Monday, August 20, 2007



DOVE HUNTERS: BE SURE YOU’RE HUNTING A LEGAL FIELD
By Mike Faulk

Two harbingers of good times to come, even though it may still be hot and muggy, are opening Saturday of squirrel season and high noon on September 1st when the annual dove season begins here in Tennessee.

The vast majority of us early in the 21st Century do not have our own place to dove hunt. Not only has the number of farms decreased, but also the number of farms with fields appropriate for dove hunting has dwindled over the years.

Because of its nature, dove hunting offers a good opportunity for socializing with fellow hunters. An invitation to a good dove field for an opening day hunt is a coveted prize.


We all know what defines a good dove field – plenty of birds flying in and out regularly. But what defines a “legal” dove field? And what are our obligations to see that the field we're hunting is legal?

As a migratory bird hunter, the responsibility is yours to determine whether the proposed hunting area is baited. Before hunting, you should:

• Familiarize yourself with Federal and State migratory bird hunting regulations.

• Inspect the area for the presence of bait. If you see doves feeding in a particular area in unusually large concentrations or displaying a lack of caution suspect the presence of bait.

• Look for grain or other feed on the ground. The presence of spilled grain on harvested fields and seeds planted by means of top sowing are a tip-off.


• While it might seem rude, ask if scattered seeds or grains on agricultural lands are present solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, normal agricultural harvesting, normal agricultural post-harvest manipulation, or normal soil stabilization practice.

It won’t hurt to consult the Cooperative Extension Service – the UT Agriculture Extension Service that offers a publication on-line before you go to the dove hunt.

Academics Blogs - Blog Top Sites