Dove hunting for me is a hit-or-miss sport, and I really do mean in the literal sense. Too many times, I have gone to the dove fields confident of bringing home a limit of 15 doves with less than a box of shells. Those were the days I would shoot four boxes of shells, borrow more from a hunting buddy and pack home fewer than 10 doves.

Yes – when it comes to shooting doves, I have more off days than on days.
Mourning dove hunting season opened statewide on Thursday, and continues through Oct. 16. Dove season reopens with the start of the upland small-game season on Nov. 4 and concludes on Nov. 27. Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. The daily bag limit is 15, with a possession limit of 30.

“Most mourning doves are harvested in September, but great dove hunting can be found later in the season with a little scouting,” said Budd Veverka, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) farmland game research biologist. “Looking at data from the past five years, I would expect to see approximately 13,000 dove hunters harvest nearly 227,000 mourning doves in 2011.

“Doves are found throughout the state, but will concentrate in areas associated with farming,” according to Veverka. “Recently harvested grain fields with water nearby are typically hotspots for dove hunting.”
Veverka also added a few other tips for Indiana hunters: ”Remember to respect property rights and get permission, clean up spent shells and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.”

To hunt mourning doves, Indiana residents must purchase an annual hunting license for $17, or hunt/fish combo for $25, and the Game Bird Habitat Stamp for $6.75. Non-residents must also purchase the game bird habitat stamp, in addition to the $80 annual non-resident hunting license or the $31 five-day non-resident hunting license.

Youth ages 17 and younger who are Indiana residents may get a youth consolidated hunt/trap license, which includes all Indiana Stamp privileges (including the Game Bird Habitat Stamp). Federal regulations require all licensed dove hunters (including lifetime license holders) to register with the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) and carry proof of registration while hunting.

HIP registration is free and available at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3567.htm or by calling 866-671-4499.

Hunters using state Fish and Wildlife Areas or state-owned reservoirs are required to use non-toxic shot when hunting mourning doves. Additionally, hunters may not hunt migratory birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (i.e. shotgun must be “plugged”).

More than 1,000 mourning doves are banded with leg bands each summer in Indiana to determine mourning dove harvest rates, estimate annual survival and provide information on the geographical distribution of the harvest. Information on dove survival and harvest rates is key to understanding the effects of annual hunting regulations on mourning dove populations.

If you harvest a banded bird, you can report it at www.reportband.gov or by calling 800-327-BAND (2263). Hunters may keep any bands they recover.
Go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2713.htm for more information regarding dove hunting. To find out where to hunt doves in Indiana check out www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5427.htm

For hunters not sure what licenses are needed, try the “Sport License Finder” at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/6486.htm

Hunters may buy licenses at www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov
Bass limit back at two Noble County lakes

A 14-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass went back into effect last Thursday, at Big and Crane lakes in Noble County.

The DNR had temporarily modified the limit in June to allow anglers to catch and keep bass 10-14 inches long. DNR biologists had determined both lakes were overpopulated with small bass. The size limit was reduced to encourage anglers to take home these fish.

Based on estimates of harvest obtained by DNR creel clerks, anglers removed about half the number of small bass at each lake. As a result, remaining bass should grow faster and get bigger, says DNR fisheries biologist Jed Pearson.
Biologists plan to study the long-term benefit of the rule change and determine whether similar steps should be taken at other lakes in the area.

Kayak Patoka Lake Saturday

Bring your kayak (or canoe) and join the naturalists for a tour on the lake Sept. 10 at 9:30 a.m., at Wall’s Lake Boat Ramp off Highway 145. Look for beaver, bald eagles and other wildlife along the way. Discover a little bit of Patoka’s past during the morning paddle.

Bring lifejackets, snacks and refreshments and sunscreen for the journey. If you prefer, meet the naturalists at the Visitors’ Center by 8:30 a.m. to caravan by car to the ramp.

For more information regarding the program, kayak rentals or other interpretive events, call the Visitor Center at 812-685-2447.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.