Will doves come to un-cut soybean field?

Joshua 2415 · August 25, 2016, 01:09 PM

A few buddies and I have the opportunity to hunt doves on opening day at a private farm. We would have a large soybean field all to ourselves. However, the beans have not been cut, and they likely won't be cut by opening day.

Will doves still come to the un-cut soybean field? Or are we wasting our time?

Alternatively, we could go to a public WMA field where the birds will surely be flying, but we will be shoulder to shoulder with a million other hunters.

If you had this choice, what would you do?

zoomie · August 25, 2016, 01:27 PM

I'd get a mojo dove and go to the private field. I'd rather hang out with buddies on a nice fall day on a private farm and fire 5 shots than fire 25 (ok ok, it's doves, better make that 50) and fight for position, parking, etc, etc, etc... and more etc.

T. O'Heir · August 25, 2016, 01:38 PM

Dunno, but these guys seem to. Some say yes. Most say no. Site is mostly about ducks too.
http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum...?f=61&t=127079
A net search for 'dove hunting over uncut soybeans' turns up a bunch of sites. Hunting over grain fields isn't legal everywhere either. Rule Number Two. Thou shalt cover Thine posterior. CYA.

bamaranger · August 25, 2016, 03:05 PM

I hate crowds, bad ethics and slob hunting, which you may well see on public land on an opener. But I'd think that doves will go to cut fields , where there is more and easier obtained food, first. You may spend a long afternoon in the heat, with little action, despite the company, if there are more preferred food locales nearby.

Your landowner has to cut that field sometime.......can you stand to hold off on it 'till conditions are better? I might tough out public land for a few hours, to hunt your honey hole under better conditions.

lockedcj7 · August 25, 2016, 04:20 PM

Doves don't come to cut soybeans very well, much less un-cut. Besides, even if you manage to shoot a few passing birds, you won't be able to find them.

I've hunted doves all my life and I've never done any good over soybeans. Sunflower, millet and corn are the best. I have hunted lots of public fields and some of them aren't too bad with slobs, newbies and crowds. I've actually had some really great hunts on public land. I've also had some bad experiences and some poor hunting. It seems like the DNR around here only makes a half-hearted effort.

I've tried to find a good field this year and have come up empty. I'll probably be on a public field or a youth hunt on opening day myself.

Panfisher · August 25, 2016, 07:19 PM

Doves don't walk around well and generally don't care abut uncut soybean or corn or milo uncut. However I have had some good dove hunts near them when other things draw them, whether it be a pond, brush hogged weeks, or a dusty feed lot. I hut the opener every year on a public area that will have 100 or folks with shotguns, have had some awesome hunts there. You do have to n play a little defense and be aware of n who is around you and pass on low flyers.

Mobuck · August 26, 2016, 06:07 AM

An "uncut soybean field"--is it still green and 4' tall? If so then NO.

Panfisher · August 26, 2016, 09:44 AM

As MObuck noted soybean fields in MO are bug and green right now, don't know about where you are. The other thing is that if you did shoot a dove and it falls into a tall uncut field of soybeans it can be a bear to find them.

reynolds357 · August 26, 2016, 10:13 PM

Doves are going to go to the best available food in the area. If the best food is uncut soybeans, your field will be great. If there is a cut milo field within 5 miles, you won't see a bird.

Old Bill Dibble · August 27, 2016, 12:44 AM

Not around here. A cut cornfield is mostly the best.

reynolds357 · August 27, 2016, 09:40 PM

Around here, the hogs will have the cut corn field cleaned up before it ever becomes legal to hunt doves on.

buck460XVR · August 28, 2016, 11:00 AM

On opening weekend of dove season around here, I tend to go to water and avoid the crowds at the fields. Many times, it's just a puddle on the road a few hundred yards away from those same fields.

playin' hookey · August 29, 2016, 07:14 PM

Agree with others that public land will be best dove hunting. Don't think doves will be using uncut soybeans. Even if they are you better have a dog if you want to find anything you shoot.

August 25, 2016, 01:09 PM	#1
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Will doves come to un-cut soybean field? A few buddies and I have the opportunity to hunt doves on opening day at a private farm. We would have a large soybean field all to ourselves. However, the beans have not been cut, and they likely won't be cut by opening day. Will doves still come to the un-cut soybean field? Or are we wasting our time? Alternatively, we could go to a public WMA field where the birds will surely be flying, but we will be shoulder to shoulder with a million other hunters. If you had this choice, what would you do?

August 25, 2016, 01:38 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Dunno, but these guys seem to. Some say yes. Most say no. Site is mostly about ducks too. http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum...?f=61&t=127079 A net search for 'dove hunting over uncut soybeans' turns up a bunch of sites. Hunting over grain fields isn't legal everywhere either. Rule Number Two. Thou shalt cover Thine posterior. CYA. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

August 25, 2016, 03:05 PM	#4
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	crowds I hate crowds, bad ethics and slob hunting, which you may well see on public land on an opener. But I'd think that doves will go to cut fields , where there is more and easier obtained food, first. You may spend a long afternoon in the heat, with little action, despite the company, if there are more preferred food locales nearby. Your landowner has to cut that field sometime.......can you stand to hold off on it 'till conditions are better? I might tough out public land for a few hours, to hunt your honey hole under better conditions.

August 25, 2016, 04:20 PM	#5
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	Waste of time. Doves don't come to cut soybeans very well, much less un-cut. Besides, even if you manage to shoot a few passing birds, you won't be able to find them. I've hunted doves all my life and I've never done any good over soybeans. Sunflower, millet and corn are the best. I have hunted lots of public fields and some of them aren't too bad with slobs, newbies and crowds. I've actually had some really great hunts on public land. I've also had some bad experiences and some poor hunting. It seems like the DNR around here only makes a half-hearted effort. I've tried to find a good field this year and have come up empty. I'll probably be on a public field or a youth hunt on opening day myself. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

August 25, 2016, 01:27 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,862	I'd get a mojo dove and go to the private field. I'd rather hang out with buddies on a nice fall day on a private farm and fire 5 shots than fire 25 (ok ok, it's doves, better make that 50) and fight for position, parking, etc, etc, etc... and more etc.

August 25, 2016, 07:19 PM	#6
Panfisher Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,337	Doves don't walk around well and generally don't care abut uncut soybean or corn or milo uncut. However I have had some good dove hunts near them when other things draw them, whether it be a pond, brush hogged weeks, or a dusty feed lot. I hut the opener every year on a public area that will have 100 or folks with shotguns, have had some awesome hunts there. You do have to n play a little defense and be aware of n who is around you and pass on low flyers.

August 26, 2016, 06:07 AM	#7
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	An "uncut soybean field"--is it still green and 4' tall? If so then NO.

August 26, 2016, 09:44 AM	#8
Panfisher Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,337	As MObuck noted soybean fields in MO are bug and green right now, don't know about where you are. The other thing is that if you did shoot a dove and it falls into a tall uncut field of soybeans it can be a bear to find them.

August 26, 2016, 10:13 PM	#9
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Doves are going to go to the best available food in the area. If the best food is uncut soybeans, your field will be great. If there is a cut milo field within 5 miles, you won't see a bird.

August 27, 2016, 12:44 AM	#10
Old Bill Dibble Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2016 Posts: 802	Not around here. A cut cornfield is mostly the best.

August 27, 2016, 09:40 PM	#11
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Around here, the hogs will have the cut corn field cleaned up before it ever becomes legal to hunt doves on.

August 28, 2016, 11:00 AM	#12
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	On opening weekend of dove season around here, I tend to go to water and avoid the crowds at the fields. Many times, it's just a puddle on the road a few hundred yards away from those same fields.

August 29, 2016, 07:14 PM	#13
playin' hookey Member Join Date: August 20, 2011 Location: South Boston, VA Posts: 51	Agree with others that public land will be best dove hunting. Don't think doves will be using uncut soybeans. Even if they are you better have a dog if you want to find anything you shoot.