Think Safety In Ozarks' Dove Fields

With Arkansas' dove season opening Sept. 6 and Missouri's season on Labor Day, wildlife officials urge hunters to pay special attention to safety.

"The more hunters in a field, the less space between them," says Kyle Lairmore, hunter education coordinator with the Missouri Department of Conservation. "You can hunt safely in a crowded field, but it requires extra care."

Lairmore says things to keep in mind when hunting near others include maintaining safe spacing of at least 50 yards between hunters. If you can't find a spot with this spacing, wait at the entrance to the field until another hunter leaves and take his or her place.

He also recommends arriving early enough to talk with other hunters before shooting time. Find out who has hunting dogs, and agree on safe zones of fire.

It's also important to take other hunters' presence into account when choosing shots at doves. Don't take low-angle shots that could send pellets toward other hunters. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any stray shot. Warn nearby hunters before leaving your location or sending your dog to retrieve downed birds.

Tom Thompson is the Conservation Department's dove specialist. He says hunters are likely to find plenty of doves this year, thanks to more moderate weather than during the summers of 2012 and 2013. Missouri has enjoyed more normal rainfall and temperatures than in the past two years.

However, Thompson notes that the spring of 2014 was cooler than normal, which can cause doves to nest later. Doves are prolific nesters, often raising several clutches of two eggs each in a summer, so with favorable conditions, they can make up for a late start.

Overall, Thompson says he doesn't expect significantly more doves than last year statewide. He mentioned some significant regional differences.

"This year, dove numbers seen in our annual roadside counts were up in northern Missouri," says Thompson. "In southwest Missouri and Ozarks areas, dove numbers seem to be down. However, doves can bring off three or four clutches after the surveys are done, so early nesting problems don't necessarily tell the whole story. Things can turn around during July and August."

Outdoors on 08/21/2014

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