Dove Hunting
Dove hunting in Mid-America Hunting Association is at the Association hunter's direction in near total. Dove like teal may not be predicted in any one spot at any one time.
Dove Hunting Account
As is often heard, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and this remains a fact, but although I took my digital camera on my dove hunting trip I got engrossed with dog work and failed to snap a single picture. I would still like to share the story and let others know what a nice time can be had by getting out in the early season.
For me as a bird hunter it is a long time between the end of January and the next bird season, so like many of us I look forward to the dove opener to get back out into the field. I took my young dog and headed out to Kansas the day before, which gave me some time to scout some properties. It is a little different, when you look for doves as opposed to deciding where to spend your time pheasant hunting. I tried to remember all the cover scenarios from last year's pheasant hunting, but quickly realized the cover back then would have nothing to do with where I might find doves, so the scouting was necessary. After a leisurely drive around some properties I was satisfied with several spots and headed back to my motel to drink a cold beer and have a little BBQ in the RV lot, where picnic tables and shade trees made for a comfortable evening. As hectic as pheasant hunting is, I can't tell you how relaxing this trip was, no pressure, no need to make big plans, no need to worry about weather or roads, etc.
The first morning I rose in time for breakfast and to get to my chosen spot just before sun up. As I arrived and parked by the property, I could see about 20 doves sitting on an REA wire that ran up to the old abandoned house, there was no doubt that I could shoot my limit here and I did just that by 09:00 a.m. As usual I missed an amazing number of birds, but considering I was shooting an unfamiliar gun (new 28 ga.) I didn't feel too bad about the shoot. My dog (Cooper) retrieved everyone, did not lose a bird and I dropped several in some really thick, green stuff, so he did a nice job in recovery. My goal was to get him to be steady by the blind (so to speak) and steady to shot and fall, but the activity was so hot at times, we both abandoned that drill and just enjoyed the hunt. On the 2nd day we worked harder on that drill with some success, but some preseason work over pen raised quail (from a remote release) should finish up the mastery of that skill. After I cleaned my doves we drove around looking at some more properties (pre-season scouting) and headed back to the motel.
With the whole afternoon left, I decided a little BBQ and R&R was in order. I pulled out the little BBQ kettle I brought along, threw in the Matchlight briquettes, lit the fire and sat back and drank a couple of cold beers and enjoyed a nice summer day in the shade. The bacon wrapped doves and baked beans (warmed right in the can) on the grill were fantastic, along with a little music from the boom-box!
The next day we chose a new location and as I drove up to this property, I noticed a few birds, but not as many as I saw previously. (Incidentally I never saw one dove hunter or heard a shot during the time I was up there hunting!) After getting out I decided to walk up to a hillside to look over some ground I could not see from the road and as Cooper and I walked across the recently harrowed ground the doves starting getting up in droves (they blended in with the ground so well, they could not be seen from the road)! After scaring up which had to be no less than 200 doves, I decided we did not need to venture any further, but we did have to figure out how to get in range of these birds. First, we sat quietly in the grass next to the field where they had been feeding, but few returned and I decided this was not going to be a productive strategy. Just as we were walking out, I suddenly noticed that the birds were returning, although not landing in the field to feed, they were passing over a tree lined draw quite consistently, on a flight path to who knows where. At any rate we set up along the edge of the trees and had an absolute ball, pass shooting overhead birds through the tree tops...by far the most fun and challenging dove hunting I have ever experienced! As we closed in on our limit and the heat from the sun began to intensify, we headed for the truck, cleaned the birds and drove / pre scouted some more properties before retiring to the motel for another round of beer and BBQ.
Again, I apologize for no supporting pictures, but I can assure you that an early season dove hunt can be very relaxing and provide a good opportunity to pre-season scout some properties from the road. If you are not taking advantage of this activity you are truly missing a great opportunity to get out and get the rust off yourself and the dog and get a leg up on the upcoming bird season.
Good hunting, Richard
Dove hunting with Mid-America Hunting Association has been well received. Especially the last several seasons being above average years. September being the peak dove hunting month.
One of the most remarked advantages we bring to the hunting world is the ability to provide the experienced hunter the only advantage he requires. That is, the opportunity to hunt good ground without competition. Then we add to that by allowing the hunter to hunt as desired in terms of both time and hunting style. Not only for dove, but also deer, turkey, upland and waterfowl. For the dove hunter this means more open ground crop fields near open water in an area of the country well known for its dove population.
Dove Distribution
Eastern Kansas and most of Missouri lay under the overlapping regions of the Western and Eastern subspecies of Morning Dove. In this area our Association leases abundant private land for dove hunting. Just as the leased land is abundant so are dove water and food sources as well.
Opening on the first of September dove are readily found on most milo fields. Summer wheat harvest has long been picked over. From the first of September until the first cold snap the northern dove hunting in Kansas and Missouri is worth the hunter's early morning wake up.
Dove do not winter over in large numbers and are largely migratory within this region. The typicall September have seen a cold snap severe enough to start the southward migration during the third week of the month. From September first through the third week the northern areas of both Kansas and Missouri have good dove hunting to the point of hunters making repetitive reservations for a second, third and fourth hunts.
After the traditional late September cold snap,dove hunting continues during and after the late September on the Association's southern properties. Small residential and migrating flocks concentrated on the lesser abundant milo fields. These areas are predominately wheat growing areas.
Dove nesting not too often seen and to capture in a picture more rare.
Cover, nesting and food habitat are readily available over larger areas of Kansas and Missouri. The most significant threat to our dove population are spring winds that can blow the lightly constructed nest or chicks right out of the tree.
Another Dove Hunting Account
John,
Enclosed a picture of some doves taken on MAHA land on Labor Day...these dove were taken just scouting some property. Close up gunning as they bust out of roost trees. Had some good gunning on Saturday and Sunday in two different locations...took two limits. There are not a lot of doves...period; however the diversity of habitat within a map unit allowed some fun shooting. I haven't limited on doves in 14 years and truly enjoyed hunting a couple hours each morning, prior to scouting and all was done in some lousy weather.
I can report that I have never seen such a good survival rate of turkey poults in a lot of years. Most hens are averaging 6+ poults in various stages of development, which is outstanding. I also saw good numbers of young roosters, ALL either entering or leaving MAHA property.
Received our deer back form the taxidermist two weeks ago. Kyle's [location deleted] rifle buck on the left and my [location deleted] bow buck on the right. Looking forward to another fun, safe, and successful year hunting MAHA land.
Thanks again. Steve
And, another...
John,
I just returned from my [location deleted] County dove hunt. It was an outstanding hunt and the doves were easy to come by if you could hit them. The attached picture is of Giz, my male shorthair, with our limit. We shot those dove in about 3 to 4 hours of hunting on a MAHA lease.
The next day we went to [location deleted] County and I didn't stay long. The dove numbers were not as good - that's hunting.
I did scout some areas in both counties for pheasant hunting ground and we should have an outstanding year based on all the birds I saw. The attached photos are of about 10 young pheasants. They ran off the road in to a ditch as I approached in my truck. I got Giz out and he landed a solid point of a young rooster that held long enough for a photo. The bird flushed and Giz remained steady, which is the picture of Giz watching the bird fly off. Look at Giz' eyes. That's why I hunt with pointing dogs!
I also saw a huge buck but he was so far away, I couldn't get a good photo. Giz also found about 5 young turkeys, which was his first pointed turkey.
MAHA properties look very promising for this pheasant hunter.
Take care, Bryan
