SEPTEMBER WILL OPEN FALL HUNTING SEASON

The month of September not only brings in relief from the summer heat, it opens the first of fall hunting seasons.

Dove season opens September 1 and closes November 9. Teal season opens September 8 and closes September 23 with a daily limit of four. Sora and Virginia rail season opens September 1 through November 9. There will not be a split season this year. Also the daily limit has been lowered to 12. The dove population is in a slight downward trend.

One question that also comes to the forefront is what constitutes illegal baiting of doves. It is a difficult question. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has established guidelines they will be enforcing this year.

Those individuals who plant wheat prior to October 1 and who leave it exposed (not disced or drilled in) are subjecting themselves and hunters who hunt on their lands to state and federal charges of baiting doves. This in no way affects the normal harvest procedures for grains, but rather provides a guideline for those with questions about over-seeding with wheat.

By federal regulations, baiting is defined as "the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them."

Doves may be hunted in fields of standing grain or in harvested fields. Additional grain may not be scattered on any field. In addition, standing grain may be manipulated by mowing or discing and hunted for doves. Manipulation of standing crops is not allowed for other migratory birds such as ducks and geese.

A migratory bird hunting permit is required in addition to a hunting permit for any person 16 years old or older hunting doves, waterfowl snipe, woodcock, and rails.