Dove

Dove

The term "dove" refers to the following species, and only the following species: mourning doves, white-winged doves, Eurasian collared-doves, and ringed-turtle doves.  Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except 12:00 noon to sunset September 3, 2011.

2011-2012 Season

South

Sept. 3-11, Oct. 15 - Nov. 27 and Dec. 17 - Jan. 2

North

Sept. 3-18, Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 and Dec. 10 - Jan. 2

Bag Limit

Mourning and white-winged doves and fully dressed Eurasian collared- and ringed turtle-doves: Daily bag limit 15 in aggregate, Possession 30 in aggregate, but note: there is no bag limit on Eurasian collared-doves or ringed turtle-doves provided that a fully feathered wing and head remain attached to the carcass of the bird. Fully dressed Eurasian-collared doves and ringed-turtle doves (those without a fully feathered wing and head naturally attached to the carcass) shall be included in the aggregate bag.

2011- 2012 Public Dove Hunting Opportunities

Wildlife Management Areas

Bayou Pierre WMA, northwest Red River Parish 

  • Open field is 100 acres plus.  Planted area of roughly 85 acres.  35 acres of winter wheat planted last fall and left to stand through the summer.  40 acres of flower intermixed with about 10 acres of sorghum.

Big Colewa WMA, West Carroll Parish

  • 20 acres sunflower.

Boeuf WMA, Caldwell Parish

  • Elliott field – North tract 40 acres, South tract 30 acres, planted in brown-top millet.

Clear Creek WMA, Vernon Parish

  • Various clear cuts have a good goat weed (croton) response, expect good dove jump shooting.

Elbow Slough WMA, southeastern Rapides Parish

  • Field is approximately 60 acres; mostly planted with brown top millet, but including a small area of sunflower. Open Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays only from Sept. 3 - 18 and Oct. 8 - Nov. 6.

Floy McElroy WMA, Richland Parish

  • 20 acres sunflower. Youth only hunt on Sept. 10 and 11. No hunting at any other time.  Only youth 15 years old and under with an accompanying adult will be admitted.  Only the youth may hunt.   The gate on LA Hwy 137, 2 miles north of Rayville will open at 11:30 a.m. on September 10 and 11.  Shooting will be allowed from 12 p.m. to sunset.  No ATVs allowed.

Fort Polk WMA, Vernon Parish

  • Holly Springs food plot – 40 acres, planted in brown-top millet
  • U.S. Forest Service dove field – 50 acres, planted in brown-top millet

Loggy Bayou WMA, Bossier Parish

  • Approximately 15-acre field of sunflower and sorghum mix, but mostly sunflower.  Open only to youth hunters on the first day of the first split of dove season.

Red River WMA, Concordia Parish

  • 140 acres, planted in sorghum, but poor response due to the drought.  However, there is a good crop of barnyard grass which produces good dove seed.  This combined with Johnson grass for cover should make for a fair to good hunt.  The dove fields will be prepped before both the first and second splits.

Sandy Hollow WMA, Tangipahoa Parish  

  • During first split, entire area is open only on Sept. 3 and Sept. 10 through the end of first split.  Second and third splits are the same as outside.
  • North tract – Youth hunt only on opening day of the first segment (Sept. 3).  Hunt restricted to youths 17 or younger and supervising adult who must be 18 years of age or older.  The supervising adult must maintain visual and voice contact with the youth at all times.
    • North tract – 3 fields totaling 32 acres, planted in brown-top millet.
  • South tract – open to all hunters, 12 acres planted in brown-top millet.

West Bay WMA, Allen Parish

  • Various clear cuts have a good goat weed (croton) response, expect good dove jump shooting.

For more information on state Wildlife Management Areas:

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma

  • For specifics on the current dove situation, you should contact the nearest department office to the dove fields.

Minden: 318-371-3050

Monroe: 318-343-4044

Pineville: 318-487-5885

Lake Charles: 337-491-2575

Opelousas: 337-948-0255

Hammond: 985-543-4777

Dove Hunting Zones

The following boundary divides the state into North and South dove season zones: Beginning at the Texas-Louisiana border on La. Hwy. 12; thence east along La. Hwy. 12 to its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 190; thence east along U.S. Hwy. 190 to its intersection with Interstate 12; thence east along I-12 to its intersection with Interstate 10; then east along I-10 to the Mississippi state line.