Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

The mourning dove is common to abundant in Alabama throughout the year. It is migratory, but it breeds in all 48 adjoining states and in southern Canada, Central Mexico, and Cuba. During fall, large numbers usually fly into the state from areas to the north of Alabama. The mourning dove is the state's most popular game bird. Nearly 3.5 million are harvested by state hunters every year.

Life History

Pairing off usually begins in January. Pairs probably remain mated throughout the nesting season, which extends from February through mid-October. The peak of nesting occurs in May and June, but active nests may be found in Alabama during any month.

Doves may attempt to nest seven or eight times during the season. An average of three successful nests per season is typical. The usual number of young per brood is two. Incubation is shared by both parents. Incubation period is fourteen days. Nestlings begin to fly when they are ten to twelve days old. When the young are about four weeks old, they leave the vicinity of the nest to feed and flock with other doves.

The potential life span is about eight years, but few reach that age. Average life expectancy is less than one year. About 70 percent of the doves in a fall population are usually young that were hatched in the same calendar year.

Place in Planning

Suitable habitat can be retained, created, or maintained on cropland, hay land, pasture land, forest land, or wildlife land. Lands that are managed for doves should be protected from erosion and made to produce an abundance of high quality food, especially winter food. In many instances, doves can provide supplementary income from the lease of hunting rights in certain fields or the sale of daily permits to hunt.

Habitat Needs

Food. Doves are almost 100 percent seed-eaters. Nearly all of their food comes I from either agricultural crops or from grasses and weeds associated with open land. Choice foods are seeds of barnyard grass, bristlegrass, browntop millet, bull paspalum, common ragweed, corn, Carolina cranesbill, crotons, dove proso millet, sunflower, grain sorghum, Japanese millet, pines (all species), pokeberry, sweetgum, Texas millet, and wheat. Fair foods are barley, benne, buckwheat, cowpeas, Egyptian wheat (chicken com), lespedezas (Kobe, Korean), oats, rye, and soybeans.

Doves rarely, if ever, scratch for their food. For that reason, foods must be on relatively open land and plainly visible. If not, they will be of little value.

Cover. Doves usually build their nests in trees. Occasionally, they nest on the ground or on stumps, fence posts, and other places. For nesting, doves prefer trees with fairly large horizontal limbs, especially limbs that contain relatively little concealing vegetation. Such trees afford easy entrance and exit.

Trees suitable for nesting are located near farmhouses and along the edges of fields, pastures, and other openings. Nests are rarely, if ever, located in dense forest land.

Doves roost in trees and on the ground. They seem to prefer evergreens for roosting during the winter, but they frequently roost in cotton fields and on other relatively bare ground, even during winter. As a rule, ground cover is not needed. It limits the dove's view of approaching enemies and hinders his flight.

Water. Drinking water is a daily requirement.

Gravel or grit. The mourning dove usually takes gravel or grit every day.

Habitat Management

Habitat for the mourning dove can be successfully managed under more intensive farming than can habitat for any other game species in Alabama.

Retaining Habitat

Retain one acre or more of barnyard grass, bristlegrasses, bull paspalum, common ragweed, cranesbill, crotons, or pokeberry. Foods must fall onto bare ground and be plainly visible.

Creating Habitat

Creating natural foods. Establish two or more acres of common ragweed.

Dove fields. Well-managed dove fields supply an abundance of high quality food. They concentrate doves on small areas, and most of them provide excellent shooting even on areas where hunting for other game has declined because of land use and other reasons. Dove fields are especially recommended where dove shooting is the primary land use.

Dove fields are suited to nearly all areas in Alabama on which good dove shooting is desired. They are of most value, however, on farms and other areas where: (1) the pattern of cropland is not suitable for attracting doves; (2) fields are too small to concentrate doves when planted in the usual crops; or (3) most of the land is in either trees, pasture, quail habitat, or other uses of little value to doves.

Dove fields can provide supplementary income from the sale of shooting rights. Apparently, dove hunters do not object to pay hunting. Maybe it is because pay hunting provides them with high quality shooting at reasonable cost. Many landowners like pay hunting for doves because it provides extra income, and it provides that income with little investment in time, land, and money. In no other kind of hunting can such a small area accommodate so many hunters. Another reason that landowners like pay hunting is that it allows more control of dove shooting on their lands.

For fields to provide supplemental income, they must provide high quality hunting. Generally, quality of hunting is related to number of doves seen, number of hours hunted, number of shells fired, and space between hunters.

Size. Dove fields should be at least two acres in size--smaller ones do not provide enough shooting to be worthwhile. However, five to ten acres or more are usually recommended. A good rule is to plant about an acre for each hunter. Thus, a field expected to accommodate fifteen hunters should contain about fifteen acres, and so forth. That is enough gunners to keep the birds flying but usually not enough to drive them away.

Location. Nearly all dove fields require cultivation. They all require breaking and harrowing before planting. These operations leave the soil bare for at least short times. Therefore, they increase the chance of soil erosion. To reduce the risk of erosion, select sites that are level or nearly level. If possible, locate dove fields away from woods, cities, rivers, and big creeks. Such locations discourage competition from other animals, particularly starlings and blackbirds. Large numbers of the latter may cause doves to leave a field. In addition, doves seem to prefer locations away from woods. Avoid areas with dense deer populations. Deer will literally destroy most of the crops recommended for dove fields.

Lime and fertilizer. A soil test is the best way to determine lime and fertilizer needs. Therefore, apply both according to soil test recommendations. Apply them at the time of land preparation.

Land preparation. Break and harrow dove fields several weeks before planting. That allows rains to settle the soil before planting. The seed bed for all recommended crops should be well prepared but firm.

Kinds of dove fields. Dove fields are of three general kinds, depending on when they are to provide shooting. Those to be shot over from September through November are early season fields, those to be shot over in December and January are late season fields, and those to be shot over from September through January are combination fields. Here is what to plant, how to plant, and how to cultivate crops in the three kinds of dove fields.

This may be a good time to say that the instructions contain a good bit of repetition, and even though we dislike repetition, we believe it is justified in the following instructions for planting and managing crops in dove fields. If repetition were eliminated, you would have to refer frequently to other sections of this booklet for necessary information. That, of course, would be a time-consuming inconvenience and would make the instructions somewhat difficult to follow. Which is the lesser of the two evils?

Early season fields. Fields to provide early season shooting (September through November) should be planted in either browntop millet, dove proso millet, sunflower, or wheat. More than one of these can be planted in the same field. In fact, we recommend planting browntop millet in the same field with dove proso millet and sunflower. However, we do not recommend planting them on the same tract.

Browntop millet. In Alabama, browntop millet is the crop most frequently planted in early season dove fields. It is a choice food, and it is adapted to a variety of soils. However, it is best adapted to well-drained soils with medium to high fertility. Seed for planting can be bought from nearly all seed stores.

Browntop millet usually grows two to three feet tall. The seed mature sixty to seventy days after the plants emerge. When properly limed, fertilized, and planted in 36-inch rows, browntop produces up to 1,200 pounds of seed per acre.

Plant about one-fifth, but not more than two acres of the field in late April or early May. Plant the rest of the field between June 1 and July 15, depending on when the field is to be hunted.

The small area planted in late April or early May provides food for doves that are nesting in the area and for their offspring. These local doves, particularly the young, congregate in the small planting where they serve as decoys for migrating doves that are flying southward in late summer and early fall. The large planting made in June or July produces most of the food and holds doves in the field during hunting season.

Browntop millet can be planted in Alabama as late as August 19, but seed production is lower on plantings made after July 15. Except for the small area planted in late April or early May, plant on dates that allow the seed to mature about two weeks before hunting is to start in the field. For example, a field in which hunting is to start on September 5 should be planted on or a few days before June 6. That allows one week for the plants to emerge, seventy days after they emerge for the seed to mature, and at least two weeks after the seed mature for doves to become accustomed to feeding in the field. At the end of this section on doves is a table which gives more information on planting dates.

Usually two weeks after the seed mature is enough time for doves to become accustomed to feeding in a field, especially if they are already congregating in the small area planted in late April or early May.

In two weeks few seeds shatter to the ground and deteriorate. During that short time, few seeds are eaten by blackbirds and other competing animals.

Browntop millet may be planted in rows or it may be broadcast. Rows are usually recommended because they permit cultivation which provides bare ground on which the seed can fall. That, of course, is an ideal condition for doves. Rows may be either continuous or skip.

Continuous rows should be 36 to 42 inches apart. A conventional planter--the kind commonly used for planting corn, peanuts, and other row crops--is recommended for planting. Plant eight to 10 pounds of seed per acre in continuous rows. Cover them one inch or less.

If planted in skip rows, plant two rows 36 to 42 inches apart, skip the width of two to four rows, and plant two more rows 36 to 42 inches apart. Repeat the skip row spacing over the area to be planted. About three to 5 pounds of seed will be needed per acre, depending on the width of skips. Cover the seed one inch or less. Many hunters prefer skip rows because downed birds are easier to find in them.

Control weeds in the skips and between the rows. Pesticides may be used to control weeds, but cultivation is usually recommended. Four or five shallow cultivations may be necessary. The seed must fall on bare ground.

Broadcast stands of browntop millet are not as attractive to doves as are plantings made in rows, but broadcast stands can be made attractive. To plant browntop millet in a broadcast stand, broadcast 15 to 20 pounds of seed per acre (preferably on new ground) between June 1 and July 15, depending on when the field is to be hunted. The reason for planting on new ground is that new ground contains fewer seeds of grasses and weeds than does other lands. Broadcast stands cannot be cultivated, of course, and seed production on browntop will be reduced if a dense stand of grasses and weeds volunteers in the planting. Besides, dove cannot find the seed of browntop if they fall into a dense growth of grasses and weeds. Cover the seed one inch or less.

To make a broadcast stand of browntop attractive to doves, mow the entire field after the seed mature and at least two weeks before hunting is to start in the field. The two weeks allow doves to become accustomed to feeding in the field before shooting starts. Allow the mowed plants to dry thoroughly, then rake the plants and bale them. A side delivery rake is recommended. Such management leaves most of the seed on bare ground where doves can easily see them.

Dove proso millet. This plant was developed by the Soil Conservation Service and the University of Georgia, primarily for dove food. In Alabama, it is one of the better crops for planting in dove fields. We usually refer to the plant as simply "dove proso." Seeds for planting are usually available from the large dealers.

Dove proso is suited to a variety of soils and site conditions, but it grows best on well-drained, fertile soils.

In many ways, dove proso resembles browntop millet. However, it is not as leafy as browntop, but is more stemmy. Under similar conditions, dove proso grows a foot or more taller than does browntop. Dove proso produces up to 1,500 pounds of seed per acre, and they mature seventy to eighty days after the plants emerge. Here is how to plant and cultivate dove proso to attract doves.

Actually, both browntop millet and dove proso should be planted in the field, but not on the same tract. Plant browntop millet in about one-fifth, but no more than two, acres of the field in late April or early May. Plant the rest of the field in dove proso between May 22 and July 15, depending on when the field is to be hunted.

The reason for planting the small area in browntop millet instead of dove proso is that the seed of browntop millet mature sixty to seventy days after the plants emerge. It takes seventy to eighty days after the plants emerge -for the seed of dove proso to mature. The purpose of the small planting is to provide food for doves that are nesting in the area and for their offspring, and the sooner the seed mature the better.

Plant the small area of browntop in rows 36 to 42 inches apart. Plant eight to ten pounds of seed per acre, and cover them one inch or less. Cultivate often enough to control weeds and to provide bare middles on which the seed can fall.

Dove proso should be planted at least ninety days before frost, but seed production is lower on plantings made after July 15. Whenever possible, plant on dates that allow the seed to mature at least two weeks before the field is to be hunted. For example, a field in which hunting is to start September 5 should be planted on or a few days before May 28. That allows one week for the seed to germinate, eighty days after the plants emerge for the seed to mature, and at least two weeks after the seed mature for doves to become accustomed to feeding in the field before shooting starts. See the table at the end of this section on doves for more information on planting dates.

Dove proso may be planted in rows, or it may be broadcast. Rows are usually recommended because they permit cultivation which provides bare ground on which the seed can fall. Rows may be either continuous or skip.

Continuous rows should be 36 to 42 inches apart, preferably 42 inches. Plant eight to ten pounds of seed per acre in continuous rows. A conventional planter--the kind widely used for planting row crops--is recommended.

If planted in skip rows, plant two rows 36 to 42 inches apart, skip the width of two to four rows, and plant two more rows. Repeat the skip row spacing over the area to be planted. Many hunters prefer skip rows because downed birds are easier to find in them.

Control grasses and weeds in the skips and between the rows. Pesticides may be used to control grasses and weeds, but cultivation is generally recommended. Four to five shallow cultivations may be needed. The seed must fall on bare ground.

Broadcast stands of dove proso are not attractive to doves, but they can be made attractive. To plant dove proso in a broadcast stand, broadcast 15 to 20 pounds of seed per acre, preferably on new ground, between May 22 and July 15, depending on when the field is to be hunted. Cover the seed one inch or less.

To make a broadcast stand attractive to doves, mow the entire field after the seed mature and at least two weeks before hunting is to start in the field. Allow the mowed plants to dry thoroughly, then rake the plants and bale them. A side delivery rake is recommended. Such management leaves most of the seed on bare ground where doves can easily see them.

Sunflower. The seed of the sunflower is a choice dove food. Sunflowers are best suited to fertile, well-drained soils--soils on which corn, grain sorghum, and soybeans are successful. Avoid planting on the same tract during successive years, as that helps prevent wilt and rust.

Any of the oil varieties that produce small to medium-sized seed is probably satisfactory for dove fields. However Peredovik, an open pollinated variety, has been most popular in Alabama. Avoid the large-seeded varieties, for their seeds are simply too big for doves.

The oil varieties usually reach heights of four to six feet and produce more than 1,200 pounds of seed per acre. (A few well-distributed colonies of honey bees around the edges of the fields seem to increase seed production.) Their seed mature 90 to 100 days after the plants emerge. Here is how to plant and cultivate sunflower in a dove field, especially Peredovik and other oil varieties that produce small to medium-sized seed.

Actually, both browntop millet and sunflower should be planted in the field, but not on the same tract. Plant browntop in about one-fifth, but no more than two, acres of the field in late April or early May. This small planting should be made and cultivated exactly as previously recommended for a small planting of browntop millet in a field of dove proso.

The reason for making the small planting of browntop millet instead of sunflower is that the seed of browntop millet mature sixty to seventy days after the plants emerge. It takes 90 to 100 days after the plants emerge for the seed of sunflower to mature.

The purpose of the small planting is to provide food for doves that are nesting in the area and for their offspring, and the sooner the seed mature the better.

Plant sunflower no later than July 15; and whenever possible, plant on dates that allow the seed to mature at least two weeks before hunting is to start in the field. For example, a field in which hunting is to start September 5 should be planted on or a few days before May 7. That allows about one ' week for the plants to emerge, 100 days for the seed to mature after the plants emerge, and at least two weeks after the seed mature for doves to become accustomed to feeding in the field before shooting starts. See the table at the end of this section on doves for more information on planting dates.

Plant sunflower in either continuous rows or skip rows. Continuous rows should be 36 to 42 inches apart. Plant at a rate to give one plant for each foot of row or about five to seven pounds of seed per acre. Cover the seed one to two inches, preferably one inch. A conventional planter is satisfactory for planting. Use the large, flat plate.

If planted in skip rows, plant two rows 36 to 42 inches apart. Skip the width of two rows and plant two more rows 36 to 42 inches apart. Repeat the skip-row spacing over the area to be planted. Plant about three pounds of seed per acre in skip rows.

The seed must fall on bare ground and be plainly visible. If not, doves cannot find them. Therefore, control grasses and weeds between the rows and in the skips. Pesticides may be used, but cultivation is usually recommended. Three or more shallow cultivations may be necessary. To reduce the danger of lodging, move soil directly to the base of plants during the last cultivation. Cultivate with care--plants are easily damaged or broken.

It is usually best to leave sunflowers standing to provide cover for hunters and to extend the life of the crop. In nearly all instances, starlings and blackbirds scatter enough seed to attract doves, but check the fields frequently. If enough seed are not on the ground to attract doves, do something that is legal to make the seed available. At this writing, shredding a few strips throughout the field with a rotary mower is legal. Such shredding is usually recommended.

Wheat. Wheat is one of the best crops for planting to attract doves during September and October. Wheat grows best on medium to heavy textured, well-drained, fertile soils. Wheat usually grows about 3 feet tall and produces about 25 bushels or 1,500 pounds of seed per acre. The seed mature in May and June, depending on variety.

There are many varieties from which to choose. Select a variety that is recommended for grain production in your area and that stands up well after the seed mature. The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service has information on varieties suited to particular areas. Here is how to plant and manage wheat in a dove field.

The best time to plant is September 1 to November 15. Plant 90 pounds or 1.5 bushels of seed per acre. Either broadcast the seed or plant them in drills about 10 inches apart. Cover the seed about 1 inch. When planted according to these instructions, wheat needs the following management before September 1.

Mow about one-third, but no more than 2, acres of the field in June after the seed are fully mature. Allow the mowed plants to dry thoroughly, then rake the plants and bale them. A side delivery rake is recommended. In late July or early August, mow another one-third of the field. Again, rake the plants and bale them. About two weeks before hunting is to start in the field, mow the remaining standing plants. Again, rake the plants and bale them.

Late season fields. Fields that are to provide shooting during late season (December and January) should be planted in either corn or grain sorghum. Corn is usually recommended.

Corn. There are many varieties from which to choose. Select a high-yielding, hard-seeded hybrid that is recommended for your area. If possible, select a hybrid that is not susceptible to viruses which can seriously reduce yields. The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service has information on varieties suited to particular areas.

Corn grows best on medium to heavy-textured, well-drained, fertile soils. Yields of 100 bushels or 5,600 pounds of seed per acre may be obtained. Depending on variety, the seed mature 80 to 130 days after the plants emerge. Generally, the late maturing hybrids are recommended. Here is how to plant and cultivate corn to attract doves for late season shooting.

Plant on dates that allow the seed to mature before frost. Plant in rows 30 to 40 inches apart. Space the seed 10 to 12 inches apart in the rows and cover them 1 to 2 inches. A conventional planter is recommended for planting. About 7 to 10 pounds of seed are needed to plant an acre.

Control grasses and weeds. Pesticides may be used, but shallow cultivations are usually recommended. The kernels must fall on bare ground and be plainly visible. If not, they will be of little value to doves.

Grain sorghum. Although corn is usually recommended for late season dove fields, there are conditions under which grain sorghum is the better choice. Compared with corn, it takes less time for the seed of grain sorghum to mature; grain sorghum is more resistant to drought, and grain sorghum can be planted in broadcast stands.

On the other hand, grain sorghum is more susceptible to damage by insects, diseases, and non-game birds--especially blackbirds, sparrows, and starlings. The seed are susceptible to mildew, particularly during autumns with heavy rainfall. The seed of grain sorghum deteriorate rapidly after exposure to damp soils, frosts, and wet weather.

Grain sorghum usually grows 2 to 4 feet high. Yields of up to 2,500 pounds or 50 bushels per acre are common. The seed mature 80 to 140 days after the plants emerge, depending on variety. Grain sorghum is adapted to a wide range of soils, but is best suited to deep, well-drained soils with high fertility and a pH between 5.5 and 8.5.

There are many varieties from which to choose. Select a variety that produces loose heads. If possible, select one that is resistant to common parasites, insects, and diseases of grain sorghum. The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service has information on varieties suited to particular areas.

Grain sorghum may be planted in rows, or it may be broadcast. Plant on dates that allow the seed to mature before frost. Rows are usually recommended because they permit cultivation, thereby providing bare ground on which the seed can fall. Rows may be either continuous or skip. Many hunters prefer skip rows because downed birds are easier to find in them.

Continuous rows should be 30 to 40 inches apart. About 5 to 8 pounds of seed are required to plant an acre in continuous rows. Cover the seed 1 to 2 inches. A conventional planter is recommended for planting. Use the sorghum plate and plant 7 to 8 seed per foot of row.

If planted in skip rows, plant two rows 30 to 40 inches apart, skip the width of two rows, and plant two more rows 30 to 40 inches apart. Repeat the skip row spacing over the entire field. Plant about 3 to 4 pounds of seed per acre in skip rows or about eight seed per foot of row. Cover the seed 1 to 2 inches. Again, a conventional planter with the sorghum plate is recommended.

Control grasses and weeds between the rows and in the skips. Pesticides may be used, but cultivation is usually recommended. Four or more shallow cultivations may be necessary. The seed must fall onto bare ground.

As a rule, broadcast stands of grain sorghum are not as attractive to doves as are plantings made in rows, but broadcast stands can be made attractive. To plant grain sorghum in a broadcast stand, broadcast 12 to 15 pounds of seed per acre, preferably on new ground. Cover the seed 1 to 2 inches.

To manage a broadcast stand to attract doves, as soon as the seed are fully mature shred a few strips throughout the field, preferably with a rotary mower. Doves usually start congregating and feeding on seed in the shredded strips.

Two weeks before hunting is to start in the field, partly combine the entire field or mow it with a rotary mower. If partly combined, remove no more than one-third of the grain crop--leave the rest on the ground for doves. The residue from either partly combining or mowing with a rotary mower should be raked and removed from the field. These operations expose the seed on relatively bare ground, where they are readily available to doves.

Combination fields. Fields to provide shooting during open season from September through January should be planted in three crops.

Two of the crops should be selected from those previously recommended for early season fields. One of these crops should be planted on a date that allows the seed to mature about two weeks before the opening of dove season. Since dove season usually opens in most of Alabama about September 7, this crop should usually be planted on a date that allows it to mature about August 24. The other crop should be planted on a date that allows the seed to mature about October 15. These recommended planting dates help prolong the food supply. All other instructions for planting and cultivating the two crops are exactly the same as previously recommended for planting and cultivating them in early season fields.

The third crop in a combination field should be either corn or grain sorghum. It should be planted and cultivated according to previous instructions for planting and cultivating the crop in late season fields.

Browntop millet, dove proso millet, and late-maturing hybrid corn are especially recommended for combination fields. When planted in combination fields, browntop millet should mature about two weeks before the start of dove season, dove proso should mature about October 15, and corn should mature before frost. Here is how to plant and cultivate the three crops in fields to provide hunting from the opening of season in September until it closes in January.

Plant browntop millet in about 115 of the field, but no more than 2 acres, in late April or early May. Plant the small area in continuous rows 36 to 42 inches apart at the rate of 8 to 10 pounds of seed per acre. Cover the seed one inch or less. Control grasses and weeds between the rows. Four or more shallow cultivations may be required.

The small area planted in late April or early May provides food for doves that are nesting nearby and for their offspring. These local doves, especially the young, congregate in the small planting where they serve as decoys for doves flying southward in late summer and early fall. The rest of the field provides most of the food and holds doves in the field during hunting season.

Plant the rest of the field in alternate strips of browntop millet, dove proso, and late maturing hybrid corn. Strips should be 30 to 50 feet wide, and should contain ten to fourteen rows 36 to 42 inches apart. Plant the alternate strips of browntop millet on or a few days before May 28 if hunting is to start in the field on September 5. That allows one week for the seed to germinate, 70 days after germination for it to mature, and at least two weeks after it matures for doves to become accustomed to feeding in the field before shooting starts. The alternate strips of browntop should be planted in continuous rows 36 to 42 inches apart at the rate of 8 to 10 pounds of seed per acre. Cover the seed I inch or less. Control grasses and weeds between the rows, preferably by shallow cultivations.

Plant sunflower in alternate strips if seed of dove proso are not available for planting. Plant on dates that allow the sunflower seed to mature on or a few days before October 15.

Plant the alternate strips of hybrid corn between March 1 and July 31, depending on variety. Plant on dates that allow the seed to mature before frost. Yields may be higher if the variety selected is silking and tasselling when summer rains are normally expected. Plant in continuous rows 30 to 40 inches apart at the rate of 7 to 10 pounds of seed per acre or one stalk for each 9 inches or row. Control grasses and weeds in the rows and between them.

Planting dates for crops in dove fields. Planting dates in the table below are to be used as a guide. Dates for planting specific crops are indicated in the text. To obtain planting date from the table: (1) Decide the date on which shooting is to start in the field; (2) select the crop to be planted; (3) determine the number of days for the seed of that crop to mature after the plants emerge; and (4) read the planting date from the table. For example, if shooting is to start in the field on November 1 and it takes 100 days after the plants emerge for seed of the selected crop to mature, the planting date is July 3. Unless otherwise noted, planting dates in the table allow seven days after planting for the plants to emerge and fourteen days after seed mature for doves to become accustomed to feeding in the field before shooting starts.

Managing Habitat

Managing natural foods. Disk common ragweed during winter of every year. Heavily graze pasture areas which contain good stands of wooly croton. Livestock do not graze the croton. They feed on plants that compete with croton, thereby leaving relatively bare areas on which croton seed can fall.

Managing dove fields. Manage dove fields according to instructions under "Dove Fields" in the "Creating Habitat" section. Protect from harmful grazing. Replant every year and apply lime and fertilizer according to soil test recommendations.

For More Information

We have tried to give you the information you need for planting and cultivating crops in dove fields, and we have tried to present it in a logical, easy-to-understand way. However, in all probability, we have not succeeded in every instance. If you need additional information or on-site technical assistance, contact your local office of the Soil Conservation Service.

Managing Crop Residues

Frequently doves congregate in fields after corn, peanuts, soybeans, and other crops are harvested. These crop residues provide excellent shooting--in fact, some of the best in Alabama. Crop residues are especially recommended where dove shooting is the secondary use of the land and where the residues will not interfere with the primary land use.

The next few paragraphs contain instructions for managing some of the common agricultural crops in ways that their residues will attract doves during hunting season. The instructions do not violate state and federal regulations in effect at this writing.

Corn. Harvest by mechanical means or by livestock between September 1 and December 31, depending on the variety planted and on when the field is to be hunted. If harvested by mechanical means, harvest at least two weeks before shooting is to start in the field. If harvested by livestock, turn livestock into the field at least two weeks before shooting is to start. Two weeks after harvest is usually enough time for doves to congregate in the field. Remember that kernels must be off the cobs. If not, corn is of little value to doves.

Millets. Doves relish the seeds of nearly all millets. They are especially fond of browntop millet and dove proso. If possible, harvest millets after the seed mature and about two weeks before hunting is to start in the field. If millets are to be used for hay or mulch, allow the seed to mature; mow the plants and allow them to dry thoroughly. Then rake the plants and bale them. A side delivery rake is recommended. These operations expose the seed on relatively bare ground where they are available to doves.

Peanuts. Either harvest by mechanical means or start harvesting by hogs after the seed mature and at least two weeks before the field is to be hunted. Peanuts must be on top of the ground and their bulls must be removed. If not, they will be of little value to doves.

Grain sorghum. Either harvest by mechanical means or start harvesting by livestock at least two weeks before hunting is to start in the field.

Soybeans. Harvest at least two weeks before hunting is to start in the field.

Harvesting Doves

Some fields can be shot rather heavily without driving doves away. Other fields, sometimes even with a greater abundance of choice food, will not tolerate nearly as much shooting without driving the birds away. Some of this dove movement may be caused by gun pressure, but part of it is probably normal migration. Because of these facts, it is impossible to make a recommendation regarding frequency of shooting and expect it to be the best recommendation for all fields under all conditions.

For best results, a particular field should be shot no more than once a week. This is especially true of fields expected to provide many weeks of shooting--combination fields, for example. Occasionally, a field will provide good shooting twice a week for several weeks if three or four days are allowed between shoots. Crowd hunters no closer than one per acre. That is enough to keep the birds flying but usually not enough to drive them completely away.

Confine shooting to three or four hours per day. Avoid shooting the last hour or two before sunset. That allows doves to feed undisturbed before nightfall and helps ensure their coming back to feed the next day. Avoid shooting a field on several successive days. Such shooting drives most of the birds away, thereby drastically reducing the number killed per hour of hunting.

The dove's color blends well with vegetation in and near dove fields, especially during late summer and fall. For that reason, some birds are downed but are not found by hunters. True sportsmen deplore this loss, of course, and effort should be made to prevent it. Besides, state and federal regulations require hunters to make a serious effort to retrieve downed birds and include them in daily bags. A well-trained retriever prevents losing many of the downed birds, but hunters who do not have retrievers can greatly improve their recovery rate by marking the birds down well, keeping their eyes on spots where birds fall, and walking directly to the spots.

Shooting must be carefully supervised in pay-hunting fields. In such fields, it is especially important that adequate publicity be given to dove shoots, that directional signs be placed on major roads leading to the farm or tract of land, that entrance signs be erected, and that a gate station be established either to sell or check hunting permits and to hand out instructions to shooters.

It is important in all fields, but especially in pay-bunting fields, that daily bag limits be observed. Doves shot in excess of the daily limit by unscrupulous hunters can mean fewer days of pay hunting later in the season. Besides, hunters who exceed the daily limit are violating both state and federal regulations.

What effect does sport bunting (legal shooting during hunting season) have on the mourning dove? Here are a few things that have been learned by careful research during the last few decades.

Game animals cannot be stockpiled, and a majority of each species dies before it is a year old, whether hunted or not. These deaths are called "annual mortality," or the yearly rate at which wild animals normally die. Annual mortality is Nature's way of harvesting surplus animals from the yearly crop of wildlife.

Annual mortality in a population of mourning doves is 70 percent, which means that 7 out of every 10 doves in a fall population die before the next fall, whether they are hunted or not. An interesting thing about dove mortality is that 50 percent of the young die within ninety days of their learning to fly. This 50 percent dies whether the birds are hunted or not.

It is almost impossible to harvest more doves by sport hunting than the 70 percent Nature is going to harvest through annual mortality. (Actually, hunters take only 10 to 15 percent of the population each year.) Besides, if hunters take a certain percentage of the dove population every year by sport hunting, annual mortality takes an additional toll until total mortality for the year equals, but does not exceed, the 70 percent.

For instance, if hunters take 50 percent of the doves in a fall population, mortality from all other causes for that year will be 20 percent. However, if hunters take only 20 percent, mortality from all other causes will be 50 percent. Furthermore, if hunters do not fire a single shot at doves, annual mortality will still be a whopping 70 percent. So, mortality from all causes--sport hunting and all others--will be 70 percent for the year. In other words, if one thing does not get a majority of the doves in a fall population, something else will. Wise use of the resource dictates that sport hunters get them, not bugs, opossums, and buzzards.

The above facts mean that landowners who are not hunters themselves can either lease hunting rights or charge a daily fee for dove hunting without fear of harm to their dove resource. Furthermore, the above facts mean that dove hunters can continue their wholesome recreation without endangering in any way the welfare of the mourning dove, not only for themselves but also for future generations.

More Information

More information on the mourning dove is available in Management for Mourning Doves in Alabama, a publication of the Alabama Game and Fish Division, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130.