or pump shotgun works, too. A 12-gauge will obviously work, but I don’t care for the extra thump in the shoulder.

Wear camo duds or neutral-colored clothes. Olive drab and khaki will blend in the shadows of a mesquite if you stay still. Wear a cap or wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face. Wear sunglasses and ear plugs.

Sunscreen, lip balm and a cooler full of water and sports drinks is smart. A stool keeps your butt out of the dirt. A vest or bird bag is handy for extra shells and for toting dead birds. Always pack more shells than you think you’ll need. There’s nothing worse than running out of ammo right when the action gets good. Your buddy sitting next to you may not be willing to share his shells.

Last year’s hunt

In high school, I shot birds north of Dallas. In college, I did so on the outskirts of Lubbock or Abilene. Today, I hunt mostly near Amarillo. Some years have more birds than others, but you can always bet on the heat.

The hot sun sat on my neck like an anvil. The temperature hit 100 degrees. The moaning, grinding sound of the windmill pumping water to a small puddle tempted me for a drink. The nearby dirt pond was dry with cracks like old paint flaking off an abandoned house. Dreams of bacon-wrapped dove breasts sizzling on the grill kept me focused, despite the heat.

In late afternoon, the birds finally started to fly. First, there were a few singles. My fancy over-under 20-gauge dropped two near the pond’s edge. Next, waves of three to 10 came from the north, dive-bombing my exact location like I had a landing strip on my back. The decoys did their job. Most shots were inside 20 yards. I shot and reloaded the gun as fast as I could. The gun’s barrel was hot to the touch. At sunset, I gathered my birds. I was just two doves shy of the daily limit. Fire up the grill!

On day three of the season, my daughter, Emma, and a few friends joined us to try a new spot. The crew included a carpenter, vet technician, plumber, electrician, hairdresser and three teenagers. Proof of the varied audience that participates in dove hunting. We divided up to hunt two waterholes.

The small pond where I sat that afternoon sits in a low spot on the prairie in the Texas Panhandle. Three ancient cottonwood trees provide shade for a hiding hunter. Late in the day, the birds came in hot. The four of us burned up the sky, dropping a few and missing many more. Emma fetched the dead birds better than a Labrador retriever. My vintage, 1985 camo dove vest was full of empty shells and a fistful of plump mourning doves. At sunset, we had just enough birds for another lap around the grill. Because the only thing better than shooting doves on a hot September afternoon, is the feast and cold drinks waiting after dark.

A few clip-on decoys like these can lure passing doves in for a close shot.