i was planning on heading out today, but it's raining right now and i don't know how the dove will react... anyone have an idea?

i guess there's a chance it will be sprinkling while i'm out there too. do the birds fly when there's water falling from the sky?

tia

Usually no, but some of the best hunts I have ever had were before storms. The birds move around because they sense the change in pressure, know a storm is coming, and head to the roost site or somewhere 'safe'. Now ducks, thats a different story, for them, the crappier the weather, the better the hunting. You gotta remember doves are small birds and dont fight the wind real well.

Last time I was hunting dove in south texas they were moving great in the morning and a light shower came in the afternoon and there were none moving.

I think they pretty much just chill during a shower.

it is hard to tell and varies from field to field. if the rain is done, then give it a shot. I have had killer hunts just after the rain, tromping through tons of mud. and i have had terrible hunts after the rain scattered all the birds. especially if it is rain from a front.

just got back.

nothing was flying while the storm pockets were around, but as soon as it cleared up things were back to normal. got my limit in a hour or two.

Dont ever let the weather keep you from hunting. My biggest deer have been killed at strange times and in many cases bad weather (rain, wind) I killed my biggest dear at 2 on the last day of the season. Most of the guys were sleeping.

quote:

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I killed my biggest deer at 2 on the last day of the season. Most of the guys were sleeping.

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That's because it was 2 AM and you were poachin'!

Just kiddin', I just couldn't help it with the other poaching thread.

[This message has been edited by Sean98 (edited 9/25/2007 10:26p).]

Last time i went out was opening day in the Valley... it rained almost all day...but the few instances when it didnt rain they flew like crazy

An old man once told me, "That rain'll set them birds!" And he was right.

like above, the best dove hunting i have done was actually during the rain. It rained constantly the entire week before opening day. we were sitting in the truck looking at the field as the sun came up, sat in the truck fishing from the plastic pond until about 9am.

then the rain stopped.

then the birds started flying.


well we got out, loaded up the guns, took our spots in the field. then it started raining again.

but the birds kept flying.
it was surreal. pouring down rain and dove all over.
cleaned up birds under a delapidated barn. good times.

Last saturday and sunday, we limited out both days in this pasture where I hunt. It didnt rain the week before that that I know of. Then Tuesday and yesterday it rained a little bit. When I got off work, I got home at was sitting out in the same spot as the weekend. Saw 2 dove flying really high in almost 2 hours. Looked like a completely different feild.

I am going to blame it on the rain