Dove Habitat

[Ebowhunter]

Could have put this in any of three places. Not sure the Upland sees enough general topics, Habitat looks like it belongs to deer. So, I put it here.

Any ideas on creating dove attracting habitat? THETOOLMAN??

Pine trees are popular for nesting/roosting. They eat anything in a seed form. More sunflowers? Wheat (the wheat fields should be clean/turned over by 9/1)? Pheasant habitat? Quail habitat?

It is a good time to start as three years from now the new fields and trees should be established.

[Neal]

Ebow~ Check this thread

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69750&highlight=dove+habitat

[Ebowhunter]

Thanks! I didn't dig deep enough in the Habitat forum. But, the only information was from Colorado.

To summarize all that was on that thread: they nest in pine trees and eat weed seed.

Sounds like a person needs to be in an established flight path - to/from feeding/roosting - which feeding could vary from year to year.

[brdhntr]

The dove sportsmans society branch of quail unlimited has a booklet on dove habitat. I have it at home somewhere, will look to see how to get it. Mainly, if you have doves in the area, planting sunflowers and/or wheat will draw them in. Mow or disc a small section of the field every couple weeks and they will use it until you pressure them too hard or the weather sends them south. My best field in Ohio last year was a mowed wheat field. Maybe 15 acres in size, we took 200+ birds off it last year.