Frankfort, Kentucky - Public dove fields near areas used by waterfowl, such as those at Taylorsville Lake or Green River Lake Wildlife Management Area, require hunters to use non-toxic shot only. Lead is toxic to waterfowl, raptors and other wildlife.
Steel shot is the most common type of non-toxic shot. But steel and lead are two different animals. The hunter planning to enjoy one of these non-toxic shot-only fields this coming dove season must realize this.
Hunters should shoot a few steel shells into a patterning board to determine how those loads respond in their shotgun before hitting the field.
"You need to practice with steel shot," said Rocky Pritchert, migratory bird program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "It shoots a lot different than lead. It holds its pattern much truer because the pellets don't deform in the barrel. All of those pellets arrive on target quicker."
The lack of malleability in steel means you don't want a tight choke on your shotgun. "I never use more than improved cylinder," Pritchert said. "I use it the whole season. If I can shoot ducks and geese with it, I am not worried about doves."
Pritchert feels hunters tend to overestimate how far away a dove is in a field and this can lead to using too much choke with steel or lead.
"Hunters generally can't hit a dove over 30 yards away," he said. "A 30-yard dove is a small target. Hunters overestimate distance because doves are so small and move so fast. This can make them use too much choke."
Shot size in steel is slightly bigger than what you would normally use for doves with lead shot, but the difference is negligible.
"I shoot size 6 or 7, usually 7s," Pritchert said. "These sizes are perfectly adequate for doves in steel loads. The price of steel is also decreasing as it becomes more common. As suppliers put more steel shells on shelves, the cost goes down. This is happening when the cost of lead is increasing."
Because steel is less dense than lead, a 12-gauge field load in size 7 steel shot holds just 1 ounce of shot. Hunters may think they are losing some firepower. They aren't.
"Doves don't take a lot of hits to come down," Pritchert said. "One or two steel pellets can bring down a dove. Steel is faster than lead. Now, you don't want to shoot them in the tail. The best plan is still to get several pellets in the pilothouse, but you don't need much for a dove."
Dove season opens Sept. 1. Complete hunting regulations and a list of public dove fields are available in the 2009-10 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow. The guide is available at fw.ky.gov and wherever hunting licenses are sold.
Author Lee McClellan is an award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.
(Editors: Please email hayley.lynch@ky.gov for photos.)
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The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. For more information on the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.
