Song of Solomon 5:2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Dove hunting is a family tradition that has been passed on to my husband through several generations.  And now my husband is passing this tradition on to our son’s!

However, this tradition is not so much the bounty of harvested dove but more the camaraderie between family and friends.

My crew brought home a total of 28 doves from their two-day hunt.

How blessed are we?  VERY!!!

I usually prepare the doves on the grill with bacon wrapped around them.  But this time I thought I would try something new and different.

It turned out so good that I wanted to share with y’all.  Hope you enjoy it.

First you need to clean the doves really good and soak them in either Sea Salt or Kosher Salt and water overnight.

You are going to need a package of Au Jus Gravy and a package of powdered Ranch Dressing mix to prepare this tasty dish.

Onward we roll ……

The next day, drain the doves and rinse.

Place them in the crockpot breast up.

Next, take the package of Au Jus gravy and Ranch dressing mix and sprinkle over doves

Then pour 1 cup tomato juice into the crockpot

Add 1 quart of water to cover dove’s

Then slice about 4 tablespoons butter over the top

Cook on low heat for about 8 hours.

And they’re done!

The dove’s will easily slip off the bone.  Be very careful when eating them and make sure to watch for the very tiny bones.

I served these doves with fried okra, mashed potatoes, pinto beans and cornbread.

My hubby had never had doves prepared like this.  His reply, “I think that’s the best doves I have ever eaten!”