Fish & Game

Dirty Dozen of Dove Hunting

Twelve tips for the safest hunt possible.

1. Muzzle control: Always point your firearm in a safe direction and treat it as if it’s loaded.

2. Loaded firearms: Unload your firearm when not hunting/shooting; keep your fingers out of the trigger guard until shooting.

3. Zones of fire: Know your safe zones for firing and where other hunters are located.

4. Alcohol: Avoid drinking before and during the hunt.

5. Hunter education: The most common law violation is lack of certification.

6. Bag limits: The most common dove hunting violation is exceeding the bag limit.

7. Plugs: When hunting migratory birds, your shotguns’ tubular magazine must have a plug inserted; the holding capacity can’t exceed three shells.

8. Illegal baiting: Don’t hunt over or near active deer feeders.

9. License/endorsements: You much have proper ones on hand when you hunt.

10. Shooting skills: Bad aim can result in wounding but not killing the bird; practice on sporting clays before dove hunting.

11. Skybusting: Hunters shooting at doves outside the effective range can wound birds and burn up ammo.

12. Mark downed doves: Be sure you know where your dove went down.