Dove Hunting Pattern

[Cantcatch5]

Depends on what part of the state you are in and what the weather has been. I used to hunt in the far Northwestern Panhandle. The whole county was feed for them but there was very little water so we hunted water in the evenings and were usually covered up with birds!

[Lungbustr]

Food sources in the morning for me. Easier on me and the dog too, much cooler.

[arrowdynamic]

Last year they flew north to south looking for food in the morning and then south to north looking for water in the late afternoon. Two years ago at the start of bow season, I was sitting in a tree stand over a pond in the deep woods. I didn't see any deer but there were literally 100's of dove that flew in and drank and roosted all around me.

[back-woods-boy]

Like all other bird hunting I scout hard on the few day before the season and watch what they are doing. Staying on the four wheeler looking for the constant pattern. Once I find what they are doing I hunt that till they change.

[unclefish]

There is not a one size fits all pattern for doves. It can change day to day...especially with weather. Scout and see what they are doing.

One thing I have noticed the last few years is that doves hit the fields early in the afternoon where I hunt....like 2pm....if you show up at 4 they are already in the field.

[geauxgruene]

I didn't realize they changed pattern that often.

[Happy97]

Hard to beat find the tree they fly up to following the morning feed. Once they settle down on a limb they are pretty easy to hit. Normally it is pretty shady there too.

^^^^^^ my preferred method is well

[hwhit]

Fields in the morning, and tanks at night. Last year was really weird they stopped flying where I was by about 6:30pm.

[SAC]

There is not a one size fits all pattern for doves. It can change day to day...especially with weather. Scout and see what they are doing.

One thing I have noticed the last few years is that doves hit the fields early in the afternoon where I hunt....like 2pm....if you show up at 4 they are already in the field.

This. We realized that 2 years ago. As Smart alluded to, I figure a dove eats twice a day. Morning and afternoon, followed by water.