Biederman shares dove-hunting tips - Spencer Daily Reporter
While conservation officer Gary Biederman is aware of dove hunting in and around Clay County in the first two days of the season, he expects a higher hunter turnout for the weekend.
"I checked a few hunters yesterday, and I expect to check a lot more this weekend," Biederman said.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources employee shared regulations and advice for those hoping to take aim at the newly-legal prey.
Hunters may bag 15 mourning doves per day and be in possession of 30.
Though legislators debated over whether or not to allow lead shot, they ultimately decided to permit it. However, non-toxic shot must be used in waterfowl reproduction areas in Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Palo Alto counties.
"In Clay County, in every place but the shooting range, you must use steel, non-toxic shot," Biederman said.
Only shotguns that hold no more than three shells may be used to hunt the birds, not rifles or air guns. Using electronic calls and firing from motorized vehicles is also prohibited.
Dove decoys with flapping wings are both allowed and successful.
"The hunters I know that got doves, one of the things they were using was a decoy," Biederman said.
Federal dove stamps and migratory bird stamps are not required to hunt doves, but a hunter information number is.
"People who bought a license before we had a dove season will have to call 855-242-8683 or visit the Iowa DNR website," Biederman said.
Hunters must be aware of their surroundings and take appropriate precautions.
"You have to have permission within 200 yards of any house or building that has livestock in it," Biederman said. "Since doves are quite often seen along the road, that is a temptation. You have to follow trespass regulations, so you have to have permission to be on private ground."
Fields with hay or oats and wetlands are prime hunting areas. Some public areas have been managed for doves and Biederman said more will be managed to attract doves in the future.
Because birds can see color, hunters are not required to wear hunter orange while they hide and wait for their prey.
Dove hunting is comparable to duck hunting because either decoy hunting or pass shooting as birds fly by is used.
Hunting in the early morning and late afternoon offers the most opportunities, because they doves are not very active in the heat of the day.
Because doves are avid flyers, Biederman suggests practicing with clay birds. Even so, a 50 percent success rate is considered good.
Most doves will begin migrating out of northwest Iowa at the end of September.
"The birds will be harder to hunt as the season progresses," Biederman said.
He also noted that northern Iowa agriculture is not as suitable for doves, as they eat mostly small feeds like milo and sunflowers.
While doves are now a legal target -- including Eurasian collared doves -- many other birds, such as barn swallows, meadow larks and blackbirds are not.
"I will not tolerate people shooting at them," Biederman said. "They are responsible to know what they are shooting at. We want the best hunters out there -- good, ethical hunters. We want to put our sport in a good light."
For that reason, DNR is offering duck- and dove-hunting seminars at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Sundholm Environmental Education Center during the Clay County Fair.
Biederman wishes this year's dove hunters the best of luck.
"If you do your homework and scout and get permission, you should have some success," Biederman said.
03 Sep, 2011--
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