Dove hunting may involve one of two things: the doves can be caught in cages previously and released for wingshooting, or free birds can be shot by hunters for sporting purposes. Regardless of what method of dove hunting you will be using, you will need to orient yourself with the basics of the sport before you enter it. This article lists down basic instructions that you will need to know about the sport.
Safety
The most important thing that you will need to know about dove hunting is the rules on safety. These include not shooting low-flying birds, as low-angle shots can lead you to shoot other hunters, pick-up boys, or other individuals and animals by mistake.
Be sure to check the guns as well. Make sure that these are unloaded until you reach the shooting venue. Remove the shells as well after shooting.
Gun preparation
Some of the things you will need to do in Gun preparation when you go dove hunting include:
Choosing the right shotgun. You can go as plain or as fancy as you want. Ideally, you should choose autoloaders, since these will allow you to get more shots in. Doves can fly very fast, so you will need to get more hits as possible so as to get the bird before it gets out of range. If you plan on using repeating shotguns, make sure that it only holds three shells when you go dove hunting to conform with the federal regulations.
* Using small shot sizes. Doves aren't that large, so you'll only need a few pellets in order to take these birds out. Experts suggest using a shotshell that is about 1- or 1 1/8-ounce load of 7 1/2s, 8s, or 9s. * Bringing as much Ammo as you can. Even those who are good at shooting understand the importance of bringing a lot of shotshells, as an average hunter only gets about 3 birds for every 25 shots. * Bringing two or more guns and a reloader. This will prevent the barrel from overheating.
Attire
Camouflage is important even in dove hunting. Doves have sharp eyesight, so they aren't likely to come within shooting range if they're suspicious of an area. Make sure to choose attire that is appropriate for the area that you'll be hunting as well as the weather. The clothes should also be comfortable and keep you dry even during long dove hunting sessions. You can also camo tape or finish your guns to make these less obvious.
Decoys
Placing decoys can help you entice the birds to fly by at close range when you're dove hunting. Places where you can place these decoys include the open ground, on nearby trees or fences, and by watering holes.
If you don't want to spend money on decoys, you can also use seeds or grains (such as sunflower seeds, corn, oat, wheat, and millet) to use as bait to entice the doves to go near where you are.
Shooting form and position
Your shooting form will determine whether your endeavor into dove hunting will be successful or not. Poor form or position will not only make it less likely for you to effectively shoot your target, it can also cause you shoulder strain and pain as well. If possible, practice on your form and your stance so that your dove hunting expedition will be successful. Some experts suggest holding off shooting until the birds are within 25 to 35 yards before opening fire to have a higher chance of shooting your targets.
The most important part of dove hunting is coming prepared. Even before you step foot on the hunting ground, make sure that you orient yourself with everything that you need to know about hunting and your prey. Read up on the behavior of your targets so that you will know where to go to, when to go there, and how to hunt the birds. It's only by taking the necessary preparations that you will be able to ensure that your dove hunting expedition will go as you planned it.
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