2021 Docheno Dove Club - Late Season Hunt

Docheno Dove Club Logo

 The weather in January turned cooler, towards more seasonal winter temps, aided by consistently cloudy weather that keeps the ground from drying out and warming up. In fact, muddy roads and squishy dirt are a big topic of conversation these days, with wet conditions persisting even with only moderate rainfall. The first report I had of an uptick in dove activity came the last week of 2020 with one dove field being swarmed by migratory doves. Slowly, similar reports began to materialize from different outposts around the Lowcountry such as Grover, Edisto, Canadys and Wadmalaw. The Docheno dove club in Green Pond picked up enough migratory birds to hold a late season holiday hunt on January 17.

David Donnell with his limit

After meeting up at 1 p.m. for a hearty meal of grilled chicken leg quarters, green beans and macaroni, the hunters deployed to the dove field. At least 100 doves got up out of the field when the four-wheel drive vehicles dropped hunters off at stands that were spaced out for safety. The morning weather was around 28-degrees and that is a big part of the equation that makes doves have to feed more, and means the birds that got up and flew out were likely to return to the field. Sure enough, the doves came back in groups of five to ten birds for the next three hours and everyone saw plenty of doves fly past their position.

Hunters Going to the Dove Field

Congrats to David Donnell for limiting out on doves, plus two stands also saw dove harvests close to double-digits. Many in the field picked up three to four doves, while executing the teamwork that keeps the birds flying. The blue sky and occasional white clouds was a near-perfect setting for a late season dove hunt, which the veteran hunters in the group immediately recognized. Hunters with less experience now understand what it means to see late season birds fly well, while soaking in winter sunshine on a crisp afternoon. Dove season does not end until January 31, so with more cold weather there is also hope for more late season dove hunt opportunities throughout the Lowcountry.

To view past blog entires on click on 2019 - 2016 -  2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012  

Perry Buckner and Allen Bell after the hunt