Thanksgiving Holiday Dove Hunts - Short But Sweet

Three happy hunters and a Labrador after a holiday hunt

During the middle portion of the 2017 dove hunting season, Thanksgiving Day and the two weekends that bookend the holiday provide the most seasonal fun for hunters. There are other holiday hunting options during Thanksgiving week too since deer season continues, and duck and quail seasons are open, but dove hunts offer the best opportunity for socializing within the hunt party. The Thanksgiving week To Do list includes a condensed work schedule, family obligations and extended meal times, all of which can pinch any plans to hunt doves. So when a group of friends can gather for even a short dove hunt, in the early morning or late afternoon, that window of time spent in the outdoors is hard to beat.

A nice gathering of holiday doves

Planning for a Thanksgiving holiday hunt requires more than one might think, just like most worthwhile hunt endeavors. Dove fields require upkeep, meaning that the habitat can get stagnant for birds if it is not managed routinely by exposing fresh dirt, burning off grass strips or providing feed using legal guidelines. The lead up to a holiday hunt plan can be just as exciting as the hunt, except for things like the unexpected flat tire on the tractor, and a lack of doves throughout the Lowcountry since Hurricane Irma blew though. Hoping for doves is a common sentiment shared among hunters this time of year!

 

Dove hunting opportunities seem to be dwindling in general, so it is always smart to keep in touch with hunting friends heading into the Thanksgiving holiday, to see who might be staying in town for the holiday. If there is a chance that a last minute dove hunt might be held, you have to be able to pull a few folks together. Being ready on standby for a dove hunt might make the difference whether an invitation to hunt doves comes your way. I know I hope to return to the dove field on Thanksgiving Day and am grateful for the afternoon hunting invitation from a longtime hunting friend and fellow dove enthusiast. Will there be enough doves? I hope so, but on a Turkey Day dove hunt with family and friends, the number of doves flying may not be the thing that matters most.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about Thanksgiving click on 2014 Harvest - Camp Chef - Quail Season Opening Day - Mixed Bag - Lady Hunter tags 10-point buck - 2009 Driven Deer Hunt - 2012 Driven Deer Hunt