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  5. Dove Hunting Tips, Gear & Ammo: Your Complete Beginner’s Guide
Sep 1, 2025

Dove Hunting Tips, Gear & Ammo: Your Complete Beginner’s Guide

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Andy Kloss
Table of Contents
  • Introduction: Why Dove Hunting is a Timeless Tradition
  • When is Dove Hunting Season? (State-by-State Insights)
  • Essential Dove Hunting Regulations You Must Know
  • Best Dove Hunting Tips for Beginners & Enthusiasts
  • Best Ammo & Shotgun Shells for Dove Hunting
  • Must-Have Dove Hunting Gear & Accessories
  • Key Takeaways for a Successful Dove Hunt

Why Dove Hunting is a Timeless Tradition 

Every year, starting September 1st, hunters welcome the return of fall with the opening of hunting seasons across the nation. Some start the hunting season chasing early-season whitetail, bugling bulls out west, or speedy antelope. But for those who enjoy wing shooting, this means one thing…doves! Dove hunting is one of the easiest and most enjoyable hunts to go on. Dove hunting is an excellent segway into the world of hunting if you’re looking to get into the sport. By far, the best dove hunts are done with a group of friends, a good dog, and a box of Remington Heavy Dove Loads! If this is your first season dove hunting, you’re in luck; this blog will be filled with dove hunting tips for beginners and some insightful tips for dove hunting veterans. Want to be sittin’ pretty when the birds start flyin’? Read along with us as we cover the thrill of dove hunting and how to make this your best season yet. 

Remington hat on a tailgate with feathers everywhere

When is Dove Season? (State-by-State Insights) 

Dove season opens for most states during the first week of September and runs until the last half of October and into November. Doves migrate early, making September the perfect time to hit’em as they flock south. Any later than that, say another month, dove numbers in your area can be far and in between. Even though the season runs for a considerable time, the best part of the season always seems to be the first few weeks. If you're doing dove hunting season in Texas, check their regs here. Looking for the rules on California dove hunting season? Check here. Some states have their grounds split by regions, so be sure to check twice about opening dates, whether you’re public or private. Check out this list for a high-level list of each state. Don’t forget, always check your local regulations. 

Alabama: Opens September 6, 2025 Kentucky: September 1, 2025 Oregon: Usually opens September 1
Alaska: Check Local Regs Louisiana: September 6, 2025 Pennsylvania: September 1, 2025
Arizona: September 1, 2025 Maryland: September 1, 2025 Rhode Island: Chek local Regs
Arkansas: September 6, 2025 Minnesota: September 1, 2025 South Carolina: September 1, 2025
California: September 1, 2025 Mississippi: September 1, 2025 South Dakota: September 1, 2025
Colorado: Check Local Regs Missouri: September 1, 2025 Tennessee: September 1, 2025
Delaware: September 1, 2025 Montana: September 1, 2025 Texas: September 1, 2025
Florida: September 27, 2025 Nebraska: September 1, 2025 Utah: September 1, 2025
Georgia: September 6, 2025 New Mexico: September 1, 2025 Virginia: September 1, 2025
Idaho: September 1, 2025 New York: Check Local Regs Washington: September 1, 2025
Illinois: September 1, 2025  North Carolina: September 1, 2025 West Virginia: Check Local Regs
Indiana: September 1, 2025 North Dakota: September 1, 2025 Wisconsin: September 1, 2025
Iowa: September 1, 2025 Ohio: September 1, 2025 Wyoming: September 1, 2025
Kansas: September 1, 2025 Oklahoma: September 1, 2025

Essential Dove Hunting Regulations You Must Know 

While all states' regulations are going to differ, there are a few non-negotiable things you should know before you go dove hunting, regardless of where you are.  

Bag limits and licenses. 

  • Before you step into the field, know the daily limit of doves each hunter can harvest and what licenses are needed.  

Party Hunting 

  • Know the rules behind party hunting. In some states, party hunting is illegal. In a party hunting arrangement, a hunter not only shoots to fill their license but also shoots additional game to fill the limits of other hunting party members.  

Shotgun Ammo Regulations 

  • Another regulation to be familiar with is the rules surrounding shotgun ammo. Know what type of shot is permitted (non-toxic vs toxic) and how many shells you can have loaded at one time (most areas are 1 in the chamber and 2 in the tube). Lastly, be aware of the times when legal shooting light starts and ends.  

These are non-negotiable things. Ignoring these rules can get you in a pickle and can leave you with a citation from the Game Warden. That’s a bad day in the field. Looking for answers? Review your states online regulation handbook or call your local DNR office with any lingering questions. 

Remington shotshell being loaded into a shotgun

Best Dove Hunting Tips for Beginners & Enthusiasts 

Scouting and Location 

Location is the variable that will change the most. Your hunting locations need to be in the spots the doves want to be. Consider food, water, and perch points such as dead trees, riverbanks, power lines, or any other location you can verify they like to perch. We’ll call all these areas “hot spots”. To find these spots, you’ll have to do a bit of scouting. Some good food sources to look for are cut agricultural fields, sunflower fields, or areas with fine silt (doves ingest this material to help with food digestion). Check these spots during the time of day you’d hunt and observe if doves frequent the area. The best approach you may ask? Mark a few spots beforehand, show up with a pair of binoculars, and if there isn’t a pile of doves that makes you excited after 20 minutes, check other spots. Bonus points for being creative. Float down a river on a boat. Go down gravel roads. Look on powerlines. Knock on the doors of landowners. Just stack your odds as high as possible. 

Effective Decoy and Hunting Setups 

Once you’ve found a hot spot, it's time to think about the setup. A good rule of thumb is to utilize shadows and find cover you can be concealed in, but don’t overthink it. Sitting next to a bush or between a few big trees is all that’s needed to evade a dove's eye. If you know what part of the field the doves are flying in, place yourself to intercept their flight path. The important part is to limit movement and adjust your hide if the birds flare. Decoys are a great tool to get doves to commit to your setup too. Place clip-ons in nearby trees or perch points areas. Place motion decoys in front of you within shooting distance. Decoys are designed to resemble the silhouette and motion of doves, giving incoming birds a sense of curiosity or safety. If the doves are decoy shy, reduce the number or take them down entirely. Again, it’s essential to read the birds. 

Time of Day 

The time of day depends on personal preference and when the doves are flying. If you know there is a spot loaded up with doves, it's not a bad idea to go in the morning and evening. If you know they only come by in the evening, go then.  

Clothing and Camouflage 

Dress appropriately for the weather and the environment you’ll be hunting in. If it’s hot and you think you can wear shorts and a T-shirt, do it. I always prefer long pants and a long or short-sleeved performance shirt but wear what is comfortable for you. As for camo, you don’t need to go all out; a camo shirt will work, and avoid bright colors. Doves don’t require the amount of concealment you wear while deer or turkey hunting. Last, make sure you wear a hat! 

Target Practice Before Hand 

No one likes to miss birds. It can be a long day if you find yourself whiffing every time you get an opportunity. Doves may be small, but they are surprisingly agile and they are quick on the turn. If you don’t want to be known as the buddy who can’t hit the broadside of a barn, consider hitting the sporting clays or skeet course before your hunt. Make sure to bring a few hunting buddies along so they don’t have an excuse if they miss! To learn more about how to shoot skeet, click here. On how to shoot sporting and how to improve as a shooter, click here.

dove decoy

Best Ammo & Shotgun Shells for Dove Hunting 

You can dove hunt with anything from a 410 Bore to a 12-gauge. Sub-gauges, such as the 20-gauge, 28-gauge, or 410 are popular due to their light recoil and reduced weight. These factors make for an excellent combination for a beginner. The 12-gauge is also iconic for its wide availability of shells and large payload size. It’s all personal preference. As for shot sizes, 7.5 is a great choice and my personal favorite. With 7.5-shot, you get the perfect size to pack a bunch of pellets in the payload, while maintaining the ideal retained energy to take down the doves far out. Another good choice is 8-shot. For dove hunting, Remington offers Heavy Dove Loads. These shells provide shooters with a large payload to maximize the number of pellets in the air and a high velocity to help tag that far-out, agile dove. Well-balanced, affordable, and available in both 12-gauge and 20-gauge, Remington’s Heavy Dove Loads are the ultimate shotshells for dove hunters 

Remington shotshell being loaded into a shotgun

Must-Have Dove Hunting Gear & Accessories 

There are a few crucial things to bring to the field to have the best experience. First and most importantly, a bucket or a small chair to sit on. If you use a bucket, you can also use it to carry gear. Trust me, you’ll appreciate a place to sit. Second, hearing and eye protection. There will be lots of shooting. You need hearing protection. Sunglasses can serve as eye protection, and they also block out the sun, making it easier to see birds. Combine this with a brimmed hat for ultimate sun blockage. Third, bring a backpack to stay organized and carry essentials such as shotgun ammo, water, snacks, licenses, and extra safety gear. Here’s a broken-down list of things to bring 

  • Licenses 
  • Dove loads 
  • A multi-tool 
  • Binoculars and a bino harness to see birds in the distance. 
  • Hearing protection (over-the-ear, in-the-ear, or electric) 
  • Eye protection (shooting glasses or sunglasses) 
  • Chair/bucket to sit on 
  • A hunting Bag/backpack 
  • Water & snacks 
  • A small bottle of Rem Oil 

Key Takeaways for a Successful Dove Hunt 

Dove hunting is a great way to start the hunting season. Signs of a dove hunt are tired eyes, empty shotgun hulls, and new stories to tell. The worst part of a good dove hunt is the time in between your next hunt. Before you go, let's recap some of the best tips for dove hunting you should know before hitting the field.  

  • Be in the birds. Don’t just show up. Scout for hot spots and find the birds. 
  • Wear hearing and eye protection to block the noise and sun. 
  • Utilize decoys to help draw birds into your hunting spread 
  • Bring something to sit on. You’ll make this mistake only once. 
  • Have fun and enjoy your hunting buddies' company. 
dead doves on a tailgate with a Remington hat
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