DOVE CLUB PERMITS GO ON SALE JULY 1

June 14, 2006
Contact: Tony Young (850) 488-7867

Each year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers exceptional dove hunting opportunities throughout the state. The FWC manages eight special-opportunity dove fields through its Dove Club -- the agency’s special-opportunity dove hunt program.

Beginning 10 a.m. (EDT) July 1, sportsmen can purchase dove club permits at any county tax collector's office, authorized license agent, online at MyFWC.com/dove or by calling toll-free 1-888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).  The deadline to purchase permits is 11:59 p.m. (EDT) Sept. 10.

Dove club permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and allow one adult and one youth (under age 16) to participate in all scheduled hunts for a designated dove field (up to eight days). These Saturday half-day hunts cost $150 and enable the permit holder and youth to both take a daily bag limit of birds.

Dove hunting opportunities are in high demand, and these special hunts offer the perfect setting for friends and family to hunt together in a social atmosphere. Hunters who purchase the annual permits save more than half the cost of regular daily permits for the season.

There are three new special-opportunity dove fields that will be open this coming season - Allapattah Flats Public Small-Game Hunting Area (PSGHA) in Martin County, Fussell Farm PSGHA in Polk County and Watermelon Pond PSGHA in Alachua County.

The other five special-opportunity dove fields already are familiar to some hunters, because they were open last year. They are: Schneider Farms PSGHA (Escambia County), Caravelle Ranch (Putnam County), Dexter/Mary Farms Unit (Volusia County), Hilochee (Lake County) and Frog Pond (Miami-Dade County).

Dove “day” permits also are available for $35. These daily permits enable one adult and one youth (under age 16) to hunt together but only allows one bag limit of birds between the two hunters.

Additionally, there is an option to buy a $10 youth permit at the same time a dove day permit is purchased. The youth permit allows the youth to harvest his own daily bag limit of birds, while hunting under the supervision of the adult dove day permit holder. The dove day and youth permits go on sale 10 a.m. (EDT) Sept. 18, and they are transferable.

Interested hunters should purchase permits early, because demand for these hunts often exceeds their availability. For more information on these great dove hunting opportunities, visit MyFWC.com/dove.

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