August-September 2022 • Nebraskaland 23
before setting down. In this scenario,
point the bead of your shotgun right
on its head and pull the trigger — it's
that simple. Also, these birds are much
easier to mark and retrieve.
Shooting a fl ying dove, however,
can be one of the most diffi cult game
birds to hit. Doves are small, and their
vital area is even smaller. What's
more, they're tough, acrobatic birds,
capable of dodging and fl ying a long
way even if you managed to clip a
wing. Depending on if the dove is
fl ying with or against the wind, and
how fast the wind is blowing, etc.,
all will infl uence how far you need to
lead the bird. Meaning, you are not
aiming at the bird at all, but out in
front of them. Many times, I've had
to lead doves by several feet to make
shots count.
Lastly, don't forget to follow through
with your shotgun swing. Fortunately,
there's no shortage of shooting
opportunities when hunting in one of
these honey holes, so bring plenty of
shells.
With landowner permission and
decoys in place, fi nd a bit of cover, if
you can, and be still. Then sit back
and watch. The sound of a creaking
windmill in the background is almost
haunting, as these swift, gray ghosts
materialize into view on the prairie's
horizon. Aim true, because these birds
have a way of disappearing just as fast
as they come.
N
Angie Kokes, left, and Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley of Omaha pose for a bag shot with
their doves at the end of the hunt.
Dove Season
•
Season Dates:
Sept. 1 – Oct. 30
•
Shooting hours:
30 minutes before
sunrise to sunset
•
Daily bag/possession
limits: 15/45 in
aggregate among
mourning dove,
Eurasian collard-dove
and white-winged
dove.
•
Licenses: Hunt Permit,
Habitat Stamp and HIP
(Harvest Information
Program) Number
MOURNING EURASIAN WHITE-WINGED
