Numerous state and federal areas managed for dove hunting are like the bull's-eye on a target with many outlying rings. In some instances all of the doves' habitat needs are met entirely on public lands. However, in most cases the birds need to fly elsewhere to find grit or water or to roost. This opens up an entirely new realm of hunting possibilities on private lands, most of which are found within a couple miles of the managed public food plots.

Government programs like Acres for Wildlife have made establishment of food plots on private lands worthwhile, with private holdings comprising fully 95 percent of the Illinois landscape. Those who take the time to cultivate relationships with farmers can quickly discover area food plots and even large crop fields that doves find attractive. Success on private lands first requires obtaining permission.

After gaining access to the land, spend some time simply observing for dove activity, noting flight paths and landing areas. When prospecting for doves on vast tracts of land, good scouting spells the difference between weight in the game bag and weight from unfired shot shells at day's end.

Just 100 yards can make a difference in your success. The key is setting up directly in the doves' flight path, not necessarily where they want to feed. Survival is still Job One in these creatures with so little discretion. If you spend some time watching doves before entering the field where they are feeding, you'll note that the birds often roost momentarily on power lines or a dead tree limb before swooping down to feed, while checking out the food plot before moving in.

Some of the fastest action you'll find is between these staging areas and the food plot. By setting up at a transit point rather than a final destination, you can hunt a field several more times before "burning it out."

The wonders of good venison sausage have secured several such areas for my yellow Lab, Hanna Banana, and me. For the price of one savory stick per year, Hanna and I have access to a 200-acre farm with several sunflower fields. Last year the fields were planted a couple weeks apart. As a result, the sunflower heads reached the optimum "heads down and hanging" orientation that doves find so appealing at different times, thus enabling us to hunt all season.

These fields are vast, 40 and 60 acres. With so much area to feed in, setting up at a transit point is the only way for a solo hunter and his dog to hunt. One of these fields is near a small-stock watering pond. The fencerow between food and water is a great place to wait in ambush. This fencerow has just two small trees along its run of 200 yards. Doves use these trees as a navigational tool along their flight path -- with the shade that they provide an added bonus.

The other place we like to set up is in a more overgrown fencerow bordered by a grain field and small woods adjacent to the sunflowers. Four towering dead elms practically scream "stop here" to passing doves. This was "the big adios" for over 100 of the tasty little critters last year.

Doves have little scent. This combined with typically warm weather make it important for you to mark downed birds for even an experienced dog to ensure recovery. Resist the temptation to shoot at other doves until the one you've downed is delivered to hand. And the need to take plenty of water for your dog can't be overemphasized. I take a gallon, even for short hunts.

As we get ready for Hanna's third season, this pup, who owns my heart, has the game plan memorized. She sits facing me about 5 yards away. When a dove comes from behind, her ears come forward and I get ready. When a bird comes from behind Hanna and the safety is clicked off, she turns to watch for the falling dove. It would take many more years for the dog to have reached this point as a hunter with just the few upland game birds available these days and the meager flights of ducks that have been coming down the Mississippi over the past couple of seasons. A dog like that deserves to go hunting every day. The bounty of Prairie State doves makes this a "must do" mission.