In case you haven’t noticed, there’s nothing easy about shooting a dove. They’re small, seemingly move about 200 miles per hour, and have a knack for dodging your 7½ steel shot at the last second. It may not be the most technical form of hunting, but you need every bit of focus you can get to put more birds in your bag—and focus comes with comfort, accessibility, and efficiency. That’s why gear matters.
Now that we’re fully into dove season, we wanted to run through a few gear essentials that will help reduce distraction and increase downed birds in the field.
Dove Hunting Apparel
When it comes to dove hunting, apparel is more about you than the target you’re pursuing. Sure, you want to wear camo or earth tones, but it’s even more important to keep you comfortable in the early season heat because comfortable hunters mean effective hunters.
First, you want to stay cool and dry, and any number of GameGuard Shirts will fit the bill. The Explorer and Original Shirts have 50+ UPF protection to keep you safe from the sun, as well as moisture-wicking and quick-drying fabrics. They’re also ventilated with a hidden snap lay-flat collar to keep you comfortable and stink-free all season long.
The same rule applies to your lower half as well, and our Travel Shorts and SeaDrift Pants are great options to keep you dry and comfortable. Both are stain- and wrinkle-resistant, able to wick moisture away from your skin, and have just enough stretch for range of motion in the field.
Of course, none of that matters if you can’t keep the sun and sweat out of your eyes, and our full lineup of GameGuard Caps will give you plenty of options to keep you seeing the field in style.
Field Accessories
We have nothing against the ol’ five-gallon bucket, but there are better ways to haul your gear around in the field. First, you want to be able to actually get your gear out there, and either the GameGuard Accessory Bag or the GameGuard Backpack are perfect ways to carry shells, choke tubes, snacks, water, tools, and anything you need. Paired with the GameGuard Shotgun Case, your gear has never been more protected and ready for the hunt.
Once you’re in the field, we highly recommend the GameGuard BirdBelt, designed to hold your well-earned trophies until they’re ready for the grill. It’s also great for hauling your fresh loads and spent shells without filling your pockets or leaving the sunflower in a mess. If your hunt is a bit more mobile or you need a more secure fit for ducking through mesquite trees, the Field Vest is another great option as well.
Dove Hunting Gear
It’s important to not overthink hunting gear when it comes to dove season. The best strategy is to go where the birds are, which solves 99% of your problems. That being said, there are a few key ways to give you an advantage. First, you can haul all the gear you need in the GameGuard Duffle, a burly and rugged field companion that can take any sort of abuse that your hunt can throw at it.
Next up, we recommend a comfortable, lightweight chair. A good chunk of your hunt is going to be spent sitting, so you may as well be comfortable while you're doing it. There are plenty of options to choose from but you want to make sure that you have something that's light enough to carry in the field while still having the padding you need to walk like a normal person at the end of the day.
Lastly, let's talk about decoys. We like to have one or two motorized decoys—like the Mojo decoy or something similar— to add some motion. This is a double-edged sword to a degree, because too much of a good thing can spook birds away from you, so be sure to pay attention if they start flaring at the last second. Other than one or two motion decoys, it helps to have some static decoys as well for perching on branches or setting on the ground.
Like we said before, you don't need to overthink dove gear, but that doesn't mean it's not important. It's hard enough to hit those little birds when everything goes right, much less when it goes wrong, and you want to put every advantage you can in your corner. Does that mean you're definitely going to be successful? Not necessarily. But, with our lineup of dove hunting gear, it'll sure as heck give you your best shot.
