Page 38 - Outdoor Oklahoma - May/June 2021 Issue

Many hunters view dove season as the unoffi- fall, dove begin to fly south, “pushed” by cold
cial kickoff of hunting season. The dove season fronts. This migration requires a lot of energy,
opener Sept. 1 each year leads the way into the and that energy comes from the food sources
fall and winter hunting seasons. available as they migrate. Therefore, providing a
Hunters are able to get out in moderate weath- grain food resource at that time of year can draw
er conditions and enjoy wingshooting for a fast, higher numbers of dove.
fitful, falcon-like bird. These agile birds can be Since dove are migratory birds, they are pro-
a tough target as they zig and zag while zoom- tected by federal regulations that prohibit bait-
ing by. That said, a hunter will want to have shot ing. So, it takes a little more creativity to provide
opportunities at the most dove possible. these needed grains.
Doves, like any other wildlife species, are Management practices for dove will take place
looking for key items needed for survival: food, months before the season opens. The prima-
water, and shelter. By managing land according- ry method to provide grain for dove is through
ly, anyone’s property can be manipulated and food plots.
maintained to provide the item most lacking but The term “food plot” likely triggered a thought
needed during the hunting season. process that includes working ground, buying
Dove season coincides with dove migration. As seed, planting seed, and fertilizing that newly
temperatures drop in late summer and through planted plot. But there are simpler, less expen-

JENA DONNELL/ODWC

DAvID bANTA/ODWC Above:
Disking at
Hackberry
Flat WMA in
preparation for
dove hunting
season.
Left:
Disking is usually
the first step
in a months-
long process to
prepare fields
for better dove
hunting.

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