The rock dove aka pigeon is considered a pest in most places throughout the United States. Because of this pigeons offer year round opportunities for honing in your shooting skills. There are no limits on the number of birds you can take anywhere as far as I know and to top it off the meat from a pigeon tastes very similar to that of a dove. Who could ask for more?
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| Pigeon photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation |
Pigeons look similar to doves; however, they are bigger bodied than their closely related cousins. Like the dove, pigeons will come to decoy setups. Pigeons can be shot with a shotgun, but a medium to high-powered bb or pellet rifle will easily do the job. When shooting them with a pellet rifle, try using wad cutters or hollow point pellets that will flatten out on impact causing greater shock than a pass through shot. Because there are no limits the pigeon is an excellent choice for a low cost, good tasting freezer filler (just make sure it is cooked thoroughly). As with the dove, the breast meat is what you eat so try to shoot them in a manner that will not harm this area of their body.
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| Photo Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation |
The waste from pigeons is known to carry many different diseases which is one of the main reasons these birds are considered pests. Pigeons hang around in suburban areas as well as around farms where grain is stored.
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| Photo Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation |
Before shooting them, make sure you check your local laws regarding shooting pigeons as it may be illegal to discharge even a bb or pellet gun if you live within the city limits (many small towns are more lenient about this).
- Any day in the outdoors is a good day
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