marchel090708
Join the Club
Club Outdoors is where you can keep up with Star Tribune experts and others in Minnesota who love fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation. Click here to access our outdoors newsletter, the Club Outdoors Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and more.
Stay in touch via:
Blog Topics
Newsletters
Home | Sports | Club Outdoors
Doves scarce in central Minnesota
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Club Outdoors
DOVES SCARCE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA
LITTLE FALLS, MINN. - A few days before the Sept. 1 mourning dove hunting opener, Rolf Moen of Nisswa and I spent a morning scouting for a hunting location here.
We saw relatively few doves, and it was obvious to us many of the local birds had departed for points south, despite the warm weather. A lack of harvested small grain fields was perhaps one reason we saw few doves. We also noticed some of the doves' favorite weed seeds, such as Johnson grass and foxtail, had yet to mature and drop to the ground, the result, perhaps, of the late spring.
However, we did find a few doves, and by midmorning on opening day we had bagged a dozen birds. And, of course, we missed more than a few of the speedy birds, which, because of a gusty south wind, were even tougher to hit than usual.
Rolf's pudelpointer, Annie, and my Deutsch Drahthaar, Axel, were along for retrieving duties, and both dogs performed well despite the heat.
BILL MARCHEL
Recent Club Outdoors stories
Pheasants mostly in hiding - September 6, 2008
Pheasants mostly in hiding - Pheasant hunters struggled to find birds last weekend because so little of the state's corn has been harvested. Because of cool, wet weather, only 2 percent of the corn had been harvested as of Sunday, 13 percentage points behind average. And only 26 percent of the soybeans have been harvested. More
Join the discussion: Your Voices is a group blog featuring unique perspectives from members of your community. Find commentary on current events, public issues and day-to-day life in Minnesota.
Recent posts
 Open House ShowcaseThousands of homes open this weekend!View all open houses >> View all homes for sale >>  Save Your $$ With CouponsDiscounts on services, entertainment, dining, gifts, and more. Start saving! |
Win tickets to see The Hidden Cameras with Gentlemen Reg at 7th Street Entry.Vita.mn presents The Hidden Cameras with Gentlemen Reg at 7th Street Entry on Dec. 2. |
Comment on this story | Read all 2 comments | Hide reader comments