Season Opening

Fast flying doves

Most hunting on private land; public options exist

Hunters will be afield at first light Sept. 5 for opening day of dove hunting season.
Hunters will be afield at first light Sept. 5 for opening day of dove hunting season.

The pop of shotgun fire will signal start of fall hunting when dove season opens Sept. 5.

photo

A retriever brings in a bird during a past dove season.

Opening day is a festive time, with families and friends getting together to hit, or more often miss, fast-flying mourning doves. A bigger challenge may be finding a place to hunt. Most dove hunting in Northwest Arkansas takes place on private land in the agricultural areas of the region. There is little public land that offers decent dove hunting. Here are a few options for dove season:

Dove hunting

Seasons: Sept. 5-Oct. 24. Dec. 19-Jan. 7. Shooting hours 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.

Limit: Daily limit is 15 mourning doves. Possession limit is 45. No limit on Eurasion collared doves.

More information: www.agfc.com.

Opening days coming up

Sept. 26: Archery deer.

Oct. 17: Muzzle-loader deer

Nov. 14: Modern gun deer

Nov. 21: Duck

— Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

• Two fields on McIlroy Madison County Wildlife Management Area are managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for dove hunting. One field is located near management area headquarters off Arkansas 23 north of Forum. Another is on the north side of the management area.

The fields have been planted in sunflowers to attract doves, said Mark Hutchings, biologist with Game and Fish. The fields were recently disked to scatter the sunflower seed on the ground. Fair numbers of doves have been seen using the fields from time to time, Hutchings said.

Total acreage of the two fields is 30 to 40 acres. There is no special permit required to hunt doves on the fields.

• The Wedington Unit of the Ozark National Forest has offered public dove hunting in the past, but conditions are poor this year.

"I wouldn't even try it," Hutchings said. Sunflowers were planted, but the crop failed. Wet weather is the primary culprit, he said.

There's a slight chance a hunter may get a shot or two by hunting close to ponds on the tract, but chances are slim to none.

• The best bet this dove season may be the fee hunt at Razorback Farms near Bethel Heights. Gerald Tate, hunt manager, said the dove field has been sown in winter wheat.

Cost is $100 per person for opening day and $50 after that. Reservations are required. Payment should be made and paperwork filled out a day or more before the hunt, Tate said.

Opening day is full, but some spots remain for Sept. 6. Hunting takes place from 30 minutes before sunrise until midmorning on Saturdays and Sundays through September. There will also be hunting on Labor Day. Call Tate at 479-263-4502 to register or for details.

Hunters are welcome to bring their retriever dogs. Children are welcome to hunt with adults.

• It may be too late to hunt doves on opening day at Fort Chaffee Wildlife Management Area near Fort Smith, but it could be an option for later in the season. Hunters are required to take a hunter orientation class. That allows them to buy a permit to hunt at Fort Chaffee. Call the management area at 877-478-1043 for the next class date.

There are five dove fields on the management area, said Brian Infield, biologist with Game and Fish. Each field is about five acres and is linear in shape. Fields are planted in wheat and are mowed to attract doves.

Expect company when dove hunting at Fort Chaffee. Enfield said hunting pressure is heavy.

Sports on 08/27/2015

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