Private pay dove hunts

[Denduke]

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 29, 2005

More Private Lands For Public Dove Hunting

JACKSON - Can you believe it - the first dove season is just around the corner? And this year there is more good news for Mississippi dove hunters, according to the Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

There are eight fields enrolled in the agency's Private Lands Dove Field Program. They are located in Tallahatchie Co., District 2, 662-563-6330; Leflore Co., District 3, 662-459-9759; Humphreys Co., District 3, 662-459-9759; Carroll Co., District 3, 662-459-9759; Kemper Co., District 4, 601-692-2776; Hinds Co., Metro District, 601-432-2176; Simpson Co., District 4, 601-692-2776; and Jones Co., District 6, 601-928-3720. Field size ranges from 28 - 92 acres.

PDF (average size of 1.5 mb) of each field: Tallahatchie , Leflore, Humphreys , Carroll , Kemper , Hinds , Simpson, and Jones .

The Private Lands Dove Field Program is a new effort that offers public dove hunting opportunities on private property, according to Wildlife Biologist Scott Baker.

"The DWFP recognized several years ago that hunters were needing a place to dove hunt, and hunters wanted a place to hunt without worrying about baiting," Baker said. "These fields will meet both of these needs."

Baker said most other Southeastern states have similar dove hunting programs.

The DWFP model their program after the best attributes of other Southeastern states programs.

Baker said the fields may be hunted the first two dove seasons. Permits will go on sale August 5 at the Miss. Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Extravaganza in Jackson at the Miss. Trade Mart.

Permits will vary in cost from $50 to $112 depending upon the field.

Baker said only a limited number of permits will be available per field. Permits are available on a first-come first-served basis.

"Each permit will entitle the hunter to hunt that particular field three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoons only for the first two dove seasons," he explained.

A permit allows an adult hunter to bring up to two youths hunting. Youths are hunters 15 years old or younger.

Baker said each field is prepared differently. Hunters can choose a field based on what crops they prefer to hunt over, such as millet, milo, sunflowers, harvested wheat, and corn.

He said each field will be manned by a wildlife biologist and conservation officers to insure that hunters are hunting in a safe manor and abiding by all rules and regulations.

Maps of each field are located on the MDWFP web site at http://www.mdwfp.com. (See counties above for links to maps)


Disclaimer | Contact Us 1505 Eastover Drive - Jackson, MS 39211-6374 - Phone: 601.432.2400

[booger]

Sounds like a great idea and I hope it works and catches on. I know a lot of folks have bitched over the years about getting the WMA's to do something and this seems to be a good answer.

I looked at the Kemper County location but holy-moly there were 90 hunting stands on this field.
I wasn't able to get a real good idea of the scale of the map, just judged by the road and landmarks, but appears to me to be kinda crowded? It's gonna be a war zone. (Maybe my booger acreage estimator needs adjusting.) SB, Wingman, Can I get a vendors license to sell shells, sunscreen and iced tea?

Dowloading any of the other locations is just too painful on dial-up but I wonder what they're like? I hope it works and next year there are twice as many fields. I'd take a gamble and go with the public option (as I usually do) but I already paid for a friends field.

Anyone planning on going to any of these?

[SB]

The Kemper County field is 92 acres. This is our largest dove field. Even if the permits sell out, I don't expect everyone will show up all at the same time, even on opening weekend. Elbow room shouldn't be a problem.

The Leflore County field is 65 acres of sunflowers. It is pretty impressive to see 65 acres of sunflowers all in bloom at the same time. I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't the largest sunflower field in the state.

These fields are keeping this ole boy busy!

[crow]

You better be keeping Ms. Scott Baker happy, even if you are tired from riding around dove fields all day!

How's married life treating you, Scott? I was back in the Delta a few weeks back. Didn't have but a few days, but got out in Yazoo/Humphreys Counties all one day. I've never seen so much corn planted as this year, and more cotton, too. The corn may scatter the doves a bit, huh?

[Wingman]

Crow,

Looks like the corn will be coming out right about the time season opens...always scatters the doves to the four winds. But I've been seeing tons of birds up here. Yesterday morning I was driving down one of our finer blacktop/gravel roads and the doves were coming up out of the road in droves.

Booger, the "rate" I've always used for hunters/ acre is 1 hunter: .75 or 1 acre of field. Of course that doesn't factor in idiots and you've got to control shooting at low birds.

[Double R 2]

sb, what will y'all do to those sunflower fields preceding th hunt?

[SB]

Crow, All is well. When Ms Baker and I pass each other in the road we still wave at each other, so I guess all is good. You need to come back over and lets have a get together on Floweree.

Ramsey, The sunflowers will be bush hogged in strips throughout the dove seasons and before.

[wing shot 1]

What type of field is the Humphries county going to be?

[Delta Duck]

SB, I thought you cut a few stips and then through out the season you just spread fresh sunflower seeds down those strips!

[crow]

Scott, glad to hear all is well in the conubial bliss of marriage for you. Glad to hear you and the Mrs. are doing well. Glad she still waves at you.

My wife does something similar. Every time she sees me, she gives me half a peace sign! It is one of her habits I find so endearing after 32 years of marriage!

Hope to catch up with several of the MSDucks bunch when I get back home this fall for another trip.

[SB]

What type of field is the Humphries county going to be?

Sunflowers

[SB]

Delta Ducks, That is the way they do it in Tunica County.................and everywhere else. At least they could pick up and throw away the new seed bag and not leave it behind as evidence. We're working on correcting this problem....starting in Tunica

[jestridg]

What is the Hinds County field planted in?

[mudsucker]

What is the Hinds County field planted in?

Chicken bones!

[SB]

What is the Hinds County field planted in?

Corn