I got a reality check last weekend when the birds/doves I encountered all flew so fast that I couldn't identify them as doves. That got me thinking, are there any other small birds out there that I can't shoot, besides quail? I'm just wondering how you're supposed to make the split-second decision to shoot at a small bird in the distance. Thanks.
Any birds off-limits?
- Thread starter Zak
- Start date
If it’s so far in the distance that you can’t identify it, it’s too far out to shoot at. You’re wasting shells. Watch them, learn how they fly and what they look like.
The Mexican dove are not very common. They are much smaller than other dove. In all my years of dove hunting I think I have seen maybe two. ID of the two most common dove, mourning and white wing. is fairly easy. Aside from the white wings, white on wing feathers, their tail is shorter and squared tipped, where mourners have longer tapered tails. Eurasian dove are generally larger and are more of a powder gray in color, and have a black ring on the back of their neck, Hench the name Eurasian collard dove. I always look for the tail shape as first ID characteristics.
Dove are very easy to ID! spend some time watching them. If you can not tell do not shoot. This will not be a long term problem, few days of it and you will be pro 
Dove are real easy to ID like Aeon said just go a few more times you will get the hang of it. They have a real distinct shape and flight pattern.
In my early 20s I use to take a lot of new guys dove hunting out at the river. I have seen a few kill deer accidentally shot in my day. Took a few jump shooting ducks and had a guy smack a cormorant thinking it was a goose. I now only hunt with a handful of people it’s much easier that way.
This is why Argentina is so glorious. Nothing better than shooting green parrots. Nothing is safe down there.
In my early 20s I use to take a lot of new guys dove hunting out at the river. I have seen a few kill deer accidentally shot in my day. Took a few jump shooting ducks and had a guy smack a cormorant thinking it was a goose. I now only hunt with a handful of people it’s much easier that way.
This is why Argentina is so glorious. Nothing better than shooting green parrots. Nothing is safe down there.
Doves are easy to ID, spend a bit of time and you'll soon be able to quick ID a mourning from a white wing from a euro from an Inca dove (protected). Ducks get a bit trickier to ID in the dark morning hours. I may try to hunt on Sunday if anythings flying.. let me know if you're down there.
Meadow larks are dove like, don't shoot...Dowitchers are not Wilson's snipe...Black birds are black...SPARROW HAWKS are not doves (ask George W. Bush)
ps...You can shoot starlings.
pss...Invest in a bird ID book.
ps...You can shoot starlings.
pss...Invest in a bird ID book.
OK study the birds for a while,
use light binos if you have to,
after while it get second nature, every one I mean every one has to go thru this ..
use light binos if you have to,
after while it get second nature, every one I mean every one has to go thru this ..
Thanks! I'm going to print that out.
That was helpful, I plan on watching some videos before giving it another shot so I know what I'm looking for. Glad everyone is saying it's easy though
Not to be racist, but they all look the same to me, stuffed with jalapeno and cream cheese and double wrapped with bacon!
Heck yeah Robert.. looking good there. Similar to ducks.. some duck species like mingling with other species but they all mingle great on the grill!