Edgar longs for the colors of autumn and frosty, winter days so he can explore the landscapes in search of wild birds in wild places. We've found rattlers nest to trees and fence posts.". Most of the time I'll be using 2 3/4-inch shells with 8 shot. Home » Dove Hunting » Three Clever Methods for Using Dove Decoys, Edgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for…. Over the past several years, decoys have become used more widely to entice birds to fly within shooting distance. More visible arrow flight to your intended target. In the 1940’s Texas hunters discovered that sheets of newspaper on the ground would attract snow geese. "That's usually the way it happens down in this creek draw," said Fernandez, who has been hunting those ranches south of San Antonio for more than 40 years. State wildlife commission extends days, hours for 2020 season. I sent her back out and she did the same thing. One more tip from Fernandez centers on using dove decoys. "Dove hunting out here can be feast or famine," he said that evening as we cooked chicken fajitas over an open fire. Once hunters locate that sweet spot in a field, they need to pace off from their shooting positions and start placing decoys on the ground there. "You see it all the time with tight rigs," he said. Some were just molds resembling doves and others had wings that rotated and gave the illusion of a flapping wing. Doves, like other birds, are attracted to more doves and this is where the dove decoy becomes a useful hunting tool. Use a combination of both flying and stationary decoys to create a realistic flock on the ground. Used to mimic large flocks of geese, the Texas Rag Spread is an inexpensive way to set out hundreds, if not thousands of decoys for goose hunting. Just as in duck hunting, doves spot that glint of white from the wings of motion decoys and believe they have located a place where other doves feel secure. The latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers. This could be an issue if hunters are using their dove loads and want to do a combo trip. "I work on our ranches and see where doves are flying," says Fernandez. Edgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency. There's nothing like having a good friend with a good "dove ranch" in South Texas. The exception to the X, Mann said, is when he's hunting from cover, such as a tree line or fencerow. 65 Views 5 Comments 0 Likes. Glad you enjoyed the article and better yet got something out of it. "If we get just a little bit of rain during July and August it'll usually be enough to grow plenty of weeds that drop a lot of seeds. Dove hunting is simple. I've been using decoys for several decades and noticed that during phase 1 you can decoy the local birds to land right on the lines next to the decoys. Talk about a wakeup call! A new long-range hunting contender enters the fray. Make it inviting. Doves, without a doubt, are probably the easiest of the game birds to hunt. And that's the point of so many successful dove shoots in … New for 2021 are several hunter-defined products, such as the Excalibur TwinStrike Crossbow, BowTech Solution and Solution SS Bows, TightSpot Pivot 2.5 Quiver, Ripcord Cage and Code Red X arrowrests, and Black Gold Pro FX and Pro Hunter HD sights. All the birds had moved to a goat weed field in the middle of nowhere. However, we sometimes find ourselves in a location with no trees or fence lines to mount our stationary decoys, and the ground is often too hard to stake in our motion decoys. You've got to make adjustments and move to where the birds are flying. Using Dove Decoys. Re: Duck Hunting Tips [ … Fernandez unlocked the gate and as we rolled across the cattle guard, the birds were already coming in to feed. It's a tiny pond, but has big mesquite trees surrounding it. Enjoy canned venison warmed or use it in stews, chili, and other hot dishes. when the people started pushing the field the doves would head in my direction and then seeing the decoys come to the tree where I would shoot them. I enjoy dove hunting all 3 hunting segments in SE NC and after the 1st couple of weeks no one else hunts just me and my Boykin or my hunting partner. Flickers of white wings fluttering may catch the eye and curiosity of flying doves. "That old creek draw is the cat's meow for dove hunts," Fernandez pointed out. "Don't forget to put your snake boots on," he said with a grin. ... Three Clever Methods for Using Dove Decoys. I mean there were hundreds of them! In recent years, the advent of electronic "spinning-wing" decoys revolutionized duck hunting, and now dove hunters are using similar tactics to bring birds into range. First Time Dove hunting> first weekend of sept. W. KS. There is absolutely no better way to hunt doves than the use of decoys. "When scouting, I look for doves on the high wires and in trees. 87. When the birds first start flying down the draw they are hooked up and moving fast. "During September we will begin to have cool fronts moving through. At times I'll go to a full choke when the birds are flying high.". If using wind-driven spinning wing decoys, this setup makes even more sense. We just set the camera on the ground and let it record; unfortunately we werent able to ... Video Rating: 4 / 5 3. Remember, when dove hunting shoot often – and bring lots of red or yellow shells. I think Project Upland is THE best source out there for beginners, novice, and seasoned bird hunters. These plastic mimics act as a signal for others to investigate. Give a Gift   (Photo by Robert Sloan). "This is going to be very different shooting than what we had yesterday," he said. Here's a look at the latest shotguns, loads, calls, clothing and more. I wear a pullover shooting vest that holds lots of shells, water and back bag that holds the birds. Another small group of decoys would be set to either side at an angle about 25 yards, with the elevated decoys positioned just on the outside of the spread, facing into the wind. In this article we will show you how to ensure you find the doves and bring home as many as possible. Decoys don’t need to be positioned only on the ground. by Caleb Warner. I dropped a bird about 20 yards out in a goat weed field. I've actually had doves land within a few feet of a decoy. More information... People also love these ideas And when you go to pick up a bird, make sure there's not a snake nearby.". The key is not how many dove decoys are set out, but how and where. Youth dove hunts can also be a straight disaster, one that can turn from a fun day in the field to nothing but silence in the truck on the way home, if you aren’t careful. One of the best edges is to use high-quality shotshells. If wanting to bring the deke spread to life, then the use of motion decoys will also benefit from setting them up into the wind. Saved by Outdoor Channel. Charlie Fernandez met me at the front gate to his family's South Texas ranch and made no bones about me being late. Some new ideas I hadn’t heard before. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for twelve years. Dove Hunting and Baiting . Fishing, rods & reels, camping gear, tents and much more. All rights reserved. Tex Hunter on Best Dove Hunting in Texas in 10 Years; Moving Deer Decoy: Put Motion in Your Hunt. Decoys can be purchased individually or in small packs or groups. Show all posts. In the small Texas towns, opening day of doves means pickup trucks lined up at the cafes, the gas stations and the Dairy Queens, their beds loaded down with folding chairs and gun cases, decoys and coolers. Maximize your hunting time by identifying the best ringneck cover in the fields you hunt. 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