Dove Hunting

[Matt in AK]

We just moved to Carlisle, PA for a year.  I'd like to get my son out and shoot some doves while we're here.  Are farmes typically receptive to folks asking for permission?  Do any advertise pay as you go hunts?

[buckbeast]

I'm just down the road from you (Dillsburg). Some farmers are receptive some aren't. The best thing you could do is ask around. There are a pretty fair number of farms around the Carlisle area, so I would say the chances are pretty good at one of them letting you in to hunt doves. Just make sure when you ask permission that you are asking permission for what you want to hunt. What I mean is, if you ask if you may hunt on their farm, they think deer. And then the answer might be different than if you ask to hunt doves or small game.

Also if you haven't found it yet, and you just want to do some shooting with you son, there is a shooting range on the public game lands along route 944 (Wertzville Road). Follow 34 North (Spring Road) and then make a left on 944 West. If is free for the public.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/game/maps/zoom_maps.asp?sgl=230&rgn=Southcentral

Good luck and welcome to south central PA,
Buck.

[Matt in AK]

Thanks Buck.  I was just out at the shooting range near you on York RD(?) shooting a rifle this past weekend.  Thanks for the reminder about deer hunting being a whole different things than doves.  My son and I are planning to knock on a few doors Saturday.

I'm also joing Carlisle Fish & Game Club so we can get some skeet practice in.

Matt

[Matt in AK]

Buck,

Thanks again.  We managed to find a small farm not a 1/2 mile from here to hunt doves and....quail !!!

Matt

[buckbeast]

Good to hear. Keep asking around too. Nice to have options of places to hunt and maybe someone will let you on to hunt other game.

[knight0334]

Anyone have any luck with the doves so far??

I saw one, and only one yesterday..  ..out of range for my scattergun.

I remember there being tons of them in my teenage years, now theres hardly any.   ...whats up with the birds?

[Matt in AK]

Knocked down a couple.  Seems like they were a lot slower and lower when I was in my twenties

[RaySendero]

Anyone have any luck with the doves so far??

I saw one, and only one yesterday..  ..out of range for my scattergun.

I remember there being tons of them in my teenage years, now theres hardly any.   ...whats up with the birds?

We just had the best opening weekend I've seen in 4 or 5 years!  Got a limit with my 1187 12ga the 1st day on a public hunt and another limit with my 1100 28 ga skeet-T on a private hunt the 2nd day!  To me, dove hunting seems to go like baseball - Sometimes they are there; Sometimes they arn't; Sometimes it rains!