GREAT OUTDOORS: Doves' disappearance disappoints again

Since mid-August, I have been watching a few wheat stubble fields where good numbers of mourning doves had been accumulating while feeding on weed seeds and spilled wheat. And true to form, most of them departed at the first sign of cool weather during the last days of August, just like they did right before the September 1 opening day of dove season in three of the past five years. The flock of about 200 doves dropped to less than 30, replaced by about 500 European starlings. In the same location in 2019, doves numbered around 500-600 before dropping to around 35. Last year, the flocks never accumulated into numbers that tempted me to even try. Wherever there were even groups larger than a couple dozen, they were too close to houses or livestock, so I wasn't tempted to ask for permission to hunt. In 2021, the stars aligned, and I was persistent enough in my scouting to locate and get permission to hunt another field that had attracted over 1,000 doves the night before opening day. For the first few days of September that year, I bagged the legal limit of 15 birds and was able to host some lucky friends for this outstanding dove hunting windfall. Looking back, it is a miracle that we got any shooting in when the opening day of mourning dove season was on September 15 when dove hunting resumed in Ohio in 1995. Initial, unfounded concerns about orphaning helpless nestlings if hunting started earlier prompted the later season until more recently. Life history studies established that chicks are independent in 18 days. On the current opening day of the season, September 1, younger birds do exist in the flocks. They are recognizable on the wing by their shorter tails. They are noticeably smaller and have less meat when prepared for the table. Baseless criticisms by those who oppose dove hunting include accusations that hunters just use them for target practice, that there wasn't enough meat on them or they should be protected as "the bird of peace." Mouring dove breasts are nothing less than a delicacy. The multitude of recipes that appear in virtually every wild game cookbook should be convincing evidence that they are a prized entrée on the table. The 3 ounces of meat that an average dove provides is bigger than even colossal-sized shrimp, which also require more than one per serving. Finally, the "bird of peace" refers to the Old World white turtle dove, not the North American mourning dove or any of the other dove species that are hunted in over 40 states and throughout South America. When asked to describe the meat, I maintain that their very dark, moist meat reminds me of a (gristle-free) chicken or turkey gizzard or heart. Commercial facilities exist for raising formerly wild bird species such as turkey, duck, pigeon (squab), quail, pheasant, ostrich and others. However, if a person of modest means wants to sample dove breasts, hunting is the only practical way to get them. They are not available in even the most exclusive local butcher shops. I was only able to find one business that sells dove meat. Exotic Meat Markets sells fresh doves for $79 per pair, saying, "Dove Meat is a delicacy -- very lean, dark, tender, moist, easily digestible, and rich in proteins, minerals, and vitamins. It has been described as having a silky texture, as it is very tender and fine-grained. It has a milder taste than other game and has been described as having a mild berry flavor. Dove meat flavor blends with complex red or white wines." With the variable weather yet to come during the rest of September, I am still hoping for a push of migratory doves. I would hate to miss another year to harvest some of these abundant game birds because of bad timing. But, as I have said many times before, Mother Nature holds the trump cards when it comes to providing or denying a chance to participate in outdoor activities.