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"Norther Birds" #7586341 08/22/19 01:46 PM
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I understand doves are migratory, but what exactly is a "Northern bird"? How do you know when they are here? When the dove we shoot here opening week dont have milk on their lips?

are most us already done dove hunting by the time they get here?


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Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7586347 08/22/19 01:52 PM
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Mine usually show up late September and all through October, when the cool fronts start pushing through. When the northerns show up is when I start hunting. They come in waves, seems there are some on every front. But if you get a really rare cold front, it will blow them all out and head them south.


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Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7586349 08/22/19 01:52 PM
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Norther birds are usually birds that migrate down and are mature birds and not the "first year" and local birds we see all over Texas on the opener. They will migrate down later in the season and then usually eat all your corn under your feeder during deer season. The second season for dove in the winter usually people shoot a lot more of the "norther birds".

Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7586354 08/22/19 01:59 PM
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Just me, but I think you can watch the fronts; especially a really cold one. I don’t see those fronts early in September.
The northern dove will be more blue, they will always be bigger, they are all about the same size, no pin feathers, they are stronger. When you breast them, their meat looks lighter; not dark like local birds. It’s almost like they have been grain fed to make the hard trip. You will always see yellow fat on their breast; another reason they are good. And they will come in large groups and leave in 2 or 3 days. My opinion.

Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Huntmaster] #7586490 08/22/19 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Huntmaster
Just me, but I think you can watch the fronts; especially a really cold one. I don’t see those fronts early in September.
The northern dove will be more blue, they will always be bigger, they are all about the same size, no pin feathers, they are stronger. When you breast them, their meat looks lighter; not dark like local birds. It’s almost like they have been grain fed to make the hard trip. You will always see yellow fat on their breast; another reason they are good. And they will come in large groups and leave in 2 or 3 days. My opinion.

Dad always told me they were bigger birds and you will notice the difference.


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Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Huntmaster] #7586511 08/22/19 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Huntmaster
Just me, but I think you can watch the fronts; especially a really cold one. I don’t see those fronts early in September.
The northern dove will be more blue, they will always be bigger, they are all about the same size, no pin feathers, they are stronger. When you breast them, their meat looks lighter; not dark like local birds. It’s almost like they have been grain fed to make the hard trip. You will always see yellow fat on their breast; another reason they are good. And they will come in large groups and leave in 2 or 3 days. My opinion.


This.


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Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7586519 08/22/19 05:04 PM
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They require a different dove whistle as well. Has a less twangy tone.

Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7586745 08/22/19 08:51 PM
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So a day or 2 before the front, on the front, or after? I am still trying to get that timing sown. Mixed results.

Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Txduckman] #7586768 08/22/19 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Txduckman
They require a different dove whistle as well. Has a less twangy tone.

It's one of those Oklahoman whistles. Or maybe a Kansas whistle. Either way, it's hard to make that sound without the Texan coming through.


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Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: jnd59] #7586777 08/22/19 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by jnd59
Originally Posted by Txduckman
They require a different dove whistle as well. Has a less twangy tone.

It's one of those Oklahoman whistles. Or maybe a Kansas whistle. Either way, it's hard to make that sound without the Texan coming through.


I call a ln outdoors store in each state and get one shipped so I cover all bases.

Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7586840 08/22/19 10:45 PM
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They will be larger in body size and most will have that purple tint on their upper breast feathers. Local birds will have the same cream/tan color on their breast

Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: Buzzsaw] #7587383 08/23/19 02:07 PM
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great and interesting info guys, thank you.

BTW, I ordered a Kansas dove whistle off Amazon peep


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Re: "Norther Birds" [Re: BDB] #7587422 08/23/19 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Jobst
So a day or 2 before the front, on the front, or after? I am still trying to get that timing sown. Mixed results.


I would think their migration logic is the same as ducks in that they are looking for the easiest way to migrate. I'm thinking the day after a front blows through. Whether they stop or not, and for how long, is the question.

Originally Posted by Buzzsaw
great and interesting info guys, thank you.

BTW, I ordered a Kansas dove whistle off Amazon peep


Be sure and pay the import tax on that Kansas whistle. And don't hurt yourself trying to imitate those jayhawk dove. I still haven't recovered from last year.

Originally Posted by BDB
They will be larger in body size and most will have that purple tint on their upper breast feathers. Local birds will have the same cream/tan color on their breast


Being a vestigal product of Iowa, I'm going to say those are Iowa dove. Clearly not Oklahoman. Oklahoma doves are small and scrawny and look like refugees from Bangladesh. smile

Seriously, every year I say I'm going to hunt dove during the second split. But by then the seeds are gone and fields all mowed and I am at a loss to know where to go.


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