The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will provide public dove hunting opportunities for the Sept. 5 season-opening on leased private land in three parishes.
 
The 2015-16 dove season opens Saturday, Sept. 5 in the north and south zones and hunters have multiple options available. LDWF has leased private land in the following parishes for Sept. 5 only, from noon to sunset:
 
Beauregard Parish, DeRidder-500 acres harvested corn and milo:  Directions -- Take Hwy. 190 West from DeRidder.  The field is approximately 5 miles West of DeRidder on the south side of Hwy. 190, just past Hwy. 3226.  An LDWF sign will designate the check-in area.  Contact Kori Legleu at 337-491-2575 for more information.  Maps are available in the Lake Charles field office, 1213 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA  70601, or on the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/dove.
 
Jefferson Davis Parish, Roanoke-300 acres, harvested rice and partially plowed fallow fields that were planted in rice last year:  Directions -- Take I-10 to Exit 59 (Roanoke).  Drive north on Hwy 395, then turn west on Blanchard Rd.  Follow Blanchard Rd to Compton Rd.; field is located on southwest corner of Blanchard and Compton roads. An LDWF sign will designate the check-in area. Maps are available in the Lake Charles field office, 1213 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA  70601, or on the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/dove .
 
Jefferson Davis Parish, Elton-300 acres harvested rice and hay, and pasture with goatweed:  Directions -- From Hwy 190, drive south on Hwy 26 for 3 miles, then west on Dan Buller Rd.  From I-10, exit Hwy 26 Jennings and drive north for approximately 14 miles, then west on Dan Buller Rd.  Fields are located on the right approximately ½ mile from Hwy 26. An LDWF sign will designate the check-in area. Maps are available in the Lake Charles field office, 1213 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA  70601, or on the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/dove.
 
Tangipahoa Parish, Wilmer - 152 acres prepared native grass pasture:  Directions -- Take Route 10 to Wilmer then Hwy. 1061 North to Olon Bankston Road.  Check-in area will be on Olon Bankston Road.  Call 985-543-4777 for more information.  Maps will be available at LDWF’s Hammond field office, 42371 Phyllis Ann Dr., Hammond LA 70403, or on the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/dove.
 
The following rules will apply to all leased fields:
 
1.  Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
2.  Shot larger than size 7 ½ is prohibited (size 7 ½ , 8, 9 are allowed)
3.  All trash - including shell hulls - must be picked-up.
4.  Only legal doves may be taken. Legal doves include: Mourning, White-winged, fully dressed Eurasian Collared and Ringed-turtle doves.
5.  All hunters must have a daily permit as well as appropriate hunting license with HIP certification; note, hunters under 16 years of age do not need HIP certification.  The daily permit is available at the field and will be issued on a first-come first-served basis.  HIP certifications are available from hunting license vendors.  If hunters have formed a line prior to the time permits are issued, permits will then be issued to those in line in order of arrival.
6.  There is a $10 fee per hunter, 16 years of age and older. Cash or check. Hunters under 16 will be admitted free, but they must check-in and have a permit.
7.  When a predetermined number of hunters are admitted, the field will be closed.  Additional hunters may be admitted when someone leaves the field and surrenders his/her permit.  Use of vehicles, including ATV’s, may be restricted and will vary from field to field.  Check with department personnel about restrictions when you check-in.
8.  These leased fields are open to the public Sept. 5 only.  Entrance at any other time is trespassing.
 
These leased fields have been made available through the cooperation of the landowners.  Future access to these fields and other private property is dependent on the conduct of the hunters using these fields.
 
For additional public dove hunting opportunities on state wildlife management areas, go to the LDWF web list posted at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/dove .
 
Shooting hours: The shooting hours during dove season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset except for opening day of the first split on WMAs and LDWF leased fields where shooting hours will be 12 p.m. (noon) to sunset.  However, the shooting hours for dove on the Point Farm Unit at Pointe Aux Chenes WMA in Terrebonne Parish will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset since all dove hunting hours for all dates within all splits end at noon on Pointe Aux Chenes WMA; and Elbow Slough WMA lottery hunt participants will also hunt from one-half hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon on Sept. 5 and 6.
 
All licensed hunters are reminded that the appropriate Louisiana hunting license with HIP certification is required to hunt doves on public and private land.  Those hunters who are ages 18 to 59 are also required to have a WMA Hunting Permit when hunting doves on WMAs.
 
For more information about public dove hunting opportunities, contact Jeff Duguay at 225-765-2353 or jduguay@wlf.la.gov .