8/20/2007

Dove Season Opens in North Carolina on Sept. 1

RALEIGH, N.C.  – The first segment of dove season opens at noon on Sept. 1 and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission urges safety and precaution for hunters in the field. Capt. Chris Huebner, hunter safety coordinator for the agency, stressed the following basics:

BE AWARE: When hunting in a group, always know where others are and let them know where you are. Communicate with one another. “Know where other parties and non-hunters are, as well,” Capt. Huebner said.

SHOOT SAFELY: Never shoot at low-flying birds and alert companions when a bird is too low to safely allow a shot. Wearing proper eye and ear protection is advised.

SHOOT RESPONSIBLY: Know your field of fire and don’t pepper people, nearby buildings or vehicles with falling shot. “Be a responsible hunter and a good neighbor,” Capt. Huebner said. “Recognize your shotgun’s range and avoid having shot fall on those surroundings.”

SEASON AND BAG LIMITS: Dove season is set for Sept. 1-Oct. 6, Nov.19-24 and Dec. 17-Jan. 12; with a daily bag of 12 and possession limit of 24. Shooting hours for doves are noon to sunset Sept. 1-8, then one half-hour before sunrise until sunset thereafter.

KNOW THE RULES: Don’t hunt over baited fields. According to state regulations, placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure for migratory game can constitute a baited area. In a cornfield, a hunter can not pile corn to attract birds. “People sometimes say it spilled off the truck,” Capt. Huebner said. “That’s fine, but you can’t hunt over it.”

ENROLL IN HUNTER EDUCATION: First-time hunter license buyers must successfully complete a Hunter Education Course, offered free across the state. More than a gun safety class, the course includes information about hunter ethics and responsibility, conservation and game management, firearms, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, and specialty hunting.

For more information, consult the online version of the 2007-2008 N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest at www.ncwildlife.org or call (919) 707-0031.