By Kellie Tharp, environmental education program manager, AGFD

I never thought I would have so much fun and instantly get hooked on dove hunting. I was fortunate enough to get out four times during the early dove season. For me, it wasn’t how many doves I was able to harvest, it was the outdoor experience.

We saw tarantulas, bats, nighthawks, a Cooper’s hawk (which tried to steal one of our doves), dragonflies and a beautiful buck.

I have to admit that I was a little nervous on the first day, wanting to make sure that I knew what to do, when to do it and how to do it safely. I asked a lot of questions, and fortunately I had a seasoned hunting mentor to guide me through the process. The only experience I had to compare it to was clay target shooting, and this was totally different.

My first hunt was in the afternoon on a tank in the north zone. We didn’t have a lot of doves coming in, but the experience was still extremely memorable. I was a bit hesitant to take my first shot, but once I felt more comfortable it was a blast! I was so proud of my first harvest, not only a great feeling of accomplishment, but a sense of pride that I could take the meat home and prepare it for dinner.

If I wasn’t invited to go on my first hunt, I would have never known how exciting and enjoyable it could be. I have always wanted to learn to hunt but was a little apprehensive to jump in and go on my own without a bit of mentoring. This experience has opened the door to an array of outdoor experiences that I never knew I would be so excited about. For my next step, I am putting in for my first javelina hunt!

So here is my challenge to you: Ask your friend or your neighbor or niece if they might be interested in joining you for the late season dove hunt. You never know who might be waiting to learn and just needs someone to guide them through their first hunt.

Kellie oversees the department’s Environmental Education Program. She continually works to incorporate the message of wildlife conservation into classroom curriculum and education programs. As a wildlife biologist by trade, Kellie spent many years in the field, served as a wildland firefighter, and was a high school science teacher. She grew up in northern California.