Pigeon Hunting – Hunt Year Round

In North America, we are used to the usually regulated structure of hunting seasons. The first of the seasons open up in late August and early September, and the latest close around the end of January, for the most part. Spring turkey and bear are exceptions. But other than those many hunters are left to twiddle their thumbs for a majority of the spring and summer months. However, if you are willing to expand your definition of the word “game” there is one critter that will allow you to keep your wing shooting on point and keep your dog retrieving during this drought, the Rock Dove or more commonly known as the street pigeon.

The Rock Dove or “Common Pigeon” was introduced to North America in the early 17th century when settlers brought domestic pigeons over on their Atlantic crossing, specifically for food. Since this introduction, the species has spread throughout the continent and can be found from coast to coast and thriving in every environment from the urban jungle to wild cliff edges. The “Rock Dove” gets its name from its native range of Europe, Africa, and Asia, where they prefer to nest up on a high cliff and rock ledges away from predators. Being an introduced species the Pigeon is not governed by the same seasonal structure as native wildlife, thus giving hunters an opportunity to hunt them year-round with no bag limit or method of take.

Although Most Americans think of them as “Sky Rats” these birds can be fun to hunt and if they are taken under the right circumstances they can be great to eat.

There are several ways to hunt these birds. In more urban settings you can shoot them with air guns, obviously with the permission of the property owner and only under safe conditions. But most people that I have asked are more than happy to let you take a few out of the population because they nest in the nooks and crannies of carports or roof overhangs and their droppings are acidic and can eat away the paint and metal that protects the roof.

Pigeon Hunting - Hunt Year Round

This is a little afternoon hunt that I had in town with an air rifle. It was a great way to get some shooting in and help out some friends by getting rid of the pigeons.

Although a little urban hunting can be a great time, I prefer to hunt them near grain bins or railroad tracks where you can decoy them in and have some real fun. Just like with most flocking birds, Pigeons are gregarious, meaning that they like company. This makes them very susceptible to decoying. If you can find a cut cornfield next to a grain bin and throw out some decoys, you are certainly in for a good time. Although these birds may seem big and slow when they are sitting on a roof, they are very agile on the wing and they offer some of the most challenging wing shooting that you can find. They usually come in low and fast or they seem to just dump in from the stratosphere and surprise you in a flash.

If you can conceal yourself well and get some motion decoys out where they are visible to the birds that are sitting, eventually they will not be able to stand it and they will come over to see what is going on, and with no bag limit if you get a solid setup you can be in for hours of fun.

Although some companies make pigeon specific decoys, I have had great luck using a Mojo dove decoy. Just be careful and identify your target, because if you shoot a morning or white wing dove out of season you are most definitely breaking the law. But with some careful identification, you should be fine.

Pigeon Hunting - Hunt Year Round

A great little shoot that my dog and I had in a recently cut field.

Another great aspect of these birds is their availability to hunt. I have very rarely been turned down when I have asked a property owner to shoot pigeons off his place. Most often I have been told to “Kill em all” or “Why the hell do you want to shoot those”, which is a great change in pace to the countless times I have been turned down when asking to hunt more desired game. I have even had property owners give me gift cards and try to pay me for taking care of what they think of as a pest. Which is quite a change of pace in a hunting world where it always seems that people want to be paid for letting someone have the opportunity to hunt.

Pigeon Hunting - Hunt Year Round

This picture is of the carport that a friend wanted me to come to shoot pigeons out of because they were ruining the paint on his truck.

Pigeon Hunting - Hunt Year Round

This picture is of the gift card that I received for “taking care” of them. I have experienced this several times when shooting pigeons.

Although most people would rather throw them out, I prefer to eat them. There is really no reason why you can’t eat them if you shoot a bird that has been sitting in a feedlot or on a grain bin, they are essentially a corn-fed bird at this point and they taste great. Obviously, if you shoot one in town eating from the garbage I would think twice, but if you open one up and see nothing but cracked corn, get them ready for the grill. A quick test for seeing if a pigeon is fit to eat is by checking their craw, the place that they store food before it goes into the gizzard. If you can feel hard grain in there then they are good to eat. If it feels soft, I would recommend cutting it open and checking it out further.

Pigeon Hunting - Hunt Year Round

Most people think of pigeons as dirty animals, but as you can see they usually only eat grain and seeds which makes them great to eat.

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About the author: Jake Wallace was introduced to the shotgun sports after breaking his hips when he was 11, which forced him into a wheelchair for 23 months. He saw a shooting program on one of the outdoor networks and thought that it was something he could do from a chair. Jake started shooting ATA from a chair and progressed to international when he was able to walk again. He loves being in the outdoors because nothing clears his mind like sitting in the woods or on a boat. Jake was part of Lindenwood University’s history of success having graduated from there in 2012 after being a part of four ACUI National Championships for the Lions from 2009-12. He currently resides in Colorado Springs where he’s a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. JAKE WALLACE: Hunting for Trap Superiority http://www.usashooting.org/news/usasnews/USAnews-2017-August/?page=22 Competition Highlights • 2018 World Cup Gold Medalist, Mixed Team • 2017 Fall Selection, Silver Medalist • 2017 World Championships Team Member • 2017 Qatar Open, First Place • 2016 Fall Selection Match Champion • 2015 Shotgun Team Selection, Silver Medalist • 2014 USA Shooting National Championships, Gold Medalist • 2014 Championship of the Americas, Silver Medalist – shot a perfect 125 in qualification to tie World Record • 2014 Fall Selection, Silver Medalist • 2014 Spring Selection, Bronze Medalist • 2013 Granada World Cup, Sixth Place • 2013 World Clay Target Championships Team Member • 2013 National Championships, Bronze Medalist • 2013 Spring Selection Match, Bronze Medalist • 2010 World Championships Junior Team, Silver Medalist (w/ M. Gossett) • 2010 World Championships Junior Team Member

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  • Barefoot Skunk-Hunter August 7, 2021, 12:25 pm

    When I lived in SO Cal we would go to commercial cattle feed lots near the Mexican border and the feed lot operators were happy to have us shoot as many as we wanted. Since they were grain fed just like the cattle I thought the breast resembled beef tenderloin. They are delicious prepared correctly and what are called Squab in expensive restaurants.

  • Mitch August 4, 2021, 12:37 pm

    Great article – covered many points quite informatively. Thanks so much.

  • Jim Sinnott August 3, 2021, 3:54 pm

    I too have shot pigeons since the late 50’s. Of all the targets they are the best. Only hunted with one person and put 50 bird limits per person shooting 2 days per week from Feb. to Sept. Shot the same group of several thousand from 4 locations using decoys ordered from Italy and dead birds placed flat with wings out. Reloading was a chore shooting a 28 ga. With my favorite shot of 8’s pushed with as much velocity as I could get with “540” ball powder. Those were memorable days of shooting that few live to do and remember.

  • mark a. fischer August 3, 2021, 10:45 am

    We’ve(my family) been hunting & shooting pigeons for as long as I can remember, over 55 years! They’re a great addition to the normal dove hunt & like you say, no season or limits usually. They’re just as good eating as doves only better, they’re bigger!

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