With the opening of dove season only weeks away we thought we’d revisit this article about the topic of baiting for doves. Most if not all of the information presented applies for all migratory birds including waterfowl like ducks and geese, and crows.

  There are many rules and regulations about what constitutes “baiting’ when it comes to hunting doves and getting an idea of what to expect now may save you some trouble when you head out September 1st.

  Most states allow for the planting of food plots for the benefit of wildlife but the rules concerning harvesting or manipulation can vary. It is best to check with your state’s Department of Natural Resources for any questions about your hunting area.

  Here are some general rules that most states have but double check before heading out.

  It is illegal to hunt or kill doves with the aid of bait. In other words, salt, grain, or other feed that has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered to attract game is illegal to hunt over.

  Most states consider an area baited for 10 days after the complete removal of all bait. This usually applies to deer hunting too.

  A person who knows or reasonably should know the area is baited is liable for the offense. Hunters should physically inspect the field for any signs of baiting and question landowners, guides and caretakers to ensure the field is legal to hunt.

  Natural vegetation may be manipulated in any way to attract doves and other migratory game birds.

  Planting grain crops in a field that has been plowed and disked is legal as long as seeding rates are in tune with extension service recommendations. It is illegal to seed the same field repeatedly, concentrate wheat in long rows or pile wheat on a field.

  Harvesting a field often scatters some waste grain which attracts birds. If harvest was conducted as normal agricultural operation, it is legal for doves.

  Un-harvested fields can be mowed, shredded, disked, rolled, chopped, trampled, burned or treated with herbicides. These fields may be hunted legally for doves.

  Livestock may be allowed to graze on harvested and un-harvested grain. These fields may be hunted legally for doves.

  It is legal to plant food plots, provided that grains grown for wildlife management purposes are not harvested then returned to the field.

  For more informative reading check out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site at: https://www.fws.gov/le/what-is-legal.html.

  Hopefully this answers some of your questions about what you can and can’t do when it comes to hunting doves. Double check with your state about the rules where you hunt! You can find links to all of the states DNR’s on our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/stgamedepts.html and have a safe, fun hunt.

  Fall doesn’t start officially until next month but squirrel season is on! I can’t think of another fun way to get “tuned” up for bigger game later on this fall than to go squirrel hunting.

  Generations of youngsters have learned their hunting skills from pursuing these crafty, tree jumping varmints. I have to admit that I too learned a lot about hunting, the woods, and nature once I started to hunt squirrels. I had deer hunted for many years before hunting squirrels. Several reasons kept me from doing so. It might have been there was no place close to home to hunt or I just didn't want to take the time go. But it was probably the fact that I lacked the skills and know how to pursue these little devils. I owe most of my squirrel hunting schooling to my brother-in-law Kenny. He showed me a few do's and don’ts and some of the in's and out's. The rest I picked up on my own after spending time in the woods. There’s just no substitute for experience.

  There is no right or wrong way to hunt squirrels, but there are several different ways to hunting squirrels and it took me a while to learn the techniques that work best for me.

  The first thing I do is while approaching a woodlot is to look it over from afar. You can often see squirrels jumping from tree to tree and they can give you an idea as to where they are or where they may be headed. You can sometimes pick out a few nut trees that squirrels will visit. If hunting with a buddy, work out a set of hand signals ahead of time to communicate. Keep talking to a minimum.

  Once I get to the woods I stop and look it over real good, looking for squirrels jumping about. When I do enter the woods I'll move in maybe five to ten yards and then stand still. I try and stand behind some small trees or under some lower limbs to help conceal my whereabouts. It may be hard to see sometimes but a squirrel can see you and move away before you see it. Once in place I'll start looking at the trees out in front of me and to the sides. Just like hunting deer, I concentrate on one area at a time looking for squirrel movement. Scan the tree tops and work your way down through the lower limbs and finally to the ground. But the most important thing to remember to do is listen. Listen, Listen, Listen. You'll hear the sound of limbs crashing together as they jump from tree to tree. Listen for the sounds of nuts or nutshells falling from the tree tops. You will hear them running across the ground. How many times has a squirrel jumping and scampering across the ground behind your deer stand got your heart to thumping? To many times to count I'll bet. And finally the most important sound I like to hear is the sound of squirrels barking to each other. I don't know for sure that they are talking back and forth but I have heard squirrels barking from two hollows over and I know that they aren't barking at me.

  When I hear squirrels barking I hone in on their location. I start slowing moving in their direction keeping an eye out for any movement. I try to move from cover (tree, bush, etc.) to cover walking an irregular pattern. Just like still hunting deer, three steps, pause, five steps, pause, etc. I try to keep a tree between me and the squirrel, peeking out from behind it to locate my query. Try not to step on any big limbs but if you do don't despair. There is always some sort of noise in the woods. The key is to not sound like a human coming through the woods. My dad told me that when he was young he would hunt barefooted. He'd leave his shoes on one side of the woods, go around the other side, sometimes this was a long way and then hunt back to his shoes. Well, I for one am not hunting barefooted. I used to go without shoes when I was a kid but now if I step on a dime while barefooted I could tell you if it is heads or tails.

  I’ve tried various calls over the years with varied success. One call I’ve tried is a squirrel-in-distress call. It is a small disc with a hole in the middle that you suck air through. The trick is to blow or rather suck on the call while thrashing some brush or a bent over sapling on the ground. The idea here is the imitate the sound of a young squirrel being attacked by a predator triggering the “mothering” instincts of other squirrels in the area forcing them to show themselves offering you a shot. Much like a fawn bleat works on deer.

  Another type of call is a “barking” call. They’re small and lightweight and allow you to imitate squirrel barks getting squirrels in the area to respond to your calls thus revealing their locations.

  Here is a trick that works for me. When I hear a squirrel chattering, I only try to move when they are barking. When he stops barking, I stop moving. Sometimes they stop never to start again and then you have to search him out. I once stalked a squirrel for over half an hour doing this. I had heard him from quite a ways out and stalked to a position directly under him. He was about thirty feet or so up in a tree sitting on a limb three to four inches in diameter. His head was over one side of the limb while his backside was over the other. A perfect setup. He had no idea that I was under him and kept barking away. I placed the cross hairs of my scope under his chin and pulled the trigger of my Marlin model 60 - .22 rifle. Needless to say the bullet came out the top of his head and sent him crashing down almost on top of me.

  Once you pop one, stand in place for a minute or two, there may be another one or two in the same area that you hadn't seen. I once shot a squirrel and while loading another shell in my gun I spied a squirrel in the fork of a tree. He was sitting there looking like a bookend. I thought to myself, "I see you" and then boom! Down he went.

  Slowly work your way through the woods looking and listening. Sometimes while stalking one they just simply disappear. You can wait him out or move on. I generally don't wait to long for them to come back out. If I don't see or hear them in a span of ten minutes or so I'm on the move.

  There are times when I sit down close to a nut tree and wait for the squirrels to come to me, but not too often. I like to keep moving and see if I can out smart them by sneaking up on them. I stand hunt when deer hunting so I figure that I sit enough when hunting so why not get up and move. It's just more fun to me. Stalking helps to sharpen my senses to the sights and sounds of the woods. You could say that it tunes me up and gets me ready for big game to come.

  Try to wear camouflage clothing or at least dull earth-tone colors so you blend into your surroundings. Later in the season I will use a cover scent to help mask my odors as I am usually hunting the same areas that I’ll be deer hunting and besides it can't hurt. I usually use an earth scented cover scent. Though you may use a pine or cedar scent if those types of trees are prominent in your hunting area.

  One product I like to use is “No Stinkin’ Bugs”. It is an insect repellent with a cover scent built into it. Not only have I used it for squirrel hunting and during early bow season, I've used it while walking through the woods, while scouting and turkey hunting.

  In recent years I’ve starting using permethrin on my clothing, hats and boots. The extra time and it’s not a lot of time, to apply it is well worth the effort! You just need to apply it a day or two ahead of your hunt and the ticks and chiggers won’t be a bother. And it’s good for a week or so after applying. Follow the directions. You’ll still need to apply some “regular” repellent on any bare skin showing. Permethrin is not for use on your skin!

  Remember to move slow and listen to your surroundings and have a fun this fall getting your limit of squirrels. And visit www.backwoodsbound.com/zsquir.html for a bunch of recipes to cook up those delicious tree jumpers.

  As various seasons open, hunters dust off their equipment and restock their supplies. The dreams are big...the anticipated thrill of the hunt is all-consuming as they plan this fall's strategy to bag their limit, or even "get the big one".

  Meticulous preparation goes into planning the contents of the pack. It's not unusual to find 10-15 pounds of accessories and gadgets guaranteed to make the hunt a success. Layer upon layer of top-of-the-line insulating clothing will ensure relative comfort when waiting quietly in frigid temperatures. Thick, tall, heavy boots protect feet and ankles and provide warmth.

  It's time. The hunter, carefully dressed in layers of insulated clothing, straps on the 25 pound tree stand, hoists the pack (15 pounds), grabs the trusty gun (8 pounds), and heads toward "The Spot". "The spot", referred to in fishing as "the honey hole", is commonly found far away from the truck, and requires crossing ditches, navigating through thick brush, and trudging up and down hills.

  Ever thought of the amount of physical stress this places on your body? Throw in the 100-200 pound deer that you're dragging back to a pick up point. Definite cardiac stressor!

  Sure, the adrenaline from the thrill of it all keeps you going! But, admit it, today's occasional hunter can rarely boast the level of physical fitness of the previous generation. Do yourself a favor this year and prepare for that big hunt!

  Start by evaluating your activity level and your level of fitness. If you routinely participate in an exercise program, congratulations you should be ready for the hunt! If you have a desk job and a daily date with the TV you may require a little extra boost to get you physically ready for your trek in the woods.

  Work on increasing your daily activity. Here are a few relatively painless ways to increase exercise and overall cardiovascular strength during your work day. (Always best to have your physician's approval whenever starting an exercise program.)

  ~ Walk up and down stairs. It's easy walking "Down", so do that regularly. Try to walk "Up" a flight or two several times a day. Pretend this is practice for climbing out of ditches and trudging up hills.

  ~ Park your car several blocks away from your destination and walk. Pretend you're walking to your "spot". The further you're used to walking, the more energy you'll have for climbing that favored tree when you do finally get there.

  ~ Carry items whenever possible. Leave the cart at the store if you can manage carrying the bags of groceries. If you have wrist weights, start wearing them for periods. Boost your arm strength so you'll be ready to carry your gun and pack.

  ~ If you have ankle weights, start wearing them to work. Boost your leg strength and get your body used to the added weight of those hunting boots.

  Anything you can do to increase your activity will help you later. In addition, spot exercises to strengthen your arms, shoulders and back, abdomen, and legs can only help as you carry yourself and all that equipment to the site of your stand.

  One other point. As hunting season draws near and you do your scouting, dress as you plan to on your actual hunting trip. This will give you and your body a chance to get used to the thicker, heavier clothing.

  We rarely hear of hunters collapsing with fatal heart attacks in the woods, but, as you can see, it can be an intense cardiac stressor, not to mention a lot of hard work. So much time and money is spent preparing and purchasing all the right equipment. Invest some time in preparing your most valuable tool - yourself!