by Kat Ainsworth | Published: Sep 27, 2024
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
When August rolls into September, wingshooters are all about one thing—dove season. The bird of peace happens to make fantastic poppers, and the additional layer of challenge you get out of hunting them is a bonus, too. Whether you’re hitting the fields for dove season right now or trying to decide if you want to add a hunting season to your whitetail habit, we’re here to help. Consider this your one-stop guide for tips, tricks, and recipes for the tastiest tiny birds on the wingshooting menu.
This one is a little self-explanatory. Dove hunting is the practice of shooting the named birds for their meat, but there’s more to it than that. Dove hunting is something of a ritual opener to All Things Fall. In states like Texas, it’s the season that kicks off the rest—deer, turkey, waterfowl, and sandhill crane. It’s like a solid opening band for the headlining act (because like it or not, deer season remains at the top).
At its simplest, dove hunting is the practice of shooting a migratory bird of which there are many species. There are about 300 species of dove, but hunters only go after a handful. The most popular and legal to hunt are the mourning dove, white-winged dove, white-winged dove, and Eurasian collared dove. Because they’re migratory they do the usual thing and show up in impressive flights a few weeks before the season that then disperse from legal hunting areas on opening day—at least that’s how it seems many years.
Aside from needing a place to hunt, the top three things you’ll need for a successful dove hunt are a good shotgun, a pile of shotshells, and your hunting license—the latter of which has a few extra steps. With that license, you’re probably going to need a little extra, depending on the state you’re in. In states like Texas and Georgia, you’ll need an additional Migratory Game Bird Endorsement that may or may not involve an extra fee. And in every state where you’re chasing migratory birds, you’re going to need a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certificate. Always check the regulations where you’re hunting, because it’s your responsibility to know the law and follow it. Claiming ignorance of the law is never a valid legal defense, so don’t think you can try that with your local game warden if there’s a problem.
(Of course, you don’t want to forget your ear pro, because you want to be able to hear what’s going on around you for years to come.)
There are a few things you need to know before you hit your nearest milo field. Dove hunting is a great way to get into wingshooting and is also a good way to spend laid-back time with friends who hunt. You don’t have to worry about being quiet, you can sit down around a field and relax, and when it’s all done you get dove poppers.
Check out these tips for common regulations:
The best answer for how to cook the doves you shoot is dove poppers. These tasty morsels are almost a religious experience, they’re so good. Here’s what you’ll need:
Directions are simple. Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and garlic in a bowl. Breasts should be de-boned and seasoned if you want them seasoned. Fill your halved jalapenos with the cheese mixture, top them with a breast, and wrap the whole thing in bacon. An hour on the smoker at 300 degrees and you have some of the greatest things ever made. An optional twist is adding chopped brisket to the jalapeno mixture (and it’s amazing).
If you don’t want dove poppers—a horrifying thought, really—there are other options. There’s always chicken fried dove breasts—dove nuggets if you will—and pan-seared dove. I’ve even slow-cooked a pile of them and pulled the meat apart to make tiny dove sliders. Be creative! There’s no reason you can’t make whatever you want. Poppers aren’t the law. Some hunters will eat the wings and legs as well but given the minute amount of meat, it isn’t that common. That doesn’t mean you can’t, because you can, only that it will take a lot of extra effort for less than a mouthful of meat.
READ MORE: A Deep Dive into the Hunter NRL: Lessons Learned and Essential Gear
Dove hunting is a lot of fun and a fantastic way to kick off your bigger, more gear-intensive seasons. Out here all I have to do is take my shotgun, dog, and camp chair out and see what shows up. It’s a more laid-back sport and although the quantities of meat might seem disappointing, it’s still worth it. Dove breasts taste wonderful and the process of getting them is fun. Really, what more can you ask for from a hunt than good times and great food?
Want to learn more about dove hunting laws? Check out this guide to related laws by state.
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