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DOVE SEASON UNDERWAY…A SOUTHERN TRADITION LIVES ON
By Steve McCadams
When September rolls around Tennessee sportsmen all across the Volunteer
State flock to dove fields not only because it’s wing shooting’s finest
hour but it is indeed a southern tradition.
Watching Tennessee football and gathering beneath the shade trees before
a hunt for a little barbecue and baked beans prepared by down home
friends and family is as much a part of early fall afternoons as falling
leaves.
Finding a dove field covered up with birds is about as exciting as any
type hunting when the droves of gray darters make bombing runs on a
grain field at prime feeding time. It is indeed a sight for sore eyes.
From out of nowhere they descend at high rates of speed, especially if a
little wind enters the equation.
Shots taken; shots missed. That’s all part of the fun and fellowship as
this is a sport to be shared by lots of friends and family. You don’t
have to be a great shot or an experienced wing shooter to enjoy it
either.
Usually it takes quite a few hunters to keep the doves up and moving so
it is indeed a sport that requires input from a lot of players on the
team.
Southern dove hunts have a reputation of not only good food and
fellowship but serve as the introductory level for many sportsmen who
likely entered the outdoor field courtesy of a dove hunt. From
youngsters who may have just completed a hunter safety course to adults
that may still be in the novice category, dove hunts can plant the seed
and cultivate future sportsmen.
Meanwhile, hunters have been busy these last few weeks scouting out
potential spots and hoping to either receive an invitation to hunt from
a farmer or landowner. Others rely on some public hunting opportunities
such as leased acreage from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency or
perhaps some prepared fields on some of the agency’s wildlife management
areas.
There are several challenges under the umbrella of dove hunting and
topping the list is finding a place to hunt each season. Others are on
the list too as mastering the aim of fast moving doves have a way of
humbling even the most veteran shotgunner at times.
Each year TWRA attempts to lease acreage from farmers and landowners in
an attempt to provide hunting opportunities in the early portion of the
September season.
Some years it’s a tough challenge for folks to find a place to hunt.
Seems there’s always more people wanting to hunt than there are places
to go. That’s a trend that hasn’t changed over the years.
SECOND SEGMENT OF DOVE SEASON
The first segment of Tennessee’s three-segment dove season closed last
Tuesday and the second segment opens up October 9. It will run through
October 31.
Although not many hunters partake of the second and third segments of
season they do offer some good opportunities at times. Farmers across
the region have been shelling corn for quite some time, which offers
excellent feeding areas for doves.
The lion’s share of dove hunters hit the fields during the first week to
ten days of the first segment. After that it seems too many other
activities---ranging from fall fishing, all sorts of sporting events to
deer hunting---appeal so dove hunting is sort of an afterthought to many
sportsmen.
DOVE HUNTING HAS CHANGED
Over the years the sport of dove hunting has changed somewhat across the
state. The population of doves concentrated around various agricultural
fields seems to be dramatically different from yesteryear.
Farming practices are much different too. A generation ago a lot of
farmers ran milk barn operations which required big fields of silage to
be grown to feed hefty herds of cows.
Farmers began cutting silage in mid to late August and that coincided
with the September opening of dove season. Big open fields of silage
offered a mecca for doves as harvesting operations back then were known
to spill a lot of grain in the field and that attracted doves who
thrived in the backcountry buffets.
Fast forward to today and the numbers of farmers milking cows has
diminished greatly. As small farms faded away from milk cow operations
and their silos and barns became dinosaurs the abundant opportunities
for southern dove hunts faded with them.
Nowadays, most dove hunts are held around fields specifically prepared
to attract doves for a short time. There are some exceptions as
harvested corn fields still have a time and place for dove hunters who
are the beneficiary of modern day agriculture.
However, massive efforts to lure doves todays seems to come at the hands
of farmers, landowners or a wildlife agency that has spent considerable
money, time and effort to plant, spray and cultivate sunflower fields.
Top sown wheat is still popular too as doves have long had appetites for
wheat and millet feeding opportunities.
Paid hunts held by farmers and landowners or various organizations
trying to raise funds for conservation causes were quite popular decades
ago but that too has faded away.
There are, however, a few farmers leasing their acreage to TWRA and the
location and dates of the hunts are posted on the agency’s website just
before opening day of the September season. Log on to www.tnwildlife.org
where you’ll find maps and a list of locations.
Counties where the hunts are located will be listed as will specific
directions to the fields. However, it’s fair to say TWRA’s land leasing
program for dove hunts hasn’t worked out too well. Not many farmers find
the program attractive.
If you plan to partake of one of the public hunts you might want to
scout out the area ahead of time and see if any doves are using the
location. Sometimes the doves don’t get the memo and even a good looking
field simply hasn’t attracted enough doves to provide good hunting
opportunities.
Another tip is to arrive early and pick a spot. Odds are the public
fields that have doves will be in high demand. So, finding a spot can be
challenging. Bottom line is there are scores of people who simply don’t
have a place to hunt and the only outlet they have is pursuing public
hunting acreage.
Yet there are some exceptions too as several great hunts have been
recorded over the years on fields both owned by TWRA or on one of the
many leased fields.
Like the doves during a hunt locating a good field is sometimes hit and
miss.
Another challenge facing hunters this year is ammunition or lack
thereof. Back in the mid-summer many shooting ranges, school shooting
teams and just the average skeet or trap shooter visiting his favorite
gun club or just practicing in the back yard had a dilemma.
A lot of places had difficulty keeping shotguns shells as well as other
ammo in stock. The rash of manufacturing and shipping problems in the
wake of the COVID pandemic trickled down to the shooting sports arena
too.
As the season drew near some stores were beginning to replenish their
stock but prices are
notably higher this year compared to seasons past. Hunters will have to
dig a little deeper in their pockets this time around!
Southern dove hunts will survive the ammo issue and the tradition will
continue as long as flocks of doves descend over grain fields at a rapid
speed. This great sport has attracted generations of hunters back to the
rural areas where friendships are forged under the guise of a fast and
furious dove shoot.
The first of three segment runs through September 28. Tennessee’s daily
bag limit remains at 15 daily. Collared doves have no limit.
Here’s hoping you keep the southern tradition going and perhaps help
introduce someone to this great sport the way someone did for you in
times past.
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