Brian Roushar and his buddies used to hunt Canada geese during these early days of September.
But this year, as they have the past three, Roushar and friends are hunting mourning doves instead.
"It's more action. It's easier to find a place to hunt. I just love it. And they are great eating -- better than geese," said Roushar, 30, of Glencoe.
Minnesota's fourth dove season in modern times opened Saturday with a bang. While dove hunting has a long, rich tradition in many states -- it's the No. 1 migratory gamebird in the nation -- it was legalized here in 2004 after being closed for nearly 60 years.
So for many Minnesota hunters, Roushar among them, mourning dove hunting is new. But Roushar, a professional gundog trainer, and his friends have become avid -- and successful -- dove hunters.
"I hunt them about every other day. I haven't really gone early-season goose hunting since we started hunting doves."
Roushar and his pals have learned a lot about hunting doves over the past three seasons. For starters, it's a short season, so if you want to hunt doves, don't delay.
"It usually only lasts two or three weeks," he said. Last year, he said their hunting near Glencoe was pretty much over after just two weeks. Doves migrate south at the first hint of cold weather. And even now, with nighttime temperatures in the 50s, the birds are bunching up.
Scouting essential
Obviously you have to find doves to successfully hunt them. "You need to look for food, water and shelter," Roushar said.
They like fields of small grains, such as wheat, sunflowers or peas. Or short grass.
"They won't land in tall, CRP-type grass," he said. Find shallow water with exposed areas where birds can land, he said. And dead trees. "They love dead trees," he said.
Gravel pits can be excellent hunting spots because the birds feed on the gravel for grit.
Last year, the group found thousands of doves using a pine grove to roost.
"It was phenomenal," Roushar said.
They routinely shot their 15-bird bag limits.
Timing is everything
Roushar starts hunting doves at sunrise. Generally the best hunting is in the early mornings and late afternoons and evenings near sunset.
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