dove hunting techniques

What technique is the best to use for dove hunting?

Hi. Dove season just started and I finally decided to give it a try. But man those birds are hard to hit! I kill about 6 doves for every 25 shot box. does anyone have any techniques that they use to improve their accuracy. Some people say to aim at their beaks or shoot ahead. what are your toughts on that? . and also what would be the best choke tube to use? Modified or cylinder?

Snake,

Thanks for making an old man smile. I have killed plenty of the little devils in my time and remember the frustration you are feeling as a newbie. I too have seen where they were costing more a pound than lobster. I once went with a guy whose office was full of skeet and trap trophies and watched him miss bird after bird. I also hunted with a guy who took one more shell than the daily limit, as he did miss once or twice a year.

Like any other shooting sport it takes practice. Skeet and trap shooting in the off season will benefit you. Taking the easiest of shots first, lets address the flying straight at you, or straight away. When coming at you aim just in front of them and pull the trigger allowing them to fly into the shot. When flying away from you aim just under them. As in all shooting of flying objects follow through with you shot. Too many hunters make the mistake of stopping when they pull the trigger. It’s like batting or playing golf, follow through is important. Don’t stop moving with your target until after you have fired.

The hardest to hit are the ones flying by to your left or right. Here is where you use about a 1 foot lead and follow through. Watch your wad when it comes out of the barrel, if it is going behind the bird you are not following through, or you need to increase your lead. The opposite if it is going in front of the bird. I do remember hunting dove in a canyon once with about a 30 mph wind. When they were flying with the wind I had to use about a 5 foot lead before I started hitting them.

My favorite way to kill dove, is just like quail and pheasant, jump shooting, but you have to be in the right place to get consistent jump shots with dove.

The “experts” recommend a Modified choke, which works well. I like a full choke because I used to hunt along the Rio Grande river and there were lots of high fliers late in the season. Hope you’re hunting in White wing area, because they have a lot more meat on them. Have fun and be safe.

Dove & quail hunting Tips : What to Expect When Hunting Dove

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