Is steel shot required for dove hunting in California?

Asked by: Cody Twilights

Effective July 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California. In October 2013, Assembly Bill 711 was signed into law requiring the use of nonlead ammunition when taking any wildlife with a firearm in California.

Do you have to use steel shot for dove?

Currently, all state-managed dove hunting areas require the use of steel or other non-toxic shot when hunting them.

Can you hunt dove with lead shot in California?

1, lead shot is permitted for the taking of Eurasian collared-doves, mourning doves and white-winged doves when hunting outside of a state wildlife area or ecological reserve. California is phasing-in the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting.

Do you shoot dove with steel or lead?

The study indicated steel shot, which is considerably harder than lead shot, generally threw tighter patterns than the lead loads at all ranges through most choke constrictions. The one-ounce load of size 6 steel patterned tighter than the other two at all ranges and through all choke constrictions.

What do I need for dove hunting in California?

There is very little equipment required and just about any place open for hunting will have mourning doves. Minimum requirements are a valid hunting license and upland game bird stamp (if the hunter is 18 or older), good footwear, a shotgun, shotgun shells and plenty of water.

What shot to use for doves?

The options for dove hunting ammunition are varied, but most use No. 7.5 or 8 shot. The key to either is to make sure the bird is with the 30- to 40-yard optimum range for any shell.

Can you shoot doves with target loads?

Dove hunting is warm weather shooting, so you’ll likely be wearing little more than a t-shirt between your shoulder and the buttpad of the shotgun. Minimize recoil all you can for this typically high-volume shooting and go with 1-ounce light field or target loads in 7 ½ or 8 shot.

Is lead shot banned in California?

Beginning July 1, lead ammunition is banned for hunting wildlife anywhere in California. It’s the final phasing in of a law California passed in 2013. Governor Jerry Brown signed it in large part to protect the threatened California condor.

What is the fine for hunting with lead in California?

Those who violate the lead ammunition ban will be fined up to $500 for a first offense. Hunters who violate the ban a second or subsequent offense will be fined no less than $1,000 (up to $5,000). Violators of the ban also risk losing hunting privileges.

Can you hunt with copper bullets in California?

AB 711 is a statewide bill that requires use of non-lead ammunition for hunting and depredation of wildlife, whereas Prop 63 requires background checks to buy ammunition of any kind in California. Copper bullets are designed to mushroom, unlike lead bullets, which are designed to fragment into small pieces.

Are dove overpopulated in California?

This state-sanctioned cruelty of using migratory birds for target practice flies in the face of the self-aggrandizing nonsense hunters often espouse. There is no justification for dove hunting. These birds are not deemed overpopulated nor do they cause damage to commercial farming.

How do you tell a dove apart when hunting?

The cities are full of dove so practice identifying them there so you don’t mistaken a non dove out in the field. Pay attention to some tell tale signs such as the smooth, swift flight and the physical characteristics such as color, shape, size, tail, etc. depending upon dove species. More lead, more lead!

What do you hunt dove with?

Besides your hunting license and Migratory Bird Permit, all you really need to enjoy this great sport is a shotgun, some shotgun shells and a place to hunt.

Is Camo necessary for dove hunting?

A full choke is seldom needed for dove hunting. Wear camouflage or drab clothing and avoid movement: Blaze orange hunting apparel has its place in hunting, but not dove hunting. These birds see color and will flare when they detect bright-hued clothing that sticks out from its surroundings.

How far should you lead a dove?

six feet

You want to aim over six feet in front of the bird. As a general rule, one inch of barrel movement equals one foot of lead for the bird. If you shoot like you are going to miss in front of the bird, you will likely put the dove right in the center of your shot pattern.

What choke should you use for dove hunting?

For most shooters, a skeet choke is best for early season doves and an improved-cylinder choke is second best. If you shoot a two-barreled shotgun, it’s hard to beat skeet for the first shot and improved-cylinder for the follow-up.

Can you shoot dove with a full choke?

Most people tend to over-choke themselves when hunting doves. They either use modified or full chokes, believing that with tighter chokes they can bag doves at greater distances — perhaps out to 50-60 yards.

Is dove hunting better in the morning or evening?

▶ The best shooting is during those times when the birds are flying between roosting and feeding areas. In the morning, that’s generally between 8 and 10, and in the evening from 5:30 until about 7.

Is improved cylinder good for dove hunting?

1. Open the choke: Use a modified or improved-cylinder choke tube to provide you with a wider pattern. Many people use too tight of a choke for dove hunting. A tight pattern makes most shots in a dove field more difficult to hit — and it will destroy your bird if you do connect at close range.

What time of day is best for dove hunting?

If hunting in the morning, dove hunters should set up no later than sunrise. Evening shooters will be most successful right before dusk. Both beginners and experienced dove hunters must resist the temptation to fire off rounds until doves cross into range. This means knowing the effective range of your choke.

How many dove decoys do I need?

The key is not how many dove decoys are set out, but how and where. Try spacing out four or five decoys or double up a pair or two. It has been my experience that it is often more effective to position decoys in separate pairs, rather than in groups. Doves on the ground often travel in pairs.

What choke is best for birds?

Someone hunting small, fast, close birds would generally use an Improved Cylinder or Modified choke, which creates a broad shot pattern that spreads quickly at close ranges.

What shotgun choke to use for steel shot?

When using steel shot, you should only use stainless steel choke tubes with modified or more open chokes. You should not use steel shot with Extra Full, Full, or Improved Modified Chokes of any kind. If it is a fixed choke barrel, we do not recommend using steel shot, as it may damage your barrel(s).

What is the tightest choke for a shotgun?

full choke

The full choke is the tightest choke; it has the tightest shot pattern. This choke keeps the pellets together over a greater distance. Used it for longer shots, usually beyond 40 yards. The modified choke is not as tight as the full choke.

Which shotgun choke is the most open?

Here are the four most common chokes, ranging from most open to tightest.

• Cylinder (unchoked)
• Improved Cylinder.
• Modified.
• Full.

What does 4 notches on a choke mean?

Improved cylinder

A higher notch count means less constriction. 1 notch = Full. 2 notches = Improved modified. 3 notches = Modified. 4 notches = Improved cylinder.

What distance should I pattern my shotgun?

40 yards

Patterns are traditionally shot at 40 yards, which is an arbitrary distance, and measured in a 30-inch circle, which is not arbitrary at all, but represents the useful width of a shot pattern. When you pattern test, keep the 30-inch circle but only shoot at the distances at which you expect to shoot birds.