No dove season in Massachusetts?
 

Why is there no dove hunting/season in Massachusetts? What's the story here?

They are considered a 'songbird' here in MA.

IMHO woodcock have a much prettier song than mourning doves and we have always been allowed to shoot woodcock.






.

many years ago - a local outdoors writer - the late Floyd King wrote a column about trying to legalize dove season in NY

he asked - "what tone deaf person decided the dove was a songbird?"

Years ago the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department implemented a Dove season at the request of some hunters. When the season was introduced that summer public opinion came out ripping the Fish and Game Department for there decision. Literally a few days before the opening of the new Dove season, the Director of Fish and Game cancelled the season and then repealed it. So much for dove hunting in New Hampshire:bigbye: We just watch them on our bird feeders.

you boys are sure missing probably the best shoot of them all...charlie

And some damn fine eating after the shoot.

Gary, what other bird would you compare the flavor of dove breast to?




.

Dean, I'm not sure how to answer your question. To me, all wild birds have a taste all their own. Doves are a mild, tender, tasty morsel if not over cooked. If I had to compare I guess I might equate them to chukar. Pigeon is very close but a bit stronger in my opinion. However, an old pigeon is like chewing on a tennis ball and unfit for human consumption. I have never encountered that with doves.

So there, now you know as much as you did before. You need to try them. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Dean,I believe dove's are also considered song birds in New Jersey. J.J.

And Michigan... after HSUS ran many TV ads they stopped the season, after the DNR started to open up the season on a trail basis.:banghead: This is why you can't allow politicians an inch as they will take the Whole Yard (same as proposed or recent executive orders ..:cuss: ). !

Doves skinned and wrapped in bacon with a small slice of Jalapeno inside are super eating when put on a hot grill. When the bacon is crisp they are ready to eat IMO. I like to cook them medium with a some pink inside. Regarding taste, I think they don't taste like anything else out there. I serve them with wild rice and grilled squash.

Tom,What about the wine,red or white. J.J.

doves are good with bacon wrapped around them on the grill but they are also really good with a batter of flour on them and deep fried really good they are...charlie

No dove hunting in Vermont. In my neighborhood they all seem to be local birds and I jump them regularly. I do think that if they had a season around here they would be cleaned out fairly quickly.
I do wish I was going south though for an opening day shoot.

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;199638]Gary, what other bird would you compare the flavor of dove breast to?


Dean: I've dined on my fair share of all three. I'd rank dove a bit right of crow and a bit left of owl. :whistle:

Attachment 49741

Yesterday, exercised my 16 month old setter at Crane WMA (E. Falmouth, MA) and came across hundreds of dove. Too bad no dove season.

It would be interesting if they put bands on doves. Some of the ones I killed last week still had pieces of the egg shell on them. However, I love shooting them at Christmas time each year when the season comes back in. I had a shoot of the limit in the snow one day and that was a hoot, since you could not lose them.

Some of them have NY and MA stickers on their luggage as they hit the snow in December and are very plump!