STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS BY CHAS. J. DEES

Known to many hunters as the mourning dove, this minuscule tan and grey missile can accelerate to a blistering 55 miles per hour. Much to the delight of ammunition manufacturers, and the chagrin of many hunters, the grey rocket also can perform aerial acrobatics that would make a jet pilot queasy.

It's not at all strange to see a dove hunter in the field, surrounded by a pile of spent shells, and muttering in disbelief as doves zoom back and forth, seemingly oblivious to the frustrated hunter taking aim at the fast-moving target.

It's the toughest target in wing-shooting to consistently hit. But for the lucky hunters that have figured out how to knock down these small projectiles, the table fare is well worth the effort. Considering the sheer cost of the ammunition required to harvest a pound of dove breasts, it may also be a very expensive dinner.

A Bird of a Different Tune

Contrary to popular belief, mourning doves are not songbirds, but instead are small-framed cousins of the common pigeon, which is often seen eating popcorn and bread at the local park or roosting on a park statue. Mourning doves are migratory species that spend much of the winter in the southern part of the United States, although there are a hardy few that choose to brave the winter here. According to John Cole, the Department of Natural Resources upland wildlife program manager for the Division of Wildlife Program Development, up to 8 percent of doves in Illinois are either permanent residents or migrate short distances within the state during the winter.

The mourning dove is one of the most abundant birds in North America, with populations that fluctuate annually

For many hunters, dove season is the beginning of a new year of hunting. Hot days and nights give way to cooler fall weather, and it's a good time to get back in the field and practice wing shooting

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Dove hunting is an excellent way to sharpen shooting skills.

around the 400 million mark. It is also the most commonly hunted game bird in the country. In fact, more doves are harvested than all other migratory game birds combined. This highly adaptable bird has made its home in many diverse habitats, including the coniferous forests of the west, the concrete jungles of the city and the agricultural fields of the country, making it one of the most widely distributed birds in North America.

Doves are primarily seed eaters. They are commonly found feeding at ground level and seen ingesting grit and small stones to help them grind up the food in their gizzard. Most of their diet consists of weed seeds and grains. While their preferred roosting habitat is coniferous trees, such as spruce, pines, cypress and cedar, they are also at home roosting on telephone poles, barn roofs and dead trees.

Part of their abundance lies in their high reproductive rate. They are able to nest up to five times in a season. And the squabs, or immature doves, fledge the nest in only two weeks. Monogamous mated pairs lay two eggs per clutch, and males and females take turns incubating eggs. Males are usually the ones on the nest during the day and females at night. Mourning doves are short-lived, with an average life span of only one year.

Missile Hunting

Despite the difficulty in harvesting these challenging birds, more than 80,000 hunters in Illinois and 1.6 million hunters nationwide spent the last season

After a meal, doves can be found picking up small stones and gravel to aid the digestive process.

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Dove hunting may require lots of time in the sun, so hunters should consider using sunscreen to prevent burning.

pursuing doves. For dove hunting newcomers, here are a few suggestions:

As with any hunting, practice is the key to success. When you are shooting at something about the size of a lemon that can fly as fast as a speeding car, you can expect to miss a few times before hitting the mark. Spending some time at the local skeet, trap and sporting clays club can do wonders for your wingshooting skills and probably reduce the cost of your seasonal ammunition requirements.

Small shot sizes are preferred, with most hunters using size 7-9 pellets. Those who wish to hunt doves near waterfowl management areas should note that these areas require steel shot. Check local hunting regulations on the use of steel shot. Wider choke tubes, such as the improved cylinder and modified chokes, are more effective on doves than the tighter-patterning chokes. A tight pattern likely will result in more misses and many severely mangled birds.

Using dogs to retrieve fallen birds has become more common. Remember to bring extra water tor the hard-working pooch.

Finding doves is relatively easy. Look for them where food, water and roosting sites intersect. Listen for the familiar cooing sounds in the early morning and evening (coo-ah, coo, coo, coo) or for the high-pitched whistling of wings when doves take flight.

Doves are very fond of grain, an abundant resource in Illinois. Because of this affinity, birds often congregate around agricultural fields planted with corn, millet, wheat, soybeans and sunflowers.

Doves need to drink at least twice a day—once in the morning, when they leave the roost, and once in the evening, when they return to the roost. Ponds and creeks with relatively open patches of ground are preferred drinking spots. Grit and small stones to aid in the digestion of seeds often are gathered there.

Roosting sites serve as vantage points to watch for food, predators and other doves. They are places where the birds rest and hide from the heat of the day. Dead trees, power lines, utility .poles and hardwood trees are great roosting sites. Doves are not fond of thick forest cover and are often found at the fringe or edge of this type of habitat.

An effective, but somewhat underused, technique in dove hunting is locator calls.

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Dove facts Hunting is not a major factor in the population dynamics of doves. Hunters account for only a small percentage of the species' annual mortality. Populations are affected more by weather, disease, accidents and predators. Research has shown there is little movement between rural and urban mourning dove populations, so birds taken by hunters are not the same as those seen at urban bird feeders.

Mike Wickens finishes another day of hunting and looks forward to a nice dove dinner.

"Doves are social animals and will readily respond to the call of another dove," said Kelly Haydel of Haydel's Game Calls.

Scouting birds before opening day is something many dove hunters overlook. Like many animals, doves develop habits and patterns of movement during the spring and summer months. They have favorite roosting sites, preferred routes to food and water and specific times of the day when they move. Hunters who take the time to learn when, where and why the birds move can take advantage of these daily habits and place themselves along flight paths.

Establish a shooting perimeter for high-percentage shots. A major handicap for many shooters is the inability to determine correct distances to the target. Use small flags, decoys or natural landmarks to set the perimeter, and shoot only at doves that enter that perimeter. Whether it's 20, 30 or 40 yards, it's important to take a good shot.

A common problem is locating doves after they are shot. Their nondescript color, small size and almost magical tendency to fall in the thickest patches of vegetation make them tough to find. Throw a dove locator in the direction where the bird fell to help you locate where it landed. Dove locators can be easily made with a fishing sinker and some bright-colored ribbon or flourescent flagging tape.

Using decoys and calls Decoys will attract doves, especially in the late season when birds are wary of flying into fields that have received heavy hunting pressure. Doves often watch other birds and wait for an "all clear" cue from those landing and feeding. Decoys should be placed in highly visible areas, such as trees, fence rows, sunflower stalks or portable roosts. The sight of other birds will boost the confidence of wary birds and make them more apt to fly or land within your shooting perimeter. The use of a dove call will help doves locate your decoys and increase the likelihood they will come into range.

An increasing number of hunters are using dogs to help them locate downed birds. Dog owners find that dove season is a good time to refresh retrieving skills and to get the dog back into shape for the waterfowl season. One note of caution, especially for the larger breeds, is to watch the dog for signs of heat stress, such as excessive panting, fatigue or disorientation. Bring lots of water, and provide shade for the dog between retrievals. Dove hunting often occurs during the hottest part of the fall, so dog owners should be cautious, because there have been many cases of pets becoming very ill and even dying from heat-related stress.

After the Hunt

Hunters should always pick up spent shells, ammunition boxes and other trash. Most public sites are very good at stressing this point, but it only takes a few untidy hunters to convince private landowners that allowing the public to hunt on their property is a bad idea.

Cool the birds down on ice as soon as possible or field dress them by removing the wings at the shoulder joint with poultry shears, pulling the skin away from the breasts and popping the breast meat out of the body. Soak the breasts in several changes of water, and freeze them in water to prevent freezer burn.

Dove meat is a tender, mild-flavored meat suitable for grilling, breading or adding wild flavor to a rice or noodle dish. Enjoy the challenge of hunting this bountiful and renewable resource, and savor the reward of a hard-earned dinner.

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