Prepare your fields for dove season

Department of Natural Resources Cpl. Don Dasher of Jenkins County would like to provide suggestions and strategies for successfully and legally attracting mourning doves, as well as tips for recognizing dove fields that may be baited.

Although the mourning dove is a common game bird on Georgia's farms, it is also considered a migratory bird. Federal and state laws prohibit hunting migratory game birds over baited areas. Cpl. Dasher says that what constitutes baiting for mourning doves occasionally has been a source of confusion for hunters, farmers and land managers.

"Baiting" is the practice of direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, corn, wheat or any other grain or feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for doves to, on or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any area is considered baited for 10 days following the complete removal of any salt, corn, wheat or any other grain or feed which constitutes bait. Dove hunting over or near a baited area at any time within 10 days after the bait is completely removed is a violation.

A "normal" practice or operation is one conducted in accordance with official recommendations of state extension specialists of the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hunting doves over manipulated fields that were planted in the spring or early summer is a legal activity and by far the most common situation in Georgia, says Cpl. Dasher.

Two things that should never be done to these prospective dove fields is to harvest the grain or seed and redistribute them on the field at a later time, or add seed to what was already grown on the field. This second practice is commonly known as "sweetening" the field. Either of these practices can cause an otherwise legal field to become a baited field, making it illegal to hunt doves over.

Cpl. Dasher goes on to say that hunting doves over fields planted in late summer or fall is also legal, provided that the field bas been planted as part of a normal agricultural operation. Normal agricultural operation implies a planting that is conducted in accordance with the official recommendations of the UGA Cooperative Extension Service.

Aerial or top sowing of small grains without covering the seed is not a recommended practice by the UGA Cooperative Extension Service. Dove hunting over a field planted by top sowing is illegal, warns Cpl. Dasher. Also, normal planting operations do not involve placement of grains in piles of other concentrations. Piles of small grains, or small grains that have been broadcast on top of the ground, are possible warning signs of a baited field that hunters should look for.

Another very important component of "normal agricultural practice" is planting dates. All of Jenkins County lies in what is considered the coastal region of Georgia. As such, the UGA Cooperative Extension Service recommends planting dates of Oct. 1, through Dec. 15, for all small grains (wheat, rye, oats and barley) and canola. Hunters may not hunt doves over or around late summer/fall planted fields if the plantings are outside of the recommended dates.

It is not a normal agricultural operation to sow grain several times in succession. If you find yourself on a dove field where seed has been sown more than once, it may be baited.

Cpl. Dasher goes on to say that cracked corn, rock salt, scratch feed and wild birdseed are not part of a normal agricultural practice and may indicate to the hunter that a field is baited. Small seeds or grains that are broadcast over grass or pasture land are not part of a normal agricultural practice and should warn hunters that the field may be baited. Also, the hunter should make sure that the seed that is visible matches the field conditions. For example, on a millet field there should be millet seed present. If the hunter finds a row of shelled corn or sunflower seeds spread about, that may indicate a baited field.

Cpl. Dasher says that dove season in Georgia opens statewide Saturday, Sept. 1, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 15. The second season begins Saturday, Oct. 6, and stays in until Monday, Oct. 15. The third and longest season runs from Thursday, Nov. 22, until Saturday, Jan. 5. Shooting hours are noon until sunset on opening day of the first and second season, and one-half hour before sunrise to sunset otherwise. The daily limit is 12.

Dove hunters must have on his/her person a valid Georgia hunting license and a valid Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. The HIP permit is free and can be obtained from any license dealer by completing a migratory bird hunter questionnaire. Honorary license holders are exempt from the HIP permit requirement. Any auto-loading shotgun or other repeating shotgun must be plugged to hold no more than three shot-shells while hunting doves.

More information on legal dove hunting in Georgia can be found at www.gohuntgeorgia. com.