"HUNTING THE PREDATOR" by Dennis Stillwell

Ever called in a coyote just to have it bust you when you moved to take a shot? Movement has been the end of a lot of hunts, but you can also use movement to your advantage. Gain an edge by adding a decoy to your hunt. For best results, pick a location where you will have good cover but the decoy will be in the open. Wear a camo pattern that matches the surrounding cover, including a face mask and gloves. The decoy should be elevated to make it as visible to the surrounding area as possible. Select a decoy that matches the calling sound you’re going to use. When calling with coyote sounds such as howls, challenge barks and so on, use a coyote decoy. When using distress sounds, use a small animal decoy. When calling coyotes, a red fox decoy is also a good choice. Red fox are the bottom of the canine food chain and a coyote will see a red fox as both food and a competitor. When a coyote or a fox comes to the call, it will expect to see the animal making the call. If it doesn’t, it will spook. Be sure the decoy is upwind of your location. Both coyote and fox will often circle the decoy to try to wind it. After setting up, wait 20 to 30 minutes before starting to call to allow things to settle down in the area. While calling, watch every area very carefully. A predator will often try to check out the area from a safe location such as cover before moving in. Once the shot presents itself, keep your movements down. After the shot, keep calling just in case a second predator comes in. A decoy will increase your success and add a lot of fun to the hunt. Good luck and good hunting.

"Tips For Hunting Dove" by Luke Clayton

I used to think the word hunt was inappropriate for describing the pursuit of dove. To my way of thinking, shoot was much better suited. After all, one doesn’t really hunt dove, right? Well, through the years, I’ve changed my opinion on this matter. I guess as a young dove shooter I did very little hunting. I simply positioned myself on a pond dam or along a tree line bordering a grain field and banged away at passing doves. Truthfully, I sometime harvested dove and sometime wished there were dove to harvest ! I had left hunting out of the equation!

Granted, dove often aren’t hunted in the same manner as many other game birds and animals but they should be! Take goose hunting for instance. I’ve enjoyed many successful goose hunts from the Canadian border to the Texas coast and every hunt had one common denominator: preparation. Scouting occurred the day before the hunts and decoys and calls were used to attract the birds within shotgun range. I’ve never tried using dove calls to bring passing birds in close but I know for a fact that proper scouting is important to locate concentrations of birds and a mixture of stationary and spinning-wing decoys will bring the birds in close for the shot.

Here are a few things that I’ve learned about dove hunting from almost a half-century in the dove fields each fall. I bet if you’ve spend very much time pursuing this great game bird; you can add a few of your own tips to my list!

SCOUT FIRST- Most of us are limited to the fields we can hunt. Individual fields may not be ‘red hot’ on any given hunt but scouting before the hunt will insure you set up where your percentages are best. From a good vantage point, use binoculars during early morning and late afternoon and determine the flight pattern used by doves. Then, locate a good spot to ambush them. The end of tree lines, grown up fence rows or even high weeds adjacent a grain field can be good spots to hunt. If you’re hunting over a pond, chances are pretty good that dove have a particular area they prefer to come to water.

These ‘watering zones’ usually are areas with clean banks that provide grit for the birds and protection from predators. Also, pay attention to the wind when choosing a spot to hunt. All birds take off and land into the wind.

CROSSING SHOTS ARE MOST DIFFICULT- For most hunters, crossing shots at dove are the most difficult to make, especially shots on fast flying birds. It’s very common to shoot behind birds flying right to left or left to right. Nothing sharpens the eye for these shots better than a few rounds of skeet or trap. Practice by beginning your shotgun swing behind the flying bird (clay target), seeing daylight behind your shotgun barrel and the flying bird and pulling the trigger. The trick for the shot gunner is just how much daylight is required in order to put the shot string at the exact spot where the bird will be! This study in physics has challenged the wing shooter since the invention of black powder and shot; it’s also what makes dove hunting so much fun. To my way of thinking, doves are the most challenging of all birds to knock down with a scattergun.

BLEND INTO YOUR SURROUNDINGS- Back in the early sixties when I first began hunting dove, blue jeans and a dark colored T shirt was the uniform of the day. Dove have excellent eyesight and from their elevated position, they can easily spot anything that looks out of the ordinary, (i.e. hunters) wearing solid colors. These days, I hunt dove in the same light weight, breathable camo I use for early season bow hunting. Wear camo and avoid movement until you begin your shotgun swing and chances are very good that you will have a heavier game bag at the end of your shoot!

RETRIEVE YOUR BIRDS IMMEDIATELY- Dove blend well into their surroundings and many are lost by hunters that take their eye off of a falling bird and shoot at another. Unless shooting over a recently cut grain field or an area with short grass, It’s a good idea to watch your bird hit the ground after the shot and go immediately to retrieve it, especially if you’re not hunting with a good retriever.

Action dove decoys have become very popular the past few years and for good reason, they work! This flapping wing decoy by Edge By Expedite (www.edgebyexpedite.com) is highly effective in getting passing dove in close for the shot.

USE DECOYS- Ten years ago, decoys were seldom used by dove hunters but we’ve caught on to the fact that doves are flocking birds and they respond well to decoys. Motion type decoys (spinning and flapping wing) have proved to be highly effective.
My current decoy spread includes three stationary decoys and a couple of ‘flapping wing’ decoys by Edge by Expedite www.edgebyexpedite.com. These decoys run on 3 AAA batteries and with removable wings, are easy to transport into and out of the field.
On many occasions, I’ve had dove actually fluttering overhead above the flapping wing decoys. They work and I use them on every hunt.

OUTDOOR TIP OF THE WEEK: With the opener of dove season at hand, many of us will be looking forward to eating the rewards of our hunts. The key to tasty dove is keeping the birds cool while in the field. I bring an ice cooler and carry gallon freezer bags for this purpose.

While on a white wing hunt in Mexico, I learned a great recipe for dove breasts. Use a thin-blade fillet knife and take the time to remove the breast meat from each side of the dove breast. Place a sliver of jalapeno on the piece of boneless breast meat and wrap with bacon. Place over hot coals and baste frequently with your favorite syrup. The blend of flavors created by the jalapeno and syrup will have your guests coming back for more. LC

Want even more of Luke's hunting/fishing tips and tricks, wild game recipes etc?

Listen to Outdoors With Luke Clayton for a new show each week at www.catfishradio.com and check out the new fishing videos at lukeshotspots.com

Larry Erickson
New Richmond, WI

Matt Comb
Brooklyn Center, MN

Spencer Knapp with our own Jay Rogers as guide.
Hudson, WI

Greg Knapp
Hudson, WI

Ryan Unger
River Falls, WI

A J Niette
Smiths Station, AL

I just wanted to take a minute and say 'Thanks' for making a an excellent (and economical) predator decoy. I purchased your 'Quiver Critter' predator decoy last week, and on Saturday (May10, 2008) I gave it a test run. Using an electronic call, I was able to bring the coyote up from behind me and position him for a shot at 89 yards. I am sure that the coyote would have gotten A LOT closer if I had not taken the shot, but I was so excited I could not wait. What an awesome way to extend my time in the woods. When I returned home with the coyote, I was even more excited when my 4yr old son said that 'Next time I want to go Daddy".....(he had helped me with the assembly of the 'critter'. Thank you again for making such an excellent product!!!

Brent Smathers
Mars Hill NC

Pictured is Carolyn Pidgeon, International Operations Manager at Edge by Expedite, with her 26 pound 2008 Wisconsin spring turkey. This was taken on the first day of her spring hunt. She trudged out that morning, along with Jay Rogers, the Edge Product Engineer, and Ken Rimer, Edge’s National Sales Manager, to test a prototype turkey decoy Edge is working on. Sneaking in before light, they managed to get within 100 yards of the roosting birds. Shortly after the sun started peaking out from behind the horizon, the woods erupted with turkey gobbles. From their ambush point, they watched patiently as the flock slowly and methodically left their roost and landed on the ground for the early morning courtship. Within minutes we had 5 toms within 60 yards, all trying to “out display” the other to impress some hens. As this dance started in front of us, the “boss tom” arrived from behind and was working his way into our decoy. He could not resist the temptation. As he pushed his way towards the decoy, the other toms ran behind to catch up with him. One 15 yard shot from her 12 gauge rocked him to the ground and sent the other birds scurrying in every direction. Total measurements for her largest turkey to date was 26 lbs., 9 ½ beard and ¾” spurs. Watch for Edge’s new Fantom turkey decoy to be released this fall for the 2009 seasons.

Carolyn Pidgeon
Hudson, WI

Tom Pawlicki
Illinois

I have been calling predators for over 4 years, and have been very successful, but in the first week I had your Quiver Critter decoy, I called a coyote literally into my lap, called in a mess of crows, and got my first bobcat! I attribute all of those kills to the effectiveness of your well-made, and budget-minded, decoy.

I had not heard of your company until I purchased this decoy at Bass Pro Shop, but now I have a company name that sticks out in my mind - and gives me the Edge!

I will certainly be taking more animals thanks to your product, and will send more pictures of my great successes!

Glen Stilson
Prescott Valley, Arizona