Why there's no dove hunting season in NY

[Elmo]

If it isn't deer, they just don't care.  This prevailing attitude amongst hunters is a bit of a concern.  47.4% didn't respond and 16.9% doesn't care.  That's almost 65% of applicants.  Sure it's not deer but I'm pretty sure youth hunters wouldn't mind having another species they can legally hunt.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/59626.html

[phade]

Dove hunting is one of the best, if not THE best, ways to get youths into hunting.

Lots of action.

I vividly remember dove season opener in Virginia growing up. Absolute blast. Talk about hooking a youngster.

[fasteddie]

Morning Doves have to be one of the stupidist birds out there . They come to the feeders and when I rap on the window to shoo away the starlings / blackbirds the doves just keep on eating and looling like , what's going on ...

They are plentiful and their coo-ing noise is irritable !

[covert]

Morning Doves have to be one of the stupidist birds out there . They come to the feeders and when I rap on the window to shoo away the starlings / blackbirds the doves just keep on eating and looling like , what's going on ...

They are plentiful and their coo-ing noise is irritable !

Yeah, doesn't seem to me like it'd be much fun standing around wringing Mourning Dove necks all day.  Plus I grew up shooting pigeons off the silo and they just seem like classier pigeons to me.  Wouldn't eat one of those rats-with-wings so I don't see me sitting down to a big platter of dove any time soon.

[Lawdwaz]

Maybe not the brightest bulb in the tree but fun to hunt, tasty and lots of action.....

[Lawdwaz]

Dove hunting with a dog is one of the greatest things going.  Plenty of action for the pup and some tasty fare for the table.  We've been hunting PA. for 10-12 years and usually get into them pretty good. 

Too bad we can't hunt them here.

Another pic from a couple years ago..........

[biggamefish]

I would love to see dove hunting happen.  walking the fields with a shotgun trying to get a shot after they flush will change you mind about stupid birds they are quick.

[Karpteach]

Doves are great to hunt. I have hunted them in PA for along time. They are some of the hardest birds to hit, but they are a lot of funn trying! They are definitley not stupid.

[Lawdwaz]

Sleep in (can't start until noon in early season) , smoke a cigar, enjoy the start of fall, watch the dog work the downed birds, laugh at misses, brag up the good shots,  have a sundowner at the tailgate then head to town for a good dinner. 

What's not to like about it?

[132 eight pointer]

I watch doves at my bird feeder and have thought they might be fun to hunt.They do look comical when the walk on the ground with there funny stride and head bob but they sure can get airborne quick.Why are they protected here ? I have had as many as 8 at my feeder.

[Lawdwaz]

Big difference from wild birds to bird feeder birds!

(They probably taste the same, though ;D )

[Ford]

Just like hunting squirrels. The same squirrels that come in to your yard with no fear, hide like crazy in the woods a few feet away. And ducks.

[Elmo]

Lawdwaz - Looks like a lot of fun!  New Yorkers are really missing out.

132 Eight Pointer - Doves are not protected per se.  The only reason why it there isn't a hunting season is because no one took the time to catergorize them as either a migratory bird or upland bird.

[132 eight pointer]

I hope there is a season here some day because bird seed isn't getting any cheaper !