Imperial Valley Dove

[DZRTHGHOST]

8 more days gents. Who is heading out to the IV for some dove? I'll probably take my .22 for rabbit and the fishing pole for some canal fishing. I made sure all ammo is all steel shot ;-). Good luck to all and post them up when ya'll get them!!

 

[SpringTom]

I'll be down in Yuma for the opener. Going to be in central AZ for the holiday weekend. Really looking forward to the season(s) this year!

 

[Rob5589]

Good luck! Can't make Mendota this year. We have a spot in the almonds that usually produces. Tons on cottontail as well.

 

[Kal-Elk]

I'm heading out this Sunday to scout the fields. Will be back on the 1st through Saturday, can't wait!

 

[SpringTom]

I think everyone is chomping at the bit to get out this year..

 

[DZRTHGHOST]

I think everyone is chomping at the bit to get out this year..

Yes sir, With the shitty year that everyone has been through. Getting out in the field will do wonders for many. Clear the mind for sure.

I stopped hunting dove a while back. Just lost the dove drive... but now that my 8yr old is showing interest it has reignited and I'm ready. I was lucky enough to stop by Big 5 and they had 2 cases of dove load available.

 

[stevie]

I'll be out in the area on the 31st.

 

[specneeds]

Heading out in a few hours will scout a bit tomorrow. Want somewhere with birds but fewer people- not the most polite group anymore. Most are great but low shooters & guys moving 60 yards into the middle of the field gets old.

 

[bikerider]

Headed out at 2 am near Calipatria. Looks like it is going to be cooler but humid tomorrow. Good luck everyone.

 

[cacklercrazy]

8 more days gents. Who is heading out to the IV for some dove? I'll probably take my .22 for rabbit and the fishing pole for some canal fishing. I made sure all ammo is all steel shot ;-). Good luck to all and post them up when ya'll get them!!
I got good dove hunting in my back yard,but funny thing is a married a girl from Holtville and her family is still down there. Just never drive down to do a dove hunt.

 

[Wags]

First time out Dove hunting. He knocked down 3. Not bad at all for his first time. We had a blast …. Only a few more weeks until he gets a chance to fill his first Wyoming deer & antelope…

 

[bikerider]

How did everyone do yesterday? The cooler temps and cloudy skies made for a nice day. They must have got hit pretty hard with rain as everything was muddy. My son and I did ok. 14 birds. We were stationed about 80 yards apart along a field when 5 guys took up a position between. White hats and lots of talking from them definitely diverted a lot of birds but made me step up my game as I didn't want anything to get passed me to them. Still had a fun time.

 

[Wags]

How did everyone do yesterday? The cooler temps and cloudy skies made for a nice day. They must have got hit pretty hard with rain as everything was muddy. My son and I did ok. 14 birds. We were stationed about 80 yards apart along a field when 5 guys took up a position between. White hats and lots of talking from them definitely diverted a lot of birds but made me step up my game as I didn't want anything to get passed me to them. Still had a fun time.

18 on the opener, my boy got 3 & I killed a limit.

 

[Kal-Elk]

Limit by 7:30am on the opener. Next couple days were much rougher however, 2 and 4 doves respectively.

 

[cacklercrazy]

Limit by 7:30am on the opener. Next couple days were much rougher however, 2 and 4 doves respectively.

We didn't go out until yesterday but had a great shoot.

 

[Kal-Elk]

Anywhere near the public fields? I was thinking about heading out this upcoming weekend for round 2.

 

[DZRTHGHOST]

I'll be going out Saturday morning for a quick hunt. I found a good flyway but they are a bit high most of the time and no cover for me. I wonder if the mojo dove would bring them down lower?

 

[sbsyncro]

I'm curious about IV dove hunting. I've only ever hunted dove in California incidental to other upland game, so a few here and there "jump shooting" them. For dedicated dove hunts I've always gone to private sunflower fields in south Texas. As a result, I'm totally unfamiliar with the game in the IV, but I was thinking about checking it out for second season this year.

I'd be grateful for any insight into some questions due to my ignorance:

It sounds like a lot of spots are a "battle ring" surrounded by dozens of shooters and no one can travel across the fields. What is the protocol to retrieve birds if you don't have a dog? How do you set decoys if you can't get to the middle of the field?

Are there any fields that are set aside for the later season (that are planted later)?

Are there private fields that are less crowded? What does access generally cost?

Thanks!

Gratuitous dove hunting shot from TX last year... Limits for three afternoons in a row! (and limits of redfish each morning).

 

[Kal-Elk]

I'm curious about IV dove hunting. I've only ever hunted dove in California incidental to other upland game, so a few here and there "jump shooting" them. For dedicated dove hunts I've always gone to private sunflower fields in south Texas. As a result, I'm totally unfamiliar with the game in the IV, but I was thinking about checking it out for second season this year.

I'd be grateful for any insight into some questions due to my ignorance:

It sounds like a lot of spots are a "battle ring" surrounded by dozens of shooters and no one can travel across the fields. What is the protocol to retrieve birds if you don't have a dog? How do you set decoys if you can't get to the middle of the field?

I can provide you some info at least. The fields (during first season at least) are typically planted with crops, which then have the first 30 yards or so parallel to the road mowed down before the season opener. People will be hunting with their backs to the road facing the fields with 30 yards of space in front of them. Past the 30 yards, the crop grows head high. If you shoot anything past 30 yards, you will not be recovering it. Maybe if you have a dog to sniff it out, but even then it will be work. There shouldn't be anyone hunting from the opposite side, at least not within shotgun range. I'm uploaded a picture so you can get the idea of what I'm talking about.

Here's a map of the fields: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=182307&inline
Not all of them are planted and you'll have to scout out which are holding the most dove ahead of time.

Last year, my first year, the opener was chaos. It seemed that guys were lined up almost every 20 feet from the (popular) field I was at. The next couple days eased up consideraly, 3rd day I had it to myself.

This year was much better, same field, but probably the weather turned a lot of people off. Seemed like there was 30-40 yards between people, with a few clusters here and there.

For the most part, people seem to respect that the land in front of you is yours and won't take crossing shots. You should be able to set up your decoys and recover your birds freely. I have an orange hat I put on whenever I walk out into the field.

That being said, this year I was peppered for the first time. I was set up by the end of the field, having about 30 yards to my right before a road divided the fields. Some #$%*!( , who showed up late, set up perpendicular on this road, ostensibly to take angled shots, and started pretty much shooting over my decoys. I was a couple birds shy of my limit, so I decided to just let it pass, snag those last two birds and get out. I then felt a few stings on my right arm, took me a sec to realize what happened. I had long sleeves on and no blood was drawn at least. Homeboy dipped out of sight after that.

Defintely wear eye protection!

I hurt my back shortly after first dove season last year, ended my entire 2020-2021 hunting season. This year will be my first time trying out second season, so I can't give you any pointers for that unfortunately.

 

[sbsyncro]

Thanks for that info! I’ve camped up in the washes back there and driven the Bradshaw Trail which starts near Niland, so I kinda know the area. Never noticed the planted fields in the past.


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