No doves on my place hardly ever. But I have a corn feeder in my backyard field.
For last month, I've had 12-18 doves in the brushy woods right behind the field. You can't walk back there without running em up.
Any chance on keeping them around/improving the little population. Guess my little field is half an acre.

I don't know if there is much but keeping the ground mowed or bare wouldn't hurt at all. I'll bet keeping some feed wheat scattered around would make them stay put.

I keep it mowed close and I overseed wheat on it. May plant a few rows of sunflowers this spring.

Yes, definitely. Keep the feeder filled and keep them happy for now. Plant something for them in your field in the spring/summer. Start weening them off of the feeder when you're able to start mowing a few strips in August. Completely cut off all feeder activity at least 12-15 days in advance of season. The birds you have now will begin to draw more birds. A good dove shoot in Sept is made in the months of May, June, July more often than not.

Good luck!

6-9 breeding pairs, 4-6 broods each, 2 squabs per brood = 60-126 birds plus whatever more birds they pull in + their offspring. Lay the feed on 'em!

I've had a banded pigeon coming in my yard for three months with the dove.

If it was just as easy as discing and top seeding every hunting club in Alabama would have barrel burner shoots every fall when they plant green fields. Any field can't just be a dove field. IMO you need several different things for a good dove field. First thing is being consistent. Migrating doves will return to the same productive fields year after year. Then you need water, gravel, roost trees, power lines, and big wide open fields/spaces.

Much like deer hunting, you can put out a feeder and maybe attract a deer or 2 and even kill a couple but your not building a huntable population. Takes a lot more than just a little supplement feed to really improve the herd.