(From my September 1, 2011 News Journal hunting column.)
Enduring Hurricane Irene this past weekend afforded me ample opportunity to consider my hunting options in preparation for today, the opening day of deer (archery), mourning dove and resident Canada goose hunting seasons in Delaware.
For as long as I can remember, bowhunting deer monopolized my Sept. 1 schedule and continued into the first few weeks of the month. This year, however, I am switching things up a bit. Rather than climbing in a tree stand or creeping through the Delaware woods in pursuit of white-tailed deer in early September, I am going to hunt mourning doves.
Traditionally regarded as a communal, celebratory event that marks the transition of summer to fall and celebrates the upcoming harvest, the opening day of dove hunting season is circled on many hunters’ calendars. In many communities and hunt clubs, festive events — including barbecues, pig roasts, and crab feasts — are held after opening day dove hunts, and the celebrations are open to hunters and non-hunters alike. With dove hunting traditions so strong throughout the United States, I think it’s time for more of us to get involved in order to preserve these traditions.
Mourning doves are recognized as the most widespread game bird in North America, and they are found just about everywhere in Delaware. They inhabit urban, suburban and rural areas, and can be found nesting, feeding or roosting near woods, farms, backyards and city buildings. Doves eat mostly seeds, and they prefer some types of seeds over others. Throughout Delaware, they usually eat the seeds of grasses, sweet gum and smartweed, millet, safflower and sunflower, and agricultural crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum. Delaware doves are so attracted to sunflower seeds, in fact, that the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife plants sunflower fields at specific public hunting areas and designates the fields as dove hunting areas.
When pursuing Delaware doves, maximize your harvest chances by observing the doves’ feeding habits in the areas you plan to hunt. Doves usually feed early in the day, so they will leave their roosts in the morning in search of feeding areas. Set up in a tree line on the edge of a field where the doves will feed, and wait them out. Be sure to set up in a location where you will be presented with good shots as the doves fly to or from the field. Keep in mind their flight angles, and try to set up where the birds will be swooping down or taking flight so that they are within effective range.
While doves can probably be found on almost every Delaware public hunting area, consider hunting those public locations that are specifically managed for doves. Some public hunting areas that include managed dove fields are: the Rocks, Guestford and Bell tracts of Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area in New Castle County; Blackiston and Milford Neck Wildlife Areas in Kent County; and the Muddy Neck Tract of Assawoman Wildlife Area in Sussex County. Be aware that some Delaware public hunting areas have specific hours and regulations for dove hunting, and also note that nontoxic shot must be used for all dove hunting on Delaware state wildlife areas during the month of September.
A word of advice for novice dove hunters: Doves fly quickly and erratically and make for extremely challenging shooting. Some experts say that two doves for every five shots is good, so if you plan to harvest your limit, bring plenty of shells.