Dove Season Countdown thread 2021

27 Days until Dove Season

Someone had to start it. Y'all feel free to carry it on in case I miss a day or two.

Where is that picture from John? That's a great one.
Going to start mowing strips a little early this year, starting on Saturday.

Great picture. Beautiful hunting partner.

It was a field not far from Olney. It's an old picture of Blaze. We miss her greatly. Dash is really starting to show his age now, so it is time to start getting on waiting lists for a new Vizsla pup or to offer up Dash to stud. Blaze may have lived 16 years, but they still leave us way too fast.

Reason I asked is that spot looks a lot like a an area in one of my house fields. Thought it might have been a picture you took here years ago. Both great dogs my friend.

This one is from your place over 10 years ago.

Sunrise Opening day 3 years ago. He's 6 now.



The Results:

Awesome post.

2019 opening morning




Results:

Haven't seen that one before. Nice

Great looking dogs! Love those faces

Great pics

Nice pic. Blaze was a great dog!

26 Days until Dove Season

Get them Mojos ready or order new ones! Heads up - Midwayusa has them on sale and I was able to use OFFER55555 free shipping coupon code,

Last year...October hunt west Texas, plowed field...



Last year late September hunt...I love this pic...

Love the pics! I miss my pup. 14 dove seasons and he was just short of 15.

Pretty everything in that picture, dog, gun, birds, bird strap, everything!

The wife and I are going to hit up the river after I hunt the 1st and 2nd, kid it at home, middle of the week at the Frio is the best when school has started.

25 Days until Dove Season


Do-it-yourself (DIY) Dove Decoys
https://coloradooutdoorsmag.com/2013/08/26/diy-dove-decoys/

Great photos of y'alls dogs. Good times with your best friends.
I like the idea of the diy dove decoys. If your wife is a teacher, get her to laminate a few of them, as anything kid-proof should last forever.

As soon as I see fields of snow-on-the-praire, I get the itch.

This was 2019 opening day afternoon. Birds were flying straight at me all afternoon. Had a modified choke in and should have been using Imp cylinder or skeet in afterthought. Not much good after that day for the whole season. Still was good getting out.

I'll be here, Archer City private land opening day, then public WMA's. Fawcett, Mason Montain, then Las Palomas Mexico border.

Great pics

24 Days until Dove Season


10 Tips for better Dove hunting
https://www.realtree.com/small-game-hunting/articles/10-tips-for-better-dove-hunting

Looking good Guy!

Easily my favorite time of year for my sons and I. They love it more than I do. We usually shoot a lot of squab late in the season which is fine with us. Not hunting milo or corn this year. Wheat only. Not sure how we'll do.

23 Days until Dove Season

TPWD - Know Your Doves

https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/know-your-doves

I was in Bracketteville this weekend at a buddies place, the whitewing were everywhere. Then just as the story goes come 9/1 them fools will magically disappear!

Man, ya'lls dogs must slober less than mine does. My birds come back with matted up, wet feathers and don't look all nice and smooth

Need to train your dog to hold gently and not chomp. I'm constantly working with my dog on this. Tara is good about holding gently, but she does like to chomp. When she is bringing the bird back I tell here "hold", and that is a reminder not to chomp. When she is front of me, I make her hold, and if she chomps, I give her a pop (correction) on the nose with "hold". I do this with training as well, goes all the way back to Force Fetch, if she chomps on bumper I correct same way, and if that does not work, I knock the bumper out of her mouth and hit the collar with a fetch and I do not let off until bumper is in her mouth. I would not do this with a bird though.



I also do not let my dog retrieve every single bird. I make her sit and watch me mark and pick bird up. Especially if she is hot, but I also thing it is good discipline.

My other dog Molly, she would not chomp, but she had a hard mouth. She would bring bird back and whole bird would be in her mouth, just the head poking out, and she would hold the bird so hard she would bite holds in the breast. I gave up on her dove hunting for this reason, she was a duck dog only.

Chomp correction...Note when I tell her "good girl", she tries to get away with a little chomp. Dogs are always testing to see what they can get away with. She is like "oh he is telling me good dog, maybe now I can get away with a little chomping??".

Yeah, it's usually a problem for the first few of a season, but even when he isn't having a hard mouth he slobbers all over the dang birds and matts up the feathers

Look at that pic I posed, slobber running out the right side of her mouth. If they hold it gently, and don't chomp, slobber will not get all over the bird, it will just run out the side of their mouth. That pic I posted, she is holding it just the way I want. Last season I had some froze dove from prior season to train with, so we worked on it pretty hard last year. I did not freeze any last season for this season to train with, wish I did.

22 Days until Dove Season

NSSF Shooting Tips: Dove Hunting
Improve your dove hunting success with these shooting tips

I'll get at least to trips this year.

Hunting with my brother on opening day. It's been a tradition for over 50 years.

Buster is ready and so am I!

Can't wait! Last year opening weekend.





Rosie is a bit of a chomper, but it was wet too and that didn't help.

heck, just shoot them ones right behind ya!

That would make a good skillet shot!!

Give me a 20ga and a hot dove field and I am in heaven. I am already looking forward to the El Campo whitewing opener.

Yessr.

21 Days until Dove Season

Mourning Doves in Texas - Life History, Habitat Needs, and Management Suggestions
By Ronnie R. George - Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7100_009a.pdf

^^^^^If you sit on a pivot and shoot doves, are you hunting from a motorized vehicle?

Or what if I'm the motor???

Only 20 Days until Dove Season

The Dove season countdown thread had always been started and kept up by forum member Udamdan. Unfortunately he has not posted in three years.
I wish him the best and hope he is doing well. He was our resident Dove hunting fanatic. This thread of course is dedicated to Dan.

We have a little longer to wait in the South Zone, but as usual my kids & I are already pumped and ready to go. Hopefully will be some good numbers of birds during the Special White Wing Season this year.

3 weeks away. Opening day 2018. My son’s left arm was in a cast. Rather than miss opening day he was shooting one armed with a 410. Good times!

Me and my Brother at Stompy's in December last year. Fast and furious afternoon hunt for 2 hours. They were flying like skilled pilots in the Blue Angels. Awesome late season hunt!

That time a year my friends!! Cheers!!

19 Days until Dove Season


Dove season dates
North Zone Sep. 1 - Nov. 12 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 2
Central Zone Sep. 1 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 14
South Zone Sep. 14 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 21
South Zone Special White-winged Dove Days Sep. 3-5 & Sept. 10-12

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/...22_hunting_seasons/#Migratory-Game-Birds

Is that a Ruger Gold Label? I've never seen one in the field.

Beretta 471 Silverhawk

Pretty gun

18 Days until Dove Season

Time to get that new License!

Yes, today is free license day…!

And don't forget to add HIP to y'alls licenses.


17 days till Dove season

Done and Done…

Only 16 Days Until Dove season

Thanks! 16 days

Season One: Some Questions Remain Going Into Sept. 1 Dove Opener
STEVE KNIGHT

Interesting link. Hadn't thought about the impact of the freeze. Making me anxious and hungry.

Awesome pic.

At the end of the freeze I found 15 dead mourning doves around my house and cabins. With the ice and snow on the ground and all their water froze, they couldn't feed or drink. I believe the impact will be noticeable this season.

Only 14 Days Until Dove season

TPWD News Release August 17
Despite Winter Storm Uri, Resilient Texas Dove Populations Point to Favorable Hunting Season

My 22nd year selling dove hunts and I have never had TPWD say it's going to be a below average or bad dove season. I think they're in the business of selling license. I will say for a 100% fact that the freeze impacted our doves.

Heavy rains this morning.

Woohoo only 2 weeks

[/quote]
I remember that year, not much rain and the sunflowers did poorly, but there were birds.

I've thought the same thing about TPWD. I hunt a bit west and north of you and the area got hit hard. I know they can rebound quickly when everything falls into place, but I hunted quail (mainly worked the dog) not long after the deep freeze and found at least a dozen doves laying dead under trees. I'm sure there were plenty more.

West of Woodson. Completely agree on impact of freeze on dove numbers. Picked up dead birds daily feeding cattle during that week.

2006 DJ Farms..



2008 DJ Farms..

I'll see you out there if you hunt the west side spots

Saw several dove flying around the lease today...

Only 13 Days Until Dove season

Texas Outdoor Digest August 18
White-winged dove hunting has become a ‘Texas thing’

I too read the TPWD forecast report on the state of the 2021-22 Dove season...but I remain optimistic (glass is half-full) as the bird numbers around San Antonio appear to be stable from the 2020-21 season...but it has rained a lot this year and doves are prolific breeders...so they have the ability to regain lost numbers quickly...

I think you'll be fine that far south. I believe the impact will be mostly north Texas. Let's hope it's not too bad.

STOMPY…I’d like to do a hunt with you in the late season this year…like when the migrators pay you a visit…let’s stay in touch so I can figure out when the timing is right…!

That pic I posted in 2008, that was the last time I ever hunted DJ Farms. Team Hillbilly invited me and my kids out there for a hunt.

After our conversation when I picked up the tripod from your place, I payed more attention to how many dove we had on my hunting lease north of you when I got back to it. We had several Dove on the powerline that crosses our field again that evening, but not as many as that morning. Even saw some on the powerline and in the trees by our camp house. I could hear hidden Dove cooing just everywhere I went on our lease. The roads had scattered pairs graveling on them too. Ours is not a "Dove Lease" so not managed for Dove hunting. Some Septembers there are almost none present where I am lucky to shoot one or two in a hunt and some years there are several with an easy quick opening morning limit. Now opening day may come and there not be a Dove in sight on our place, but right now from observing during the one recent weekend I would rate the resident Dove population as only slightly below average for my lease. Our wheat field will have volunteer sunflowers some years and some years not. About a 4th of our field has Sunflowers which is much more than we had last year, so I hope it holds them there for the opener. But our Doves some years have also been blown out by a poorly timed front no matter how good the field looks. My lease is also half bottom land with lots of mature Oaks, Pecans, etc. along a creek It could be that it offered some roost protection from the freeze for our resident birds.

Speaking of forecasts, look at this!



The chance of rain makes me think it’s accurate haha

30% chance of showers for 9/1 here....

Only 12 Days Until Dove season

Jacksonville Progress August 14
Matt Williams previews the 2021 dove season

I won't be able to get out till Friday the 3rd. Two weeks for me.

Udamdan's original Dove Hunt'n Check list. Feel free to post any additions.

And as Dan would have said "11 Days and a Wakeup !"

And Beer if inclined. I take Budlight Clamato. Tastes great ice cold after the hunt.

Add a shovel to bury the mess. Labs will find it and love to roll in it. Don't ask me how I know.

Amen!

10 Days until Dove Season

10 Tips To Shoot More Doves This Season - Outdoor Life
https://www.outdoorlife.com/great-tips-to-shoot-more-doves-this-season/

Old picture of Blaze still working after going blind from complications of a Tick disease. Stompy had put us on a small tank that first day which made retrieving into the scent cone from downwind on water easy for her.

9 Days till Dove season !!

I finally got to post before Sniper John.

I read opposite, that whitewing would be impacted more than mourning dove so I would think South TX would be impacted more. I don't remember where I read that, it was recent. I'll post up if I find it again.

My 5 year old grandson will be getting his first hunting license this year.

I have been watching outfitter videos of deep south texas sunflower fields that are absolutely covered up with white wing dove...no shortage that I can tell...!

Now all we need is dove.




carry on

8 Days Until Dove Season

Mourning Dove Population Status 2021 - US Fish and Wildlife Service

I'm ready

Was out in Haskell on sun filling feeders. The drive out was bleak. Thru throckmornton I saw a few, got into Haskell and birds were in town. I’m about 5 miles south of town. Def not bird after bird, but did see some encouraging groups of 10 8 6 3 4 etc. The birds didn’t move till late. It was 100 out there. Conditions at my place are prime w sunflowers and a full tank of water. Hoping for some good shooting. We ll see.

T - 7

I'm no pessimist, but I've come to expect this...

So a question about a significant storm south. Will doves down south move north as the storm approaches/hits land? Like ducks will they move based on weather to a location that’s not impacted and then move back when things settle down?

Hmm, i do remember the dove were flying when Tropical Storm Lee hit Louisiana in 2011....

With my luck? West and then South, just out of driving range.

Yea, I have come to expect it too. Some might want to add rain gear to that Dove Hunt'n Check list posted earlier in the thread.

Ony one week till Dove Season

I am not digging my local forecast, stupid tropical depression, then again they still have no idea where it's going to go.

I won't be able to hunt until the 11th if I even get to go then.....Hope to be able to get out a time or two this year.....

I watched the Houston weather this morning. Both the European and American models are predicting landfall around Lake Charles. I hope that proves correct. I have been watching a 120 acre field for the last two weeks that is loaded. I can’t hunt till Saturday the fourth but three of us are hoping for a good shoot if Mother Nature does not move them between now and then.

good. maybe it will be cloudy and keep things cooler.

Yeah looks like Mother Nature loves her some Louisiana...

Only 6 Days Until Dove Season

3 more days of work before the great migration west!

5 Days and counting

I think 400 shot shells ought to get me through the season...

Depending on where the center tracks Tuesday and Wednesday, could pull up quite a bit of moisture... However they have lowered the rain chance for Wed. but appears to be the usual day time heating showers, A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.

I hope you are right and I hope there is no shortage of either!

Thanks for the report

I'll be in Young county for the opener. Forecast is back to not changing much over the next 5 days. Opening day is showing 14% chance of rain and 100° for a high. Good chance I'll be hunting a stock tank. If there are any dove at all, they should be hitting water.

4 Days and counting

Envy you guys when the shooting starts. I will be setting on the back deck listening with my left arm in a sling from my surgery two weeks ago. Post pics please.

Not seeing many; wondering if the freeze did not kill most of the “local” morning doves. It’s never been that cold for them. Survivors were the white wing and Eurasia.

I know this one is Oklahoma, but they put together a pretty nice website.
https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/.../dove-hunting?utm_campaign=ceoojdove2021
Besides a few of us do cross the red to hunt from time to time.

3 more Days!

I remember that one!!!!...

One opening day near Olney I was on one side of a point of trees and there was a few guys in a group on the other side. We could not see each other, but overhead above the trees we could see the dove we each were shooting at, so I often called out dove heading their way from my side and they did the same for me. They called out to me that a flock was coming over. As they cleared the top of the trees behind me, I only fired one shot and about 6 of those dove together took a 90 degree turn straight down to near the ground and out of those guys line of sight. It gave the appearance that all 6 birds had fallen dead as if I had shot them. Those dove then took another 90 degree turn straight away across the field, but they could not see that. Those guys were hollering and cheering my magic shot. For the next couple of minutes I could hear them through the trees talking about me. "Did you see that. That guy just killed 6 Dove with one shot.". Truth is to the best of my memory I don't think I hit a single one of those birds.

Friday can't come soon enough! El Campo white wing better hide.

Anyone else who hunts the special white wing season try for a white wing only limit? I usually try to hold off shooting mourning.

We did it last year in Uvalde, I don't think I saw a single mourning dove flying.

What choke were you using?

Only 2 More Days!!!

moi.

Me.

11/1/2020.. Camping and dove hunting. Can't do this early season, too many bugs.

Nah, i bet you're a better shot than that.

It will be the 48th opening day at the same place (family Farm) and 44th with the same gun (S&W 1000). Sad thing it will be the last hunt on the property and it will be a solo hunt at that. It will be somber to walk the fields one last time.

Been scouting the past couple of mornings all over the SW part of Stephens county, disappointing.

My brother scouted our plans A, B, and C yesterday and found the same thing. Oh well, at least it'll be plenty hot!

SW Young county. Sunflowers in that part of field are dead and dry, but still full of seeds. The Dove that were here a month ago have left. Zero Dove in field and at stock ponds. I'll have a good hog hunt at least. I do hope the managed fields near here have birds. It is mid day though. I was not out early this morning.

One more day

Some of us have to wait until Saturday!

Guy at Academy was telling me the dove are all at choke canyon now...

Hot dam, got invited to go hunt in the morning near Taylor. Nothing but w/ws. Morning cant come fast enough. GOOD LUCK everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAN'T WAIT!


Probably won't see crap, but ya know what, CAN'T SEE THEM IF YOU AIN'T THERE!

Lot of snakes this year. Watch your step.
Wear gaiters if you have them.

I scouted this evening and there were a few flying to roost. So all hope is not lost.

Good Luck tomorrow y'all.

Good luck to everyone who's going tomorrow.

Can't wait for the opener down here.

And we are off! Good luck everyone.

After a couple days of scouting I think I’ll feel lucky to shoot even a few this morning, just hopefully enough hunters in the area to keep the birds moving. (And of course I see dozens of birds at the house every day lol)
Good luck to y’all today!

Yep we are hunting in a completely different area than we normally do, so we shall see. I guess it’s better than being stuck at home counting down to the weekend!

Good Luck everyone! Stay safe and Knock 'em down!

Not seeing many birds around my place. Should improve once the neighbors cut their milo. Safe hunting to all who venture out today!

Good Luck to all and be careful of the opening day Barney's...!

Good luck to everyone this morning.

Three shot. Three missed so far. I can't complain. Found me a little oasis in this desert.

And I just missed another because I was making that post.

Choot'em

Any of ya'll seeing birds in Archer County? Headed up this wknd