Dove Hunting in NY

[Lawdwaz]

Sure would be nice if it was legal.  I've hunted them in Pennsylvania before and had a blast.  No reason not to hunt them here and the DEC is not against it.  I read that they would have no problem with it but few people have shown an interest in it here.

Lots of fun to hunt and better eating than those damned geese! 

Who do I talk to about it?

[thetrick]

When I was young I remember when Ohio tried to introduce dove hunting via the DNR and they lost the fight due to animal right groups.  A year later the sportsmen groups in Ohio put it on the ballot and won... Knowing how tough animal right groups are here in NYS it will be a bigger fight to get it here.

I would like to have dove hunting here in NYS it is a great way to introduce young hunters into hunting. 

I agree they are great tasting and a challenge to shoot...

[Fairgame]

They are a blast to hunt.  I hunt them here in California,  season opens on Labor Day. 

[Setters4life]

Sure would be nice if it was legal.  I've hunted them in Pennsylvania before and had a blast.  No reason not to hunt them here and the DEC is not against it.  I read that they would have no problem with it but few people have shown an interest in it here.

Lots of fun to hunt and better eating than those damned geese! 

Who do I talk to about it?

An interesting link on the NYDEC website. Apparently, a survey poll was solicited in 2009 and this was the response:

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

It seems that only big game rules these days for many.

Doves are a challenging game. I used to hunt the MD opener in my youthful days. My uncle had access to a lot of neighboring farmland back when it was still pretty rural down there. He still has sunflower planted on his farm in one section to attract the doves each year.

AND, they are great tasting tablefare.

[CNYlungbuster]

An excert from the link:

"In response to the NYSCC request, we included the following question in our 2009 small game hunter survey: "Would you support a law change to designate mourning doves as a game bird in New York State?" Potential responses were: "Strongly Oppose", "Oppose", "Don't Care", "Support", and "Strongly Support". Surveys were mailed to approximately 5,000 randomly selected small game hunting license holders, and responses were received from about 2,400 people. About 23% indicated that they would support such a law change (see chart below). Most respondents (64%) said they "don't care" or did not answer the question at all. Approximately 12% indicated that they were opposed to a law change to designate mourning doves as a game bird in New York."

They need to stop doing these mail out survey's very few people return them.  I'm willing to bet that a good majority of the " I don't care" were simply not returned. Granted if they didn't return it then in a sense i guess they don't care do they lol.  If there were some kind of survey system online or through decals when we bought our license I think the numbers would be a lot different.  While it might not be as big as deer hunting people if given the oppurtunity I think sportsmen would take advantage of another reason to get outdoors. 

CNY

[WNYBuckHunter]

Maybe instead of giving all the choices, they simplify the choice down to Yes or No, plus, make the poll online, make people enter their tag number as they vote so they can only do it once. This is yet another reason why short surveys should be required to get your license each year.

[Karpteach]

Doves are an excuse to go to PA. There is good hunting by the Amish country.

[Lawdwaz]

Doves are an excuse to go to PA. There is good hunting by the Amish country.

PM me the locations.  ;D

[CNYlungbuster]

Maybe instead of giving all the choices, they simplify the choice down to Yes or No, plus, make the poll online, make people enter their tag number as they vote so they can only do it once. This is yet another reason why short surveys should be required to get your license each year.

Couldn't agree more how hard is it to answer a few simple questions along with the others that you already have to answer on what your buying and which dmu your getting your dmp's in etc.

[Mr VJP]

Half of the surveys were never returned.  Of the returned surveys 64% said either they "don't care" or failed to answer the question at all.  That's the majority of survey responders.  What is wrong with these people?  What are they thinking? 

Here's a chance to open up an exciting upland bird hunting season in early September and they say they don't care or don't respond at all??

DUMMIES!!

>

[Pygmy]

It's too bad, but there is simply no dove hunting tradition in NY...

Most hunters have never hunted them and really DON'T care...

It makes it REAL easy for the anti's to fight it...

The guys down south appreciate it.. We raise the doves up here and then they SHOOT them when they migrate south.. ;D ...

[raymerlo]

the biggest problem is to get a legislator to carry the bill,they don't want the heat that will go with it

[capt_terry]

Anyone interested in starting a letter writting campain to get Dove hunting?

[kencan98]

There are a few that would carry the bill.  After the new class comes in you might have a better chance but there are plenty of pro hunting people in Albany.

I'd be all for a dove season.  They are GREAT eating birds and super fun to shoot.

[Lawdwaz]

Let's keep this issue as active as possible and see if we can find someone to take the lead.  I'll be the first to admit I'm a follower, not a leader

I don't think it would take much to get this passed.  Anything that would POSSIBLY add to license revenue should interest the state in this time of need.

[HectorBuckBuster]

Here is info from the DEC Website.Said they sent out forms to small game hunters.I don't every remember seeing one.

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

[Doc]

The only place I ever see any doves is out back at the bird feeder. Where would you go to hunt them?

Doc

[16. ga hunter]

they are all over genesee county

[capt_terry]

I've got good huntable numbers on my place in 6R

[biggamefish]

  I have always seen doves on my friends farm.  They bust out last minute and fly like hell.  It would be fun to hunt them.  In my earlier days I might have tried one or two of them.  Not bad if they are cooked right.

[Lawdwaz]

They are right under your nose!

I've seen flocks in the thousands in Niagara County!  (while hunting geese in Sept. )

[Doc]

I guess they must be primarily a farmland bird eh? We have a lot of what used to be farmland about 40 or 50 years ago, but most of it you have to use a bit of imagination or a real good memory to know that it was ever farmed ..... lol. I get the impression that that is probably not the best habitat for doves.

Doc

[TH41]

I'd love to have a season here in ny. They really are a lot of fun to hunt.

[papabear]

See them all over long Island would love to hunt them

had a buddy of mine send me some there very tasty you can't go wrong when you cook theses birds

papabear

[16. ga hunter]

farmland/ medows/fields water sources oak orchard has a good number partly due to farms surrounding and habitat manegment for pheasant and watrefoul i used to hunt them in sc with my buddies lab to retrieve down there we would pass shoot them over ponds