Pennsylvania’s early migratory bird season opening date has been announced for Tuesday September 1st. Hunters would do well to pay attention to the split season dates and limits that have been set. The dove season segments have been structured so that the season will come in early and then out the week before PA small game.

However it will return as the early small game general season opens on October 17th.

Traditionally migratory bird hunters take advantage of the early Canada goose season which also opens on September 1st with an early morning hunt and then hit the dove fields at noon which is the start of the legal shooting hours for the doves.

This hunting is complicated in the shooting hours schedule, types of shotguns, ammunition must be non-toxic shot (no lead shot) for waterfowl hunters and the hunting attire is pure camo. Goose hunters prefer a heavy load and full choke shotgun for the honkers as they are hardy flyers.

The preferred shotgun is the 12 or 10 gauge with a 3” or better shot shell loaded with #4’s and heavier BB’s.

The dove hunters prefer a lighter dove load that carries 7 ½ or 8 shot in most cases. Hunters prefer 20 and 12 gauges for these fast flyers and some will use even smaller wing shooting shotguns to test their skills.

Hunters will not only need to have specialty equipment to hunt the migratory birds but will need extra hunting licenses or stamps as well.

The federal “duck stamp” was recently raised in price to $25 dollars and hunters 16 and older must carry a signed stamp with them at all times when hunting. PGC also requires a PA migratory bird permit that costs $3.70 for a total duck hunter fee of $28.70 in addition to your regular PA hunting license. Waterfowl hunting fees are all about conservation of wetlands as the U.S. government supports 6.5 million acres of strategic wetlands vital to migratory birds.

Now that you have the licenses, the sporting arms and ammo for the job and the camouflaged clothing and gear where do you hunt?

This is where you do your homework and door knocking.

Most farmers in the region have goose problems; the resident and migratory goose population is abundant and can be a real nuisance.

I have hunted on many private and public lands that welcomed well behaved and thoughtful goose hunters.

The key is in early season scouting and asking landowner permission.

Many property owners will welcome goose hunters as an effective way to help control goose populations.

Many public parks, golf courses and beaches are littered with goose droppings and the effort to control the goose population is ever going.

Fresh cut grain fields are a favorite of both the dove and goose species. They will come in to feed in the stubble and the open fly ways are ideal for wing shooting. The use of decoy sets is a very helpful tool as well. Both the goose and the dove are gregarious and fly into set decoys well. A hunter would do well to be near water as well as both species like a location that sports a pond or lake nearby.

The harvest limits for doves has been set at 15, with a possession limit of 45.

The September season for the Canada goose is set at a limit of 8, with a possession limit of 24.

What you would do with 24 geese is a mystery to me.

My goose hunting buddies try new recipes for goose all the time. It seems to lean to variations of roasted goose breast. I have had it smoked, barbequed, jerky and bacon roasted; some have been good, while others mean a trip back to the test kitchen.

The recipes for doves are much more flexible and tasty in my opinion.

The key to a delicious dove recipe is to not dry them out with overcooking. Cooks only use the dove breast in their preparations and it takes about 5-6 doves to serve one guest. Doves are often marinated in an herbed dressing then grilled, cooked in a sherry cream sauce, glazed like a chicken Marsala dish and cooked with many variations of soup mixes and barbeque sauces.

Cooked they resemble a small portion of chicken and are a lean and healthy wild game dish.

Until we meet again sign your licenses and remember to lead the bird!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle