Dove Hunters Please Read

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Not all hunters are like this. There are more hunters that are not just a bunch of trigger happy folks out there than there are trigger happy folks. I actually have never seen anyone who hunts our cotton/peanut field or any other field around here shoot an bird that wasn't a dove but I can see how easily a pigeon could be mistaken for one....doesn't mean they are intentionally trying to kill anything that moves. Most hunters hunt to feed their families, not just because they like to kill.

To the OP: Best thing to do is keep your animals locked up during hunting season on your own land. Once it is on a hunters land and he mistakes it for a dove, then it's too late and you have no one to blame but yourself. I always lock my critters up during hunting season and I keep my behind out of the woods on my horses too.

 

[al6517]

I am a dove Hunter also and I do see your point, thats why I don't hunt with anybody I do not trust and knows how to not only hunt but shoot and carries themselfs responsibly. It is very easy to ID these birds ( doves ) so that is no excuss for shooting a pigeon, Doves are very difficult to shoot their fast and have very good evasive manuevering abilities. The best thing I can suggest is to keep them safe at home during dove season, as you will never be able to train untrained hunters, sorry about your troubles & birds.

AL

 

[MandyH]

I would just like to say that I too am a hunter of deer and doves and wild hogs. I am VERY consious of what and where I shoot. I WILL NOT take a shot at anything if I do not know where the bullet/arrow may land should I miss. I know and follow ALL state laws and I wish that every other hunter in the world were that way too. It always makes me a nervous wreck to know that I share the woods with trigger happy drunks that like to shoot anything that moves. Killing an animal is not so important that you have to risk others lives to do so. I understand where the OP is coming from, but also want them to know that ALL hunters are not like that.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Agree Al, big differents in doves and pigeon. Like everything alway a few bad apples in the bunch.

Trouble with the racing homers, the races are at the same time as hunting seasons. Federal laws do protect racing homers, and also songbirds. They just need enforced.

Racing homers dont hang around long they are in a hurry to get home. Just need to get info out there so hunters know racing homers are flying this time of year. Sure most hunters would not shoot them, if they knew they were not feral pigeons.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

It was suggested I put my article in the paper. Welll....
http://www.salisburypost.com/Sports/091709-outdoors-racing-pigeons-