Dove Decoys, Do they work? Get your Mojo on!

I have been shooting Texas doves for over twenty years and most of that time I did not use dove decoys because I was not sure if they worked or not. Then around 2001 I started using a few decoys that looked like a dove sitting on a tree or wire with clips molded into the underside. I am not sure if those worked or not but it seemed as if I was getting shots at a few more doves than in the past.

About eight years ago I read an article by Ray Sasser, the outdoor writer in the Dallas morning paper and he was talking about the new, effective battery powered Dove decoy Mojo. The Mojo is a decoy with spinning wings that brings doves in range and it really works.

With our group of seasoned bird shooters we now have three or four Mojos we place out about 25 yards in front of our shooting position and we place a few other non-animated decoys on the ground that appear to be feeding. Experience has shown that a great way to shoot over these decoys is to not rush the shot but allow the doves to focus on the decoys and slowly raise your gun and shoot as they start to descend into the field.

Of course with lots of guys shooting around the edge of the field about half of your shots will be at doves flying past at high speed and that is part of the challenge of timing your shot to get in front of the dove with a bit of lead and keep your gun moving.

Anyway, I am taking my decoys again this year and I am enjoying the anticipation of meeting, dining and shooting on this high holy Texas Holiday, Dove Day.