Nearing the summer solstice, meaning we're enjoying another few meals of the unprotected, but very delectable, Eurasian collared-dove. Idaho still has no closed season, no bag limit, on this invasive species. The bird, to me, tastes exactly like a mourning dove, but is twice the size. Anybody else out there taking advantage of them being around?






Breasted out, wrapped in bacon, cooked on barby, fantastic!



Plucked, thrown in oven with your favorite spices.

No protection here either they make a nice cage bait.

They have literally invaded my area. It seems they are pushing out the Mourning Doves. Constant noise starting from when the sun cracks the horizon until sundown.

First I was told by the DNR that I could kill them, then they reversed that decision. It took a little convincing but I finally have documentation from the DNR that I can, in fact, kill them as they are unprotected.

I did not want to take parents with young in the nest, but they appear to be flying in family groups at this point.

Can hardly wait to eat them. It's personal at this point.....

Moosetrot

I've seen them in Texas, But not here so far. I will be on the lookout.

Invasive species here no limits

Looks Good

Diggerman-I think you will hear them before you see them. Their call is very distinctive from the Mourning Dove. It is constant noise around here and NOT just during breeding season.

Moosetrot

They are common here, but nest largely in urban areas. We have never killed one on my dove fields, but commonly see them in town

Ha ha, that’s what I was gonna say! lol. Yes, they make the same mooing sound, over and over and over again, all year around. We haven’t had a really cold winter for several years, and I wondered if that would flush them out, but don’t sound like that will help either! I’m glad they’re good eating, I’m gonna go thin the herd one of these days!

They were gaining in population here about 6 years ago. Haven’t seen any recently though. The last time I was working in Petersburg they were everywhere, it seemed. They only seemed to be in residential areas.

Seems around here they prefer towns, but we have a few out here in the hinterlands. Mike -A couple years ago, I saw a few In Craig, Klawock, and Thorne Bay.

Jack

Sounds like a dove that was shot in the butt.

"Ooo-oogh-ooooooooooogh"....constantly.

Moosetrot

Same here but I'm sure Illinois will put a special season on them and charge us for it.

That's what I've seen here. They pretty much stay in town and not in the fields we hunt.

Noisy dang things. Not pieceful with them around. Smart too. They seem to know if your armed or not. Haven't eaten one, .17 is a little rough on them. Seems to be one pair at every homestead. No Mourning Doves around any more with the Collared ones taking over. I think they are democrates!

They really group up around the grain elevators here, especially during the winter. The Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned and Goshawks really work them over in town during winter.
Took this pic of a white one, not albino just a white phase that is starting to show up more.

I just sold a pair for $80.00 around half an hour ago. I've noticed in some places you can see all the colors commonly kept in captivity and others only the wild types. You hardly ever see the domestic ones for less than $40.00 to $60.00 a pair.

Doves are extremely easy to trap in a modified Swedish crow trap or in large, flat, bottomless traps with bobs. The voodoo market is very good on doves, virtually inexhaustible. I'm surprised that you guys with large feral populations don't trap them for resale. You could make thousands a week in a good area.

Keith

Nice shots, Jack, and all.

I bet they are good to eat. I've wondered about the Rock Doves as to eating too.

Someone post a link of just what those Collared Doves sound like, please ? I believe I've heard them, but cannot mentally hear that sound right now. Yes I'm lazy actually in the middle of a big job so I'm not stopping on that for long.

They make a laughing sound too. A lot of magicians, I sell white collared doves too, only buy females, because the males calling can ruin their tricks.

Keith