Birds of September

Posted on September 2, 2010 by bob in OffTheBeatenPath

Bella and Niko scan the horizon for dove.

September for many folks in Alabama signals the beginning of another much-anticipated college football season. For months they’ve been waiting patiently to again start the weekend rituals of food, fun, friends and football. I like watching my alma mater take the field in crimson and white as much as any Tide fan, but September marks the beginning of an even more important and much older pastime for me: dove hunting.

The mourning dove is America’s most popular and most hunted game bird, and for good reason. A good dove hunt can be the most enjoyable hunting of the year when the birds are flying well, your dog is retrieving like a field trial champion and you have friends or family with you sharing the experience. In many places the opening day of dove season is steeped in tradition and resembles a tailgate ceremony before the first football game of the year. Team colors and shakers are traded in for camouflage and shotguns and dogs are welcome.

This year, hunters across Alabama can enjoy 70 days of dove hunting broken up into three split seasons. The state is divided between a North Zone and a South Zone with different seasons for each, so check the area and dates you plan to hunt to be sure you’re legal.

Pre-season training with bumpers improves retrieves once you're in the field.

For the areas I hunt, many Saturdays in September, Bella (my Labrador retriever) and I can be found beneath a shade tree overlooking a harvested grain field or watering hole or hidden along a known dove flyway. Dove in flight can be difficult and frustrating targets, leading many hunters to poor shell-to-bird ratios. That’s alright though, because a dove hunt is the first hunt of the year for most folks, helping bird hunters warm up for duck, goose or quail season and getting deer hunters fired up to chase bucks and does.

Before heading afield, however, I always make a checklist of the things I’ll need.  Because dove have keen eyesight, I dress in lightweight full camouflage that matches my surroundings. I always wear protective glasses and carry ear plugs, and make sure to carry my hunting license and harvest information program stamp (free, but required for hunting all migratory birds including dove).

Shotgun choice is personal preference; most any 12 or 20 gauge will do as long as it has a plug installed so only three shells can be loaded into the firearm at a time as required by law. Depending on how long the shots will be, I choose either an improved cylinder choke for close proximity shooting or a modified choke if I need to reach out to flaring or high-flying birds. I shoot a 12 gauge automatic for almost every bird I hunt, and for doves, 2 ¾” No. 7 ½ shot or smaller 1 ounce loads work just fine.

I also always pack a dove stool with a cargo compartment for carrying shells, drinks and any birds I harvest. Last but certainly not least, I have to plan for Bella’s needs. On hot days especially, she needs to stay hydrated and in the shade between retrieves. The dove stool comes in handy because it can hold a gallon jug of water for her and a small first aid kit.

A successful hunt.

Just writing this has me anxiously anticipating opening day and I hope it’s done the same for you as a reader. So pull out your trusty scattergun, get the appropriate licenses, throw a few bumpers for your Lab (I am told young children also make fine retrievers), and get ready for one of wing shooting’s greatest challenges.

Good shooting to you!

2010-2011 Dove Seasons (North Zone)
Bag limit —15 birds a day, 15 in possession.
September 4: 12 noon until sunset, afternoon shooting only
September 5 – October 3: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset, all day
October 23 – November 6: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset, all day
December 11 – January 4: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset, all day

Public dove hunting opportunities in Central Alabama:
Autauga County Community Hunting Area     (334) 358-0035
Coosa County Wildlife Management Area    (334) 358-0035
Lowndes Wildlife Management Area (334) 358-0035
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Land (334) 872-9554

Niko Corley is an avid sportsman, spending his free time hunting, fishing  and enjoying other outdoor activities. In this column, he will cover a range of outdoor recreation activities in central Alabama and beyond.