What’s your best method to attract Doves and Pigeons?

[Maizen]

How do you attract them? I’ve got a lot of pigeons and doves around my area. I’m positioned about 6 yards away from them and I’m shooting from inside the house. I’ve got an outdoor balcony, but I’m not familiar with the best ways to attract them. Let me know and thanks.

Using only 6 foot pounds of energy so no pass through as I don’t want to risk a ricochet.

 

[Chukar60]

Cracked corn from a feed store will do the trick. /they cannot resist it.

 

[airgunmike56]

A feed called chicken scratch, Its got cracked corn, milo, wheat and few other grains,
I get mine at tractor supply for about 18 dollars for a 50lb sack,, You can make feeders or just skater it around your yard about one pound in the evening and one pound in the morning , When they are coming in like crazy you can back off to one pound a day, I use a plastic coffee can, Sparrows also like the scratch, If you have a choose always shoot the males,,Rats and mice will also come to the grain, If there in the area...
Mike

 

[kayaker]

I've tried millet , cracked corn, shelled sunflower seeds, in my area the white millet will out perform the others. It's like crack cocaine. I just throw it around on my bark dust. Once they find it they come in groves. I don't shoot the doves at my house because the wife loves to watch the birds and I'd catch you know what from her. Feed them for about a week or two and you'll be amazed how many will come when the word is out. They are very skittish birds so don't let them see you.

 

[JimNM]

Most doves are federally protected, just FYI.

Eurasian Collared Doves are invasive, as are pigeons. No limit, no season and no restrictions on tools used. Don't get jammed up by shooting the wrong thing at the wrong birds.

 

[AirGunAction]

Doves and Pigeons, what is the difference other than the source of the words…

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Calls, food, decoys,... I've even fooled them with printouts of doves on paper and just laying those on the ground

 

[JimNM]

Violation of game laws in the United States can result in losing your guns, your hunting privileges, and even your freedom. It does matter. Airgun Nation does not tolerate illegal or unethical activity.

Cardinal rule of every shooting sport is to know your target.

 

[chip78]

Yes, we must be mindful what we shoot and when. There is a dove season for many states. Pigeons are just pests and can be killed anytime (nationwide likely?)

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Always check your states laws; some differ

 

[Mr303]

You're allowed to shoot Eurasian collared dove all year round in Nebraska and Colorado, so on the farms its just a matter of waiting a few minutes and one or two of the little buggers will be glad to stop by.
I have an owl hooter that sounds like a dove and that attracts them and I have used clip-on decoys successfully.

 

[Maizen]

Yes, we must be mindful what we shoot and when. There is a dove season for many states. Pigeons are just pests and can be killed anytime (nationwide likely?)

Yep they are considered pests. We’ve got a million of them around my area.

 

[qball]

You can start with bread crumbs, you will rats and rats with wings. Be careful for what you wish for.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

If you only have 6 yards to shoot, and out of a window no less, im going to guess you're not supposed to be doing it where you live. Whats the plan when a neighbor sees the pigeon flopping around from that massive 6 fpe shot? They're tough birds man, you'll probably end up having a pissed off neighbor coming by to tell you to stop shooting the birds because they hobbled into their yard or flew off and then kamikazed into their pool.

 

[orangeokie]

Doves and Pigeons, what is the difference other than the source of the words…

Mourning Dove are migratory game species with hunting seasons, usually the month of September. Like has already been said, collared doves, Eurasian doves, are not migratory game species, but they taste just as good as the mourning doves. I've not eaten pigeons, but I hear they eat them in England.

 

[AirGunAction]

Pigeons and Doves is exactly the same thing.

Origin of the words
Pigeon - Latin/French
Dove - Norse/Middle English

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Pigeons and Doves is exactly the same thing.

Origin of the words
Pigeon - Latin/French
Dove - Norse/Middle English

To me; pigeons are smart ....they are those fatties(sometimes 5 times the size of a regular dove from eating scraps at restaurants)that stay in town all year....taunting me as I go about my day...never getting in range of where I can sling lead....
Doves ....they are dumb I've seen them land for water rrriigghhtt in front of a cat and boop the cats got em

 

[Motorhead]

Pigeons and Doves is exactly the same thing.

Origin of the words
Pigeon - Latin/French
Dove - Norse/Middle English

They are a VERY Different bird here in the Americas.

Here on the west coast we have:
Morning Doves ( Native ) Legal take with a hunting license only during specified season.
Eurasian Doves ( Non native invasive ) Any time of year with a valid hunting license.
Band Tail Pigeons ( Native & generally in the upper foothills to mountain areas ) @ same hunting rules as Mourning doves
Domestic Pigeons ( Aka winged rats, city pigions etc ) ... No further comment