LDWF to Offer Dove Lease Fields in Colfax and DeRidder on Sept. 5

Baton Rouge, Aug 24, 2026 - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will have lease fields available in Colfax and DeRidder for the opening day of dove hunting season on Sept. 5 along with several LDWF Wildlife Management Area (WMA) dove fields.

Access permits for the dove lease field hunts can be found on the LDWF website on the dove fields page. Hunting at each of the lease fields will begin one-half hour before sunrise on Sept. 5. The registration fee for the lease fields is $10 for adults plus a convenience fee. Youths age 17 and younger do not have to pay the registration fee.

Only non-toxic shot size 6 and smaller may be used at these hunts and no lead shot is to be used. Dogs are allowed and ATVs are allowed but may be restricted to field roads if wet conditions prevail.

The Colfax field will have 260 acres on the north side of Highway 492 approximately two miles west of the intersection of highways 71 and 492. A total of 200 acres of harvested corn and 60 acres of harvested soybeans will be available. The field will open to the public at 5 a.m.

For more information, contact the Pineville Field Office at 318-487-5885.

The DeRidder field will have about 190 acres on the south side of U.S. Highway 190 and 310 acres east of Seth Cole Road. A total of 290 acres of harvested corn and 110 acres of soybeans will be available. Fields are approximately five miles west of the U.S. Highway 171 and Highway 27 intersection. The fields will open to the public at 5 a.m.

For more information, contact the Lake Charles Field Office at 337-491-2575.

LDWF WMAs offering dove fields or dove hunting opportunities include Bodcau WMA, Boeuf WMA, Clear Creek WMA, Esler Field WMA, John Franks WMA, Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA, Richard K. Yancey WMA, Russell Sage WMA, Sabine WMA, Sandy Hollow WMA, the U.S. Forest Service Calcasieu Ranger District Vernon Unit and West Bay WMA. Go to the LDWF WMA dove fields website page for more information.

All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to the LDWF WMA Access Permit webpage for more information.

Dove season opens in Louisiana’s north and south zones on Sept. 5. Visit the LDWF dove webpage to learn more about dove hunting in Louisiana.

Visit the Kisatchie website for more information on dove hunting at Kisatchie or call the Calcasieu Ranger District Office at 318-793-9427 for more information on Vernon Unit dove hunting opportunities.

Dove hunters 18 and older are required to have a basic hunting license and be Harvest Information Program (HIP) certified. Youth 17 and under do not need a hunting license or HIP certification to dove hunt. To purchase a hunting license, go to the LDWF Licensing webpage.

For LDWF hunting rules and regulations, go to the LDWF website.

For more information, contact Richard Temple at rtemple@wlf.la.gov or 337-491-2110.