Living here amongst my sunflower fields. There were a good number of doves here in June, even the first week of July. But since it's turned hot (104-110) everyday, the bird numbers have been dwindling. Even though the sunflowers are short there's plenty of food. Even though the ponds are low I still have 15 with water in them.

So, they have food and water. I can only relate it to the heat. But it's hot everywhere, where are they going?
Just and observation, with no answers. Hopefully it cools down some before the 1st, and some birds return.

Interesting. Maybe they are just staying in the trees more and flying/eating less?

Maybe, but early mornings before it gets hot they come to the fields.

Are they on nest?
Have one in the front yard still on a nest, saw one last year at this time on a nest, just saw one in the Starbucks parking lot that looked like it just left the nest. Small sample size, but just an observation.

Stomp, I've noticed the same thing where I am. I have a Lamco feeder out that throws corn and milo. In the spring and into June I had 25 to 30 birds everyday, twice a day. I have four to five doves coming now. Noticibly missing are the two collared doves that never missed. They nested in the oaks right by my house. They're gone too. The smaller birds and the cardinals are gone as well. Kinda weird.

Yes, i noticed the same thing here too, im near the Brenham TX area, lots of seeds around, some
ponds still holding water, but dropping quick now. But i will assure you there will be rain around the area,
the week of season opening, or the day of, It never fails! Coastal showers come up, sea breeze effect us
around here, and it will happen!.....



shoot safe.............

I hope you're right about the rain. But I've been selling dove hunts since 2000 and it might have rained on 5 of those weekends since I started. So, it's rare for it to rain on opening here.

West of Woodson……..same scenario. Shipped cattle off wheat fields last two weeks of May. Birds everywhere. Sunflowers green, some wheat headed out. Lots of seed. Plowed after one of the 1.5” rains in June. Left some strips of sunflowers and wheat. Seed everywhere on fresh plowed ground. A fair amount of birds. Really had the thought we could be getting back to normal. July comes, August comes, less and less birds. It’s freaking hot! Moisture gone. The birds have moved. Where? I don’t know either, but they’re not here. At 7 am you see a few, but nothing like was here in May/June. We’ve built it, they will come.

Well, I hope not, but maybe they’re DEAD.

Luckily no evidence of that.

It's dove so there is no rhyme or reason to it.

They moved literally right at dark last week in Haskell. We re there good numbers....not really. Saw very few on the way from Denton across 380 all the way there. Tanks have water sunflowers are good, but even the deer and hogs have gone nocturnal nocturnal. Its def the heat

I agree with them just laying low, out of the "traditional" pattern. This seems to be a recurring factor the last few years. We need rain BAD along with cooler temps. I remember hunting on a 107-degree day (I was much younger and dumber) there were no birds flying.

PLEASE send some relief before the 2nd.

Well I live in the middle of sunflower fields, with 3 ponds around me. I'm out before light and last hour of the day. I would see them if they were here. Don't get me wrong, I'm seeing some birds, just not as many as I was.

Well, I guess just go with an open mind. It will be great just to get outside. We got plenty of time before the opener.

Agree 100%

Same thing on our east texas fields, they have thinned out some. Still decent, but it was looking great a few weeks ago.

West Texas places are still looking good at dawn and dusk, figure they are hiding from the heat.... still seeing plenty out there.