Why is it so hard to shoot doves near the trees?

When doves return to the roost, they fly high over the trees and then dive violently straight down into the branches. This vertical drop requires you to pull the shotgun down and shoot underneath the bird, which is very difficult to master.

Where should I look when hunting near the tree line?

Do not look into the trees. Keep your eyes focused on the open sky just above the highest tree branches so you can spot the birds the exact second they clear the canopy and begin their dive.

What choke is best for hunting the edge of the trees?

Because the birds are dropping rapidly into the trees very close to your position, you need an open, wide pattern. An Improved Cylinder (IC) or Skeet choke is highly recommended.

Shooting the Tree Line: Vertical Swings in the Dove Roost

Senior Field Editor

Roxy Gonzalez

Published: June 17, 2026

When outfitter scouts position your blind directly against the heavy timber of the Chaco scrub forest, the traditional horizontal crossing shot vanishes, forcing international wingshooters to master the aggressive, vertical "plunge" swing to hit doves dropping into the roost.

The Geometry of the Drop

In the open center of an agricultural feedlot, doves fly in long, horizontal lines. When you hunt the edge of the roost, the geometry changes completely. As the afternoon hunt progresses, millions of Eared Doves return from the fields to the safety of the heavy timber. To avoid waiting hawks and falcons, the doves fly extremely high, cresting the top of the tree canopy, and then execute a violent, vertical plunge directly downward into the safety of the branches. If your blind is positioned right at the edge of this tree line, the birds are literally falling out of the sky directly over your head.

Shooting ScenarioDove Flight TrajectoryRequired Swing MechanicThe Open FeedlotHorizontal, level crossing at 30 yards.Sustained lead; swinging side-to-side with the hips.The Tree Line EdgeSteep, vertical drop from the canopy.Pushing the barrel down; shooting under the bird.The Back-Line RoostFlying straight over the trees from behind.Aggressive spine bend; firing straight up at 12 o'clock.

Executing the Vertical Swing

Shooting a dropping bird is counter-intuitive for most upland hunters. You cannot use a sustained horizontal lead. When the bird clears the canopy and drops its wings, it is accelerating downward via gravity. If you aim directly at the bird's beak, you will miss over the top of it. You must pull the barrel of the shotgun down, completely obscuring the bird with the barrel of the gun, and pull the trigger. This is known as shooting "under" the bird. At premium operations like AWS Lodge, guides frequently place skilled shooters on the tree line specifically because the high-speed vertical drops provide the most technically challenging and visually spectacular shots of the day.

Tactical Field Note: Shooting the tree line requires absolute visual discipline. Do not look into the dense branches. Your eyes must stay locked on the empty, blue sky just above the top edge of the canopy. The moment the bird's silhouette breaks the edge of the tree line, you mount the gun and pull downward to intercept it.

Internal Connections

See how horizontal shots work in Mastering the Crossing Shot: Forward Lead in the Dove Roost.
Understand how sun glare affects this in Managing Sun Glare in the Afternoon Dove Roost.
Read about the geography of the roost via The Anatomy of an Argentina Dove Roost.

Legal & Regulatory Note Hunting regulations in Argentina are established and enforced at the provincial level and may change by season, species, area, quota, weather conditions, land access, and administrative resolution. Any reference to hunting availability, seasons, bag limits, pest-control species, firearms, ammunition, transportation, or export of birds should be understood as general destination information only. Hunters must always confirm current provincial regulations, licenses, permits, firearm requirements, landowner authorization, outfitter compliance, and transport/export restrictions before booking or participating in any hunt.