A Wingshooter’s Offseason Calendar

Shooting birds is a perishable skill. It’s not like riding a bike, and I’m reminded of that opening day of duck season every year. So what is a bird hunter to do during the months between one hunting season and the next. Sure, you can shoot clays, but clays don’t juke and dive and speed up when you least expect it. And, besides, you can’t eat clay pigeons.

Here’s the good news. You don’t have to stop hunting birds just because the fall is over. And before you think I’m going to suggest poaching, read on. There are several birds you can hunt all over North America, from invasive species to old standbys like Canada geese. All of them make decent table fare and offer plenty of challenging shots. If you’re a bird hunter who doesn’t know what to do this spring and summer, we’ve got you covered.

March and April: Spring Snow Geese

Before you clean and put away your waterfowl gear for the season, try getting on a few spring snow goose hunts. During the spring, snow geese migrate back north to their summer breeding grounds. They number in the millions, and to keep those numbers in check, a springtime hunting opportunity was established under theLight Goose Conservation Orderin 1999.

The order hits the Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic Flyways and lets hunters take geese from February to April (specific dates vary depending on location). It also lets you break a few rules when it comes to waterfowl hunting. You can use electronic calls and unplugged magazines, and there are generally no bag limits (again, check the local regs).

The catch is that this is ahard hunt for DIYers. Decoy spreads number in the thousands, and you’re usually hunting mature, well-educated birds. But if you work with an outfitter in states like Arkansas, South Dakota, New York, Kansas, Texas, or Louisiana, you’ll have a good shot at filling the freezer.

May, June, and July: Pigeons and Collared Doves

The common street pigeon or rock dove doesn’t just live in cities.They’ve colonized dairy farms, derelict grain silos, and highway overpasses around rural America. The birds were actually brought to the U.S. from Europe for food, so they’re plenty good eating. Better yet, you can hunt them year-round in most states because they’re considered an invasive species, and there are no bag limits.

Another invasive bird, the Eurasian collared dove, is also fair game throughout the year, but you should be able to identify them on the wing before going hunting. They look a bit like a mourning dove, and you wouldn’t want to shoot the wrong bird out of season.

The best way to get in a good pigeon or collared dove shoot is to make friends with a farmer. Typically, they’ll have birds wreaking havoc on their grain supply and stinking up their barns. I’ve found farmers to be more than willing to give pigeon or collared dove hunting permission. You can also do a little scouting in cut grain fields to figure out when and where these birds are feeding.

Pigeons and collared doves come to decoys like mallards. You can buy full-body or silhouette pigeon decoys, but making your own from old cardboard boxes and a little paint is fun. Add a few spinning wing decoys to the mix and get ready for a lights-out shoot.

August: Crows

You can eat crow. In fact, during the Depression, crow eating and crow shooting were extremely popular. Farmers and rural folk used it as a way to keep crops from getting decimated and keep meat on the table. Crows will decoy like waterfowl, come to calls, and offer challenging shots to keep you tuned up for the fall. Competition for a good crow shooting field is virtually non-existent. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce yourself to farmers who may give you permission to hunt field geese or mallards later.

To execute a successful crow shoot, you’ll need to find roosting crows. Look to field edges full of trees or other high points where crows like to hang out. After that, locate a food source and confirm that the crows are hitting it. Talking to a farmer helps, but some early morning scouting also works. Check corn fields that farmers cut early for silage or harvested silage piles this time of year. Don’t discount standing corn, either. Crows love to perch on a stalk and pick at fresh ears of corn. Set a few decoys in the early morning and coax the birds off the roost with either a mouth call or an electronic crow call.

Crows lack migratory bird status, so there aren't federal regulations determining their season. Still, be sure to check your local regs to make sure that you're legal to hunt this time of the year, as it varies from state to state.

September: Early Geese, Doves, and Teal

You’ve pretty much made it. Fall is around the corner, and you’ve had several barrel-burning hunts by now. It may not be duck, pheasant, or grouse season, but September is really the first taste of fall hunting, even though temperatures can still be north of 80 degrees.

You can chase three birds this time of year:Canada geese, bluewing teal, and mourning doves. Depending on where you are, you might have only one of these birds available to hunt, but that’s OK. You can still get out there and get plenty of shooting in before fall really kicks off.

The northeast has some of the best opportunities for hunting resident Canada geese. Bag limits are extremely liberal, with some at 15 birds per day. You can hunt geese in hay fields or try to organize a roost hunt on the water.

Early teal season is action-packed in parts of the Midwest if you hit it right. Bluewings can leave as soon as they arrive, so if you find a hotspot while scouting, plan to hit it the next morning.

In most of the South—and just about every other part of the country—September is the time tohunt mourning doves. Doves offer some of the most challenging shooting in North America, and they’re a great way to get in shape for ducks.

Whatever one of these birds you decide to go after, keep some ice on hand to make sure the meat stays cold in hot weather—and save a few bags for your bruised shoulder.

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