Schudwell Dove Club

Schudwell dove club has been in the business for 25 years. We hunt exclusively over a combination of black-hulled sunflower seed, white proso millet, and wheat stubble. Our fields are 75% sunflowers. We use the millet and wheat stubble to start the birds using the fields as early as the first of July.

 

Dove population peaks in west-central Illinois about the 1st week of September--just in time for the opening of the season. During the peak time, the last week in August and the 1st two weeks of September, populations on each of our fields can easily exceed 6000 birds.

Currently, we average around a 3000 bird harvest on our original field yearly. Since we started 25 years ago, we have harvested over 150,000 birds. We have had additional fields from time to time, and this year, due to a recent land acquisition, we have an additional area that boasts 25 acres of sunflowers in a prime location, separate from our original hunting area.

We dove hunt in a managed environment. This is what has made us successful over the years. Year in and year out, even when the population is down and others are having little success, the Schudwell dove club comes through. We hunt a field only 3 days a week, never starting before 2 in the afternoon and usually quitting by 5.

Hunters 1st meet at our pond cabin, where signup and introductions take place. Hunters are then taken to a "post" which is a designated spot where you and your partner will hunt. We normally hunt in pairs. The limit is 15, and shooting for all in the field begins simultaneously and continues until a limit is achieved or the allotted time limit is reached. Hunters then return to the cabin area where cleaning facilities are provided. Birds are dressed and stored for transportation. we normally cook doves for the hunters after the hunt. Hunters lounge around the pond and cabin area, play games, fish, talk over the hunt and sample our specialty, deep fried dove.

In prior years, access to our club was extremely limited. Due to our recent acquisition and the establishment of a new, prime field, we have limited hunting access available. Our hunting is limited. Safety is our 1st concern. we limit the number of hunters per hunt. We only accommodate a set number of hunters per field, spaced safely apart from other hunters.

We offer 3 options:

1. Club Membership:

Club Membership entitles you and one guest 9 scheduled hunts. Membership fee is $1000. Many of our hunters share a "post" with a friend, cutting the price to $500 per hunter and enabling the "post" to be utilized more often. Only a member may occupy a post, you may not send friends or other hunters to take your place. We pride our hunting environment as being one where we know everybody personally and all are good, experienced hunters.

2. Day Hunts:

We allow individual day hunts when space is available on field #2. We do not substitute day hunts for members who do not show up. Day hunts are $100 per man, per day, with a minimum of 2 hunters per group.

3. Group Hunts:

We have group hunts available at special rates for groups of up to 25 hunters. You will have the field entirely to yourself. Contact us for special pricing for a group hunt. We have found this option espcially appealing for corporate groups.

All arrangements for hunts must be made by phone. General questions or other information may be provided by email. Our contact information can be found here.