Looking for doves/corn on WMAs

[jad2t]

I've stumbled across many fully cut corn fields while small game hunting this Fall along the Stones River on the Percy Priest WMA. I'm in search of late season doves but unfortunately the corn fields I find are completely cut down and the ears of corn are bare. I jumped a few here and there but not near enough action to get even a decent dove hunt. Not a single kernel of corn can be found. Animals have already eaten them.

I know several of you hunt and was wondering if you've found some cut corn fields that still have corn or if you've come across fields maybe planted with something else (wheat, millet) and noticed dove traffic. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Pookie]

Originally Posted by jad2t

I've stumbled across many fully cut corn fields while small game hunting this Fall along the Stones River on the Percy Priest WMA. I'm in search of late season doves but unfortunately the corn fields I find are completely cut down and the ears of corn are bare. I jumped a few here and there but not near enough action to get even a decent dove hunt. Not a single kernel of corn can be found. Animals have already eaten them.

I know several of you hunt and was wondering if you've found some cut corn fields that still have corn or if you've come across fields maybe planted with something else (wheat, millet) and noticed dove traffic. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

I'm not seeing any concentrations anywhere. About all I am seeing is bunches of 15-20 in a group. Shoot once and they are all gone. I have a place that gets loaded when it snows, but the snow is a key. If you can find a farm that has grain bins, and get permission, the very day it snows, you can wear em out. The birds I am seeing are as big as a small pigeon, so I know it is the northern birds that are here.

[jad2t]

I've read posts on another forum about guys having better hunts in the late phases than on opening day and they regularly do this. Now, they also have private land to hunt on so that helps. Finding food is key. I've come across corn fields on the WMAs while scouting but like I said, no corn left to attract birds.

I did notice while Google Mapping several fields with a nice sized pond adjacent to them. I know the ponds are key attractors for doves any time of year so next chance I get to hunt, which may not be for a couple weeks, I think I'm going to post up there and see if I get any action. Maybe I'll be lucky enough that my next outing will be right after a cold front that has pushed birds down.