MDWFP Dove Field Program Kicks Off

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) Private Lands Dove Field Program will be beginning its third year providing public dove hunting opportunities on private lands across Mississippi. The MDWFP realized dove hunters were having a difficult time finding fields to hunt and were concerned with baiting issues on fields they could hunt. This led to the creation of the MDWFP's Private Lands Dove Field Program where hunters, for a nominal fee, could access privately prepared dove fields managed in accordance with MDWFP recommendations. The fields and the hunting are under MDWFP management.

Permits are required to access the fields and can be obtained by credit card by calling the Jackson office (601-432-2055) beginning Monday August 7th. Permits will be mailed to applicants. District offices also have the permits for walk-in customers paying with cash or check only.

A dove field permit will entitle a hunter to hunt three days per week (Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday) for the first two dove seasons, September 2-24, and October 7-28. Each adult hunter will be allowed to bring up to two youths under the age of 16 to hunt with no additional costs. Only two guns allowed per stand. Hunting will be limited to afternoons only to maintain hunt quality. Only a limited number of permits will be available on each field for the opening weekend hunt.

An individual field permit will entitle a hunter to hunt the specific field in which the permit was purchased for the first two dove seasons. Individual field permit costs will range from $55 to $105.

New this year is a Dove Club permit. There will be two types of Dove Club permits, one with opening weekend hunting privileges and one without. The Dove Club permit will entitle a hunter to hunt any of the 11 fields enrolled in the MDWFP's Private Lands Dove Field Program after the opening weekend hunt. A hunter who chooses the Dove Club permit with opening weekend privileges will be able to choose from any of the 11 fields to hunt on opening weekend. Permit cost is $200. The desired location of the opening weekend hunt must be selected at the time of purchase. These permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The other Dove Club option does not include opening weekend hunting privileges. This permit may fit persons who have other obligations on opening weekend that will prevent them from hunting, but would like to be able to hunt any of the fields after opening weekend during the first two dove seasons. Permit cost is $150.

For 2006 there are eleven fields across the state where the permit cost reflects the dove field management intensity. A hunter will be able to find a field that fits his or her budget. Dove fields can be found in Coahoma, Humphreys, Leflore, Grenada, Noxubee, Kemper, Rankin, Hinds, Simpson, Amite, and Pike Counties. The field crops will range from harvested corn to managed sunflowers and a wide variety of other dove foods.

"All the permits were sold out for the 2005-2006 dove season. There is a great demand for intensively managed, quality dove fields that offers a family setting," said Scott Baker, Migratory Game Bird Program Leader for the MDWFP. "Hopefully, the demand will continue to grow along with the program's success."