The turn from summer to fall doesn’t show up on the calendar—it shows up in the fields. When the days start getting a little shorter, the mornings a little cooler, and camo starts replacing swim trunks in the backseat, Southerners know exactly what time it is: dove season.
The past two weekends across Alabama and Georgia reminded us why this season is such a special time. Between strong shoots, grilled wild game, and afternoons spent under the sun with good folks, it’s been a near-perfect kickoff to the fall season.
The First Weekend: Birds Were Flying, and So Were Shells
Opening weekend came in hot—literally and figuratively. The heat didn’t stop the birds or the people. We had a great shoot with over 100 doves harvested across the field. Flights were consistent throughout the afternoon, and just about every hunter had the opportunity to take a few shots—and maybe even limit out.
Dogs were running hard, shooters were sharp, and the entire field was buzzing with excitement. There’s a certain electricity on opening day that never gets old. Whether it was someone’s first dove or their five hundredth, the thrill of being back in the field was undeniable.
The Second Weekend: Slower Shoots, Same Good Time
The second weekend rolled around with just as much anticipation, but fewer birds in the sky. The doves were sparse, and the action was slow—but that’s part of hunting, especially early in the season. Some days, the birds just don’t fly.
But if you’ve hunted doves long enough, you know the birds are only part of the reason we show up. Even with an empty game bag, a slow day in the field with family and friends, good food, and plenty of laughter still beats just about anything else.
We saw kids running around, coolers full of cold drinks, and old friends catching up under the shade of a cedar tree. The fellowship, as always, was worth showing up for—even when the shooting wasn’t.
Generations in the Field
Both weekends brought out the best kind of crowd—a mix of generations, from seasoned hunters with decades of experience to wide-eyed kids eager for their first shot. It’s these shared experiences that keep the tradition alive, passed down from one set of muddy boots to the next.
You can’t help but appreciate the way dove season draws people together. The early morning texts, the group chats to organize who’s bringing what, the scramble for extra shells—it’s all part of the rhythm we love.
Grills, Game, and Grins
After the hunts, it was time for what might be the second-best part of dove season: the food. We fired up the grill, swapped shotguns for spatulas, and gathered around the tailgates. Dove wrapped in bacon, jalapeño poppers, sausage dogs, fresh tomato salad—Southern cooking at its finest.
Someone always brings the “famous” banana pudding, and someone else always forgets the paper towels. It’s a well-oiled machine… with a little room for chaos. And that’s just the way we like it.
While the food sizzled and the sun dipped low, speakers echoed with the sounds of college football. And yes, Auburn pulled off a win, which made for some happy folks around the grill. But even if your team didn’t take the W, the day still felt like a victory—with full bellies, tired dogs stretched out in the grass, and the feeling of a day well spent outdoors.
A Southern Season Worth Celebrating
Dove season, at its core, is about more than shooting birds. It’s about being present—on the land, with your people, doing something that connects you to the rhythms of the South. It’s about the smell of sun-warmed dirt, the sound of wings overhead, the sizzle of meat on the grill, and the stories that seem to get better every year they’re told.
These past two weekends have given us a strong start to the season—even with fewer birds the second go-around. The good company, the familiar fields, and the return to routine made it clear: we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.
Here’s to a great season ahead—and all the slow hunts, hot grills, happy dogs, and cooler afternoons still to come.
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