Dunn noted that the bulk of the dove harvest occurs early in the season, in September. He guessed that birds harvested later in the dove season might show higher numbers of migratory birds in the mix.

Results of the multi-state study is expected to provide a better means of managing doves on a broader basis. Some states, Dunn said, have experienced a decline in dove numbers in recent years. In other cases, states with good numbers of birds have, or are in the process of, developing dove seasons. Ohio, for instance, has only had its dove season for a few years, though not without some serious combat with anti-hunters.

"If a state has a sufficient population of doves, hunting is a wise use of the resource," Dunn stated.

Though the dove season remains an important signpost in the year's outdoor slate, serving as the official start of fall hunting activities, hunter interest has fallen off in recent years. "The overall harvest and hunter participation is down," Dunn said. "At one time over one million birds were taken annually. But interest in small-game hunting in general has been on the decrease, too."

During the past 10 years or so, Dunn said state hunters have bagged an average of 500,000 birds each season. About 31,000 hunters hunt doves in Pennsylvania each fall.

In addition to fewer places to hunt, Dunn said factors such as other hunting options like early Canada goose season and archery season may be impacting the numbers of dove hunters.

SCOUT AND YOU SHALL FIND
As with most hunting activities, success is often relative to the amount of pre-season planning and scouting done. If you are new to dove hunting, understanding the bird's requirements for life is necessary to finding good numbers of doves to hunt. Whether you are new to the sport or a pro, planning prior to the hunt includes obtaining permission to hunt because the majority of Pennsylvania dove hunting takes place on private farmland.

Art Hamley is a land manager for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, serving in Indiana and Cambria counties in the Southwest Region. He had the following suggestions for locating birds and places to hunt them:

Travel back roads in agricultural country prior to the season, and look not only for birds in the trees and on the wires, but also look for the dove habitat. Doves prefer grains, such as oats and wheat. Farm activities that raise corn are another favorite food source for doves. Early fall plowing commonly makes these and various weed seeds available to doves. Orchards and vineyards, common in some areas of the state, also provide abundant food sources.

The dove requires grit to digest its food. Gravel can be found in a variety of settings, including farm roads. Old strip mines often have the right stuff, as do rock quarries.

Water is another basic requirement. Good dove shooting can be found near any pond, stream or other water source.

Doves prefer a clear view of their feeding grounds. Old snags (dead trees) and large, leafy trees provide a good vantage point for foraging doves. Power lines also are preferred perches. Roosting trees will attract doves late in the day, but the birds will often respond to hunting pressure near roosting areas by avoiding the place and finding new roosts.

When scouting potential hunting areas, keep in mind that many farms are enrolled in the Game Commission's public access programs, specifically Farm-Game and Safety Zone. Many, but not all, participating farms may have signs indicating such.

Game Commission signs designating parking areas, safety zones and other protected areas are another signal.

Even though a property is enrolled in a cooperative program, it's still necessary to visit the landowner to obtain permission to hunt. An early-season dove hunt may prove to a landowner that you have good ethics, opening the door for additional hunting opportunities later in the fall.