8/28/2007

Volume 37, Number 309
Division of Fish and Wildlife

Contact: Ken Reynolds, Wildlife Program Manager, phone: (302) 735-3601
or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Delaware’s Dove Season Opens Sept. 1; Hunting Opportunities Offered in State Fish and Wildlife Areas

Delaware hunters will be able to start honing their wing shooting skills on Saturday, Sept. 1 with the opening of the mourning dove season. Once again, the season is divided into three splits: Sept. 1 to Sept. 29, Oct. 16 to Oct. 27, and Dec. 15 to Jan. 12. But this year, hunters will notice a big change in the hunting hours with legal shooting time one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during all three season splits.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many dove hunting opportunities on its wildlife areas throughout the state. In some locations, hunting hours may be more restrictive than the general framework due to other activities taking place on the wildlife areas.

New Castle County

In New Castle County, dove fields have been planted at the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. Hunting spots are chosen by a lottery held at noon at the Cedar Swamp check station located on Collins Beach Road. Hunting hours are 1 to 5 p.m. on opening day, Labor Day, Sept. 3 and Saturdays in September.

The Rocks and Bell Tracts each have a sunflower field while a sorghum field is available at the Guestford Tract. The Baxter Tract of the Augustine Wildlife Area has two sunflower fields open throughout the dove season with no special permits required. Shooting hours for these fields are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Kent County

Kent County state wildlife areas offer several dove hunting opportunities with both lottery and non-lottery hunts. Lottery permit hunts are available at Milford Neck and Ted Harvey Wildlife Areas. Permits to hunt the large sunflower field on the Penuel Tract of the Milford Neck Area are issued through a noon lottery at the Little Creek checking station located on Route 9/Bayside Drive just south of the town of Little Creek. This area is hunted on opening day, Labor Day, and Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in September only.

The Logan Lane Tract of the Ted Harvey Wildlife Area also has a large sunflower field available for permit dove hunting. The lottery for Logan Lane permits will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Little Creek Check Station. Hunts for this area will be available on opening day, Labor Day, Tuesdays and Saturdays in September only. Shooting hours for these lottery permit hunts will be from 1 to 5 p.m.

For those not interesting in the lottery hunts, there are dove hunting opportunities at both the Blackiston and Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Areas where sunflower fields have been planted. These sites are open all days of the dove season with hunting hours from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Sussex County

Dove hunting fields on Sussex County wildlife areas can be found at the Assawoman Wildlife Area near Bethany Beach and the Nanticoke Wildlife Area south of Seaford. Nanticoke has a sunflower and corn field that is open throughout the dove season from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. No special permit is needed for this area.

Two sunflower fields are available at Assawoman with permits issued beginning at noon from the Assawoman Check Station at the area headquarters complex off Camp Barnes Road. Dove hunting at this location is restricted to Saturdays only in September from 1 to 6 p.m.

Hunters should take note that hunting license fees have increased this year. A standard resident license costs $25. The new junior license for hunters aged 13 to 15 years costs $5 for state residents. The standard non-resident license will cost $130 while the junior license is $50. Non-resident hunters can also purchase a three day license for $50.

In addition to a Delaware hunting license, dove hunters must obtain a registration number from the Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP). To register, call 877-335-2447 toll-free.

Hunting maps for state wildlife areas are available online by visiting www.fw.delaware.gov/Wildlife.htm and clicking on Seasons/Guides/Maps, or by calling the DNREC Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.
 

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