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COLUMBUS, OH — A change in legal hunting hours on public wildlife areas will promote improved hunting opportunities when the statewide dove season begins September 1, according to wildlife biologists with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Legal hunting hours for the first ten days of the Ohio dove season this year are noon to sunset on all public lands. However, on private lands, legal dove hunting hours remain sunrise to sunset during the entire season.
Beginning September 11, legal hunting hours for the dove season on public and private lands are sunrise to sunset. Ohio’s dove hunting season is split into two segments and will be open statewide September 1 through October 16, and November 3-26.
"The change to afternoon hunting hours on public hunting areas is intended to allow reasonable dove hunting opportunities on these public lands, while at the same time extending the period of time that quality hunting occurs during the early season. Doves will be able to feed on public lands for a portion of the day without hunting pressure, thus staying on the areas longer before migrating," said Dave Scott, supervisor of the Olentangy Wildlife Research Station in Delaware County.
Afternoon dove hunting hours on public areas also should increase opportunities for early season teal and goose hunters who often enjoy the most success at sunrise and sunset. The special early goose and teal hunting seasons in Ohio also begin September 1.
An estimated four to five million mourning doves migrate through Ohio each fall, with the peak of migration occurring during September. State wildlife biologists said recent survey data show that Ohio’s dove population remains similar to last year^s and is not affected by hunting. The average life expectancy of a mourning dove is 12 to 18 months.
Ranging from Canada to Mexico, the mourning dove is the most popular, abundant, and widely distributed gamebird in North America. The bird’s fast flight, quick changes in direction, and alert nature make it among the most challenging gamebirds to hunt.
The most successful dove hunters begin their season by scouting possible hunting areas in late August and early September. Likely hot spots include recently harvested soybean, corn, hay or wheat fields. Hunters should position themselves along a fencerow or near other field cover such as brushpiles or small bushes in these types of fields. The daily bag limit is 12 doves per hunter with a possession limit of 24 birds after the first day of the season.
Dove hunting opportunities can be found on a number of public hunting areas owned and managed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Some of these public hunting areas have proven to provide outstanding dove hunter success rates. For a list of some of the better dove hunting areas on public land, contact the wildlife district offices in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay, and Xenia, or call the Wildlife Division’s toll-free information line at 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Uploaded: 8/30/2000
Uploaded: 8/30/2000