The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will have lease fields available in DeRidder and Colfax for the opening day of dove hunting season on Sept. 6 along with several LDWF Wildlife Management Area (WMA) dove fields.

Hunters may access permits for the lease field hunts through the LDWF website at https://la.accessgov.com/dove-hunts/Forms/Page/dove-hunts/registration/. Both hunts will begin one-half hour before sunrise on Sept. 6. 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 DeRidder hunt will have 365 acres on Highway 190 approximately five miles west of its intersection with Highway 171 and Highway 27 with fields on the north and south side of the highway. A total of 285 acres of harvested corn and 80 acres of harvested soybeans will be available. The fields will open to the public at 5 a.m.

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

The Colfax hunt will be located on the south side of Highway 492 approximately 2.5 miles west of the Highway 71/492 intersection. A total of 200 acres of shredded corn 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.

LDWF WMAs offering dove fields or dove hunting opportunities include Bodcau WMA, Boeuf WMA, Clear Creek WMA, Elbow Slough 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. For more information on WMA dove fields, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/dove-fields.

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 https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/hunting-licenses-permits-tags.

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 https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/wmarefugeconservation-area-licenses-and-permits for more information.

Dove season opens in Louisiana’s north and south zones on Sept. 6. To learn more about dove hunting in Louisiana, go https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/dove.

Go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/kisatchie or call the Calcasieu Ranger District Office at 318-793-9427 for more information on Vernon Unit dove hunting opportunities.
 
Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations for hunting rules and regulations.

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