Southwest Iowa promoting dove-hunting opportunities 2016

Nishnabotna Wildlife Unit has planted an additional 92 acres of dove sunflower food plots on 4 wildlife management areas (WMA’s) that are open to public hunting in Mills and Fremont Counties this year. The new plots listed from north to south include: St. Mary’s Island with three plots, total 58 acres and 10 miles from Plattsmouth; Haynie Slough, 1 plot, 10 acres and 10 miles from Plattsmouth; Noddleman Island, 1 plot, 11 acres and 10 miles from Plattsmouth; and Auldon Bar, 1 plot, 13 acres and 17 miles from Plattsmouth.

“All the new plots are looking really good and should provide some excellent dove hunting on the season opener on Sept. 1, except for the Noddleman Island plot,” said Matt Dollison, the Nishnabotna Unit Wildlife Biologist. “It was taken over by annual sunflowers, so that plot probably won’t mature until after the opener. We will mow the Noddleman Island plot a little later than the others, so it will probably be a good spot for folks that can’t get out during the first part of the season.”

Hunters can check the Hunting Atlas on the Iowa DNR’s website to find these WMA’s and all the other public hunting areas in the state. They can access the DNR Hunting Atlas at: http://programs.iowadnr.gov/maps/huntingatlas/default.html.

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Dove hunting interest on rise - Iowa

By JOE WILKINSON Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources

Hunter interest remains high, heading into Iowa’s third mourning dove season. The 70-day season opens Sept. 1, with birds now pouring into Iowa on their southward migration.

Migrating birds are noticed in the early days of August, building through the late summer. The number of hunters should edge upward, too.

“I expect a little bump up in hunter numbers again, as more of them learn about dove hunting. A few more friends will come along,” predicts DNR upland research biologist Todd Bogenschutz.

Last year, 9,328 dove hunters harvested 94,864 birds; according to the post-season small game survey.

That was up from 8,780 hunters, taking 57,285 mourning doves in 2011; the first year of dove hunting in Iowa. Iowa’s summer ‘call count’ showed a stable local dove population early this summer.

“Hunters are learning more; about hunting and where to find doves,” says Bogenschutz. “That first week is good. It’ll drop off after the first killing frost, but there are great hunting opportunities throughout the two month season.”

The continent’s most populous game bird, mourning doves offer a new type of hunting for Iowans. It more often resembles ‘pass shooting’ familiar to waterfowl hunters.

Food sources

Doves will concentrate in fields that have been harvested or which have food plots…especially if bare ground is available. Rather than walking and flushing birds, camouflaged hunters should ‘sit and wait’, near food sources, water or roosting locations.

As with most upland species, weather is always a factor.

A soggy April and May meant numerous fields did not get planted, or were flooded. Bogenschutz says he has noticed plenty of fields in the past weeks, which came up in weeds or which might have had a cover crop like winter wheat planted. Both offer great dove hunting, especially if disked to provide bare ground for feeding.

Public areas

Iowa’s best dove hunting is probably on public wildlife areas, with sunflower plantings. Hunters increase their chances of success by scouting ahead of time; checking with wildlife biologists in their area, for locations of sunflower plots or — in the case of flooded fields — areas replanted late with cover crops.

The Iowa DNR’s website www.iowadnr.gov has a variety of mourning dove hunting information; from a ‘how to’ video, to Iowa’s online hunting atlas.

Mourning doves are classed as a federal migratory bird. A migratory bird fee (known formerly as the duck stamp) is not required to hunt doves. However, hunters must apply for a HIP number, when buying their hunting license…if they intend to hunt for doves.

Safety is always a primary concern during hunting season. Mourning dove season offers a few specific cautions. One requires knowing who else is ‘out there.’

Hunters should recognize that other hunters will be sharing the same dove fields … and that they should limit their field of fire, as the darting, fast flying doves sail through. Shorter, 20-25 yard shots using a shotgun with an open choke is recommended, especially for beginners.

And though not a safety tip, hunters are reminded to scoop up spent shot shells before they leave; especially on public areas that may be hunted heavily in the first couple weeks of the season.

Online source

Hunters looking to places to hunt doves when the season opens Sept. 1, can find these areas and more online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.

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