FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 22, 2005

Public Dove Field Ready For Hunting

JACKSON - Now in its second year, the dove hunting on private lands program of the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is making dove hunting available to many state hunters who might not hunt otherwise.

Many of the dove fields around the state in the program already have the maximum number of hunters allowed on the field. But some dove hunting sites need hunters.

One Leflore County dove field is 65 acres and planted entirely to sunflowers, the premier dove food in the Delta. "Never before have I seen such a large field planted to all sunflowers." Biologist Capt. Scott Baker said.

Baker is the leader of the Migratory Game Bird Program. "This must be the largest sunflower field in Mississippi."

He said the DWFP is providing dove hunters a place to go where the field is being managed specifically for doves. Hunters don't have to worry about the legalities of how the field was prepared.

"Strips of sunflowers will mowed periodically throughout the first two dove seasons to keep fresh seed available for doves," Baker said. "Only a limited number of permits will be available on this field. Once those permits are sold, no more will be available for this year."

Each permit will allow a hunter to hunt the field three days a week on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday afternoons only for the first two dove seasons. Up to two youths are welcome to hunt with a permitted adult.

The permit cost is $110 per permit.

"For what most hunters pay to dove hunt on a private field for one or two days, they can hunt two seasons on a DWFP sponsored dove field," Baker said.

Permits can be purchased in person or through the mail from the District III office located in Greenwood. Interested hunters can find an aerial photo of the field on the DWFP's website, MDWFP.com. Or, they can call the District III office at 662-459-9759 for more information.

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