Best week for doves

kansasbrittany

kansasbrittany

Banned
If you were planning some time off for dove season, which week would you take in an effort to catch the migration? I know, there's no way of "knowing" when they'll be here b/c we can't predict the weather, but you guys that have been around for awhile probably have a pretty decent idea of which September week the birds typically pass through.

Of course I'll be taking September 1 off to chase some birds around here, but I like to head out west (or NC KS) to hunt them when they're passing through. I picked the 3rd week of September last year and missed 'em by a week. I've taken it on the 3rd w/e before and did great. I thought about taking the first week of October, but I have a business venture that's going to last the entire week.

What do you guys think?
 
RoosterTim said:
Man if I knew the dates I would probably know the lotto numbers as well.
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Yeah, and if you knew the lotto #'s, you wouldn't have started the "getting paid to hunt" thread;) You're being of little help here man.

Your response is fair enough....it is almost a stupid question, but doesn't quite qualify b/c I really don't know the answer:rolleyes:

I try hitting "the" best week each year. I've been lucky a few times and missed it by more than a week other times. Last year I was out there 10 days before the dove birds came in any real #'s (third week I believe). Dad said a few days after I left they started coming in droves, then about 8-10 days after I'd left they were absolutely everywhere. Whatever....I'm not the type to give up easily:)
 
I vote for the first week of September, shoot mostly locals, but if your in the right spot, where they stage, prior to migration it can be fabulous. I wouldn't wait, because any cold rain will send them south, and the migration may pass right on through without a stop. Last year we had none locally, cold rain the last week of August, never saw any numbers of birds till spring. There are years that the migration is here on September 1st. I think our dove hunting is lessened as the states north of us began hunting them, like Nebraska, and now Iowa, this year. I am delighted for their opportunity, it's been a long time coming,but it will decrease and smarten up the birds coming down the pike!
 
Really? If you don't know the difference between a summer shower and a "cold" rain you don't spend enough time outside. Cold rain, as in drops the air temp about 20 degrees in a few minutes, chills you to the bone even though the air temp is in the 60's or even the 70's, doves hate it and vacate the country. Warm rain, frogs sing, birds sing, you enjoy walking in it. Been shooting doves for 40 years in Missouri and Kansas. Sometimes we get 5 days of great shooting, sometimes we get a month, if it rains it's over, a few hardy birds will filter down later, if it warms up and stays dry they will linger, but the locals and first flight are in Texas, or Louisiana by then.
 
One of the best dove hunts I can remember was mid-October, we were teal hunting and were flushing doves as we walked into the oxbow lake we were decoying. Gave up on ducks, started shooting doves with steel 5's. Ran out of steel, drove home and got some lead dove loads, and shot a pile of birds. Fluke late season migration for sure.

That said, opening week has always been best for us. Like said above, a cold front will come through and push them all out, making you rely on northern migrations. Since moving to Missouri, my dove hunting has been pretty good. Typically hunt public ground that MO DOC has planted for doves. Typically its shoulder to shoulder with hunters, but the doves come in by the hundreds and thousands. Sounds like WWII when the sun comes up.
 
hunter94 said:
what the hell is a cold rain? anyone??
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In light of the lack of rain through out most of Kansas and the 100 - 110 degree temperatures nearly constant for the last two weeks, I believe that there might have been a bit of sarcasm in this statement. Cold and Rain are two things that many folks have not seen in quite some time and certainly not together on the same day.:thumbsup:
 
Tallgrass said:
In light of the lack of rain through out most of Kansas and the 100 - 110 degree temperatures nearly constant for the last two weeks, I believe that there might have been a bit of sarcasm in this statement. Cold and Rain are two things that many folks have not seen in quite some time and certainly not together on the same day.:thumbsup:
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that would be true...:thumbsup:
 
oldandnew said:
Really? If you don't know the difference between a summer shower and a "cold" rain you don't spend enough time outside. Cold rain, as in drops the air temp about 20 degrees in a few minutes, chills you to the bone even though the air temp is in the 60's or even the 70's, doves hate it and vacate the country. Warm rain, frogs sing, birds sing, you enjoy walking in it. Been shooting doves for 40 years in Missouri and Kansas. Sometimes we get 5 days of great shooting, sometimes we get a month, if it rains it's over, a few hardy birds will filter down later, if it warms up and stays dry they will linger, but the locals and first flight are in Texas, or Louisiana by then.
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Us boys down here in Oklahoma love it when it rains in Kansas. It sendes them our way:thumbsup:
 
KB , I normally get limits thruout the season you know where i live not sure bout the more populated parts of ks but here it seems like the doves come in waves,2 days and a 100 rounds and three days less than a box probly not answering ur ? but my 2 cents is watch the weather up north and most of the time u can predict when they are coming down.if i had to plan a trip i would take the third week in sept. off hope this helps.
 
oldandnew said:
I vote for the first week of September, shoot mostly locals, but if your in the right spot, where they stage, prior to migration it can be fabulous. I wouldn't wait, because any cold rain will send them south, and the migration may pass right on through without a stop. Last year we had none locally, cold rain the last week of August, never saw any numbers of birds till spring. There are years that the migration is here on September 1st. I think our dove hunting is lessened as the states north of us began hunting them, like Nebraska, and now Iowa, this year. I am delighted for their opportunity, it's been a long time coming,but it will decrease and smarten up the birds coming down the pike!
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I believe I'll be going back to this old approach. It's the way I did it in the beginning and it worked quite well. I just enjoy being out there when the migration comes through (there are a few other things to experience in nature at the same time). Looks like I'm taking a 4 day vacation to start September:cheers:
 
lefty870 said:
KB , I normally get limits thruout the season you know where i live not sure bout the more populated parts of ks but here it seems like the doves come in waves,2 days and a 100 rounds and three days less than a box probly not answering ur ? but my 2 cents is watch the weather up north and most of the time u can predict when they are coming down.if i had to plan a trip i would take the third week in sept. off hope this helps.
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The third week has been good to me for catching the migration. I'll only have a couple days vacation left by the time this baby comes, so I think I'm going with the "sure deal" and taking the first couple days of season off. Godo luck w/ the birds out there. I know a good roost or watering hole can be incredible out that way:thumbsup:
 
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