TWRA Leasing Fields For 2016 Dove Season

  • Friday, July 29, 2016

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is seeking fields to lease for the upcoming 2016 dove season. The first segment of dove season opens at noon on Thursday, Sept. 1.

According to officials, mourning doves are a popular game bird and one of the most widely distributed and abundant birds in North America. More mourning doves are harvested than all other migratory bird species combined in 39 of the continental states. In Tennessee, about 40,000 hunters harvested approximately 300,000 mourning doves last year.

Landowners can earn up to $3,600 for providing a dove field for public hunting.  These fields must be available for a minimum of three priority hunt dates in September.  

TWRA began its leased dove field program in the late 1980s and the program has been very successful in providing quality hunting opportunities for hunters. In addition to leased fields, many public dove fields are provided on wildlife management areas in each TWRA region. The TWRA website will have specific information about WMAs and leased dove fields in each region by Aug. 15.  

The standard fall leased field is a harvested grain field to which TWRA leases the hunting rights for three priority dates. The hunting access rate paid to landowners for fall leased fields may be up to $75 per acre for a maximum of 40 acres. Fields that are top sown with wheat are eligible for an additional $15 per acre. Interested landowners must sign up their fields in August. 

Anyone interested in leasing a dove field to TWRA should contact their TWRA regional office. The TWRA has four regional offices across the state that interested landowners can contact: Region I (West Tennessee) 731-423-5725 or toll free 1-800-372-3928; Region II (Middle Tennessee) 615-781-6622 or toll free 1-800-624-7406; Region III (Upper Cumberland) 931-484-9571 or toll free 1-800-262-6704; Region IV (East Tennessee) 423-587-7037 or 1-800-332-0900.

Latest Headlines
Outdoors
20,000 Volunteers Set To Plant 100,000 Native Trees This Weekend Across Tennessee
  • 3/14/2024

America’s largest annual tree-planting event takes place this weekend across Tennessee. Organized by the non-profit Tennessee Environmental Council, the 10th Annual Tennessee Tree Day features ... more

MGHC 3rd Saturday Free Gardening Class March 16 Is "Basic Landscape & Garden Design"
MGHC 3rd Saturday Free Gardening Class March 16 Is "Basic Landscape & Garden Design"
  • 3/12/2024

The Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, in association with the University of Tennessee Extension, continues their Third Saturday Free Gardening Classes on Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. with ... more

Tennessee State Parks Provide 7 New All-Terrain Wheelchairs
Tennessee State Parks Provide 7 New All-Terrain Wheelchairs
  • 3/11/2024

Tennessee State Parks today announced the availability of new all-terrain wheelchairs at seven state parks, enhancing accessibility for visitors and bringing the total of parks with the wheelchairs ... more