Special To McDonald County Press
JEFFERSON CITY -- With dove hunting season opening Sept. 1, the Missouri Department of Conservation reminds dove hunters of its more than 180 conservation areas around the state that allow dove hunting, including nearly 100 planted in multiple crop fields that attract the popular game birds. Crops include sunflower, corn, millet, wheat, and buckwheat.
A list of conservation areas that offer dove hunting and maps of areas that have dove fields are available from MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/node/8905. The areas closes to McDonald County are:
• Capps Creek Conservation Area in Newton County
• Fort Crowder Conservation Area in Newton County
• The Lewis Family Memorial Conservation Area in Taney County
• Wire Road Conservation Area in Stone County
Weather conditions can impact the quality of field crops so MDC encourages dove hunters to check field conditions ahead of time.
Mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves, and white-winged doves may be taken from Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 from one-half-hour before sunrise to sunset with a combined daily limit of 15 and a combined possession limit of 45 for all three species.
Get additional information on hunting doves and other early migratory birds in MDC's "2015 Migratory Bird Hunting Digest" available where hunting permits are sold, at MDC offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov.
Sports on 08/27/2015