Dove Hunting Regulation and Safety Reminders
August 29, 2008
Doves are migratory birds so hunters must use a plugged shot gun with a capacity not to exceed three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Dove hunters must be registered with the federal Harvest Information Program (HIP). HIP registration is free and available at all locations where hunting licenses are sold. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service randomly selects a sample of HIP registered hunters and asks them to participate in a harvest survey.
Remember to avoid shooting at doves near power lines and horizontally at low-flying birds where other hunters may be present.
Dove hunters are encouraged to be sure to pick up all litter, including spent shell casings, while hunting. DNR wardens report some dove hunters are leaving behind large numbers of shell casings on public lands and that they will be increasing enforcement of litter laws this season.
“Take a moment to think about how you’d like to find a hunting spot – clean, picked up and with only boot prints left hehind,” said Mike Dickhoff, DNR Rock County conservation warden. “Then extend that same courtesy to the next hunter.”
Always remember the basic rules of firearms safety: TAB-K:
- Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
- Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
- Be sure of your target and beyond.
- Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you’re ready to shoot.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Van Horn (608) 266-8841
Mourning dove season opens on Sept. 1 In Wisconsin / 2008 season extended by 10 days
Hunters participating in the 2008 mourning dove season in Wisconsin will enjoy an extra 10 days of hunting opportunity, and those hunters hunting on state and federal lands will only be able to use nontoxic shot.
The 2008 season opens Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 9, which is 10 days longer than previous seasons. In a June 2008 decision, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided for states to select an additional 10 days of dove hunting. In August, the state Natural Resources Board approved extending the Wisconsin mourning dove season to Nov. 9. Because the change was made so late, the 2008 Small Game Hunting Regulations pamphlet does not reflect this increase of 10 additional hunting days.
Also new this year is a requirement for nontoxic shot for hunting mourning doves on all DNR managed lands in addition to the previous requirement for nontoxic shot on National Wildlife Refuges and federally owned Waterfowl Production Areas.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 hunters have taken to the fields in pursuit of mourning doves in recent years, according to Kent Van Horn, migratory game bird ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources.
“During this same period, mourning doves have shown a 1 to 5 percent increase in population, while hunters were harvesting 100,000 to 200,000 doves annually,” Van Horn notes.
The mourning dove is a fast flying game bird, which Van Horn says, presents a challenging target but fine food on the dinner table. Additional information on dove hunting is available on the DNR Web site.
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Dove Season Set to Open on Sept. 1st Throughout North Carolina
August 26, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina’s dove season opens statewide on Monday, Sept. 1 at noon with a daily bag limit of 15 doves per hunter per day.
Traditionally Labor Day weekend is the opening of dove season in North Carolina and includes both Saturday and Monday – giving most hunters two days off from work to hunt. However, under the federal frameworks for hunting migratory birds the season cannot open before Sept. 1, so the season will open on the Monday of Labor Day weekend this year.
After opening day, hunting opens a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Dove season will be split into three segments this hunting season, with the first segment from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4. The second segment is from Nov. 24 through Nov. 29, and the final segment from Dec. 12 through Jan. 10.
When dove hunting, wildlife officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission advise:
- BE SAFE: When hunting in a group, know where others are and communicate. Never shoot at low-flying birds and alert companions when a bird is too low to safely allow a shot. Wearing proper eye and ear protection is advised.
- SHOOT RESPONSIBLY: Know your field of fire and don’t pepper people, nearby buildings or vehicles with falling shot.
- KNOW THE RULES: Don’t hunt over baited fields. According to state regulations, placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure for migratory game can constitute a baited area.
- ENROLL IN HUNTER EDUCATION: First-time hunting license buyers must successfully complete a Hunter Education Course, offered free across the state.
- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click here
to consult the online version of the 2008-2009 N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest or call (919) 707-0031.
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Picking the Best Spot in the Dove Field
August 14, 2008
Authored by Lee McClellan
Frankfort, Ky. – You are the second truck in the parking area at the public dove field on Sept. 1, the opening day of this year’s dove season in Kentucky. You’ve shot some trap to get ready for dove season, bought some quality shells and feel ready to get your 15-bird daily limit.
You set up beside a clump of bushes on a hill that allows an unobstructed view of the entire dove field. You figure this is the best spot. The dove field gradually fills as the morning burns toward public shooting hours at 11 a.m., but no one else sets up within 75 yards of your spot. Doves dive-bomb sunflowers nearest a dead tree in the corner of the field.
That same corner erupts with shotgun fire at 11 a.m. The same few hunters appear every few minutes to retrieve their birds. You shoot at a few high flying birds and miss. The only things you take home in your vest are empty shell hulls.
Even if you’ve honed your shooting skills, you may come home empty-handed if you don’t pick a good spot to set up. Jon Gassett, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, has some tips.
“I like corners of a field with an outcropping of trees,” he said. “Doves are like fish - they like structure. Dead trees are good as well. They like to light into dead trees and rest.”
So a hunter preparing to stake out a spot on a dove field should look for a dead tree or a clump of trees in a corner of the field. Other spots work well if hunters already claimed the corners.
“A power line running near the field is another great spot to set up,” Gassett explained. “Doves love to perch on power lines before flying down to feed.”
Power lines also provide doves a sight line to follow in flight. Doves use power lines, driveways and lines of trees to lead them to resting, watering and feeding spots.
“Bare dirt is a big draw for me when I’m deciding where to set up in the dove field,” said Lexington resident James Charas, an avid dove hunter and expert wing shooter. “Doves love bare dirt. If I can find a spot with bare dirt and a dead tree, power line or a couple of large trees nearby, that is where I will be hunting.”
Doves often fly through a gap in a line of trees at the edge of the field or through a gap between two hills. A hunter set up on either side of the gap should enjoy good shooting.Â
Concealment plays a great role in hunter success. Doves are notoriously naïve on opening day. They fly slow and close. This gives the impression to some hunters that you don’t need to wear camouflage for doves. Wearing camouflage, staying hidden under a tree or behind a hay roll until ready to shoot and donning a wide brimmed camouflage hat all increase hunter success. This is especially true after opening weekend.
“I can’t believe what some people wear to the dove field,” Charas said. “They’ll wear a white T-shirt, white socks and khaki shorts. You can see them a mile away. I wear at least a camouflage shirt and hat every time I dove hunt.”
Dove hunters will enjoy 10 more days to hunt for the 2008-2009 season. The first segment of dove season opens Sept. 1 and closes Oct. 24. The second segment opens Nov. 27 and closes Dec. 5, while the third segment of dove season opens Dec. 27, 2008 and closes Jan. 2, 2009.
The 2008-2009 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Doves, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow is available now over the internet at fw.ky.gov. This guide lists dozens of public dove fields all over Kentucky that hunters may use.
If you hunt one of these fields or get invited to a private hunt, set up in a good spot and be ones of those leaving with a vest bulging with doves, not spent hulls.
Author Lee McClellan is an award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.
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Mississippi Dove Field Rules and Regulations
August 4, 2008
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Hunting allowed only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays after 12:00 PM.- Hunting will be allowed during the dates of September 1-21, 2008 and October 3- November 9, 2008 for dove zone 1 and September 1-14, 2008 and October 11-26, 2008 for dove zone 2.
- Hunters must hunt from a designated stand on Sept 1 and Sept 3. A hunter’s permit number will be their stand number for these two days. Hunters may be able to hunt from any designated stand location on a first come first serve basis on any hunt date after Sept 3.
- No more than two shooters per stand, of which only one may be an adult. Two youths may be able to hunt from a stand but only under the direct supervision of a non-hunting licensed adult, 21 years old or older. One limit of doves is allowed per hunter per day.
- Any hunter under the age of 16 years old is considered a youth and must be under the direct supervision of a licensed adult, 21 years old or older.
- No shooting at low flying birds. All rules of gun safety must be followed.
- No littering. All spent shotgun hulls must be picked up and removed.
- Vehicle parking will be in designated areas only.
- No alcoholic beverages will be allowed.
- All State and Federal laws will be enforced and must be followed.
- Any unsafe act or violation of any of these rules and regulations can lead to loss of hunting privileges on any MDWFP Private Lands Dove Field Program field.
Dove Field Permit Types and Costs
Dove field permits may be bought in your name or in the name of another licensed hunter. If multiple permits are bought in your name, you may be able to take guests hunting on those extra permits. The person whose name is on the permit must be on the field hunting while his guest(s) are hunting. Example: A person who may want to take different persons with them on different hunts would want to purchase multiple permits in their name. If any of these guests would want to be able to go to the field on their own, they would need to buy their own individual permit.
During the online purchasing process, permit ownership may be changed prior to the close of the sale. Once the sale is final, permits are not transferable or refundable.
  Permit Type 1 - Individual Field Permit
Allows a person to hunt a reserved stand in an individual field on opening weekend (see rule #3) and that same individual field for the entire season. (Price as listed)
 Permit Type 2 - Dove Club Permit with Opening Weekend Privileges
Allows a person to hunt a reserved stand in an individual field on opening weekend (see rule #3) and that same and all other dove fields after opening weekend. ($200.00)
 Permit Type 3 - Dove Club Permit without Opening Weekend Privileges
Allows a person to hunt all dove fields after opening weekend only. ($150.00)
Hancock County / Kemper County  / Leake County /  Lincoln County / Pike County
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