TWRA Wildlife Management Research Coordinator Dan Gibbs explains the TWRA leased dove field program to a hunter. This year, TWRA spent $36,200 to lease 11 fields from farmers across East Tennessee to provide public dove hunting opportunities on three days in early September.
On one of the cooler and wetter opening days in recent years, dove hunters flocked to fields across east Tennessee with high hopes of filling their bags with a limit of doves. Many were not disappointed.
As high noon approached, so did the cloud cover and scattered rain showers, which were highly welcomed by the nearly 1,000 hunters who enjoyed hunting on the 16 TWRA managed or leased dove fields in east Tennessee. One hunter said, “It doesn’t seem like opening day. I’m not used to dove hunting without getting sunburned, dripping wet from sweat and the chigger bites.” What he did get, however, was a limit of doves.
The cloud cover and accompanying rain got the birds flying early in the afternoon giving hunters great opportunities for a fantastic hunt. Most fields sounded like warzones as hunters fired away at whirlwinds of doves coming in to feed on leftover grain from farming practices like silage cutting and hay bailing. And while the shooting opportunities were plentiful, doves can be downright hard to hit. When an officer asked a hunter if he brought plenty of ammunition, he smiled and said, “I brought 15 boxes of shells. One box for each bird I’ll take home.”
On TWRA managed fields, the Forks of the River WMA produced the highest number of doves where 160 hunters took 563 birds. The best success rate on WMA fields however came on Lick Creek WMA where 39 hunters harvested 198 doves for an average of 5.1 birds per hunter. Rounding out the TWRA management area fields were Buffalo Springs WMA with 66 hunters taking 265 birds, Chuck Swann WMA with 40 hunters harvesting 135 doves, and Kyles Ford WMA with 67 hunters taking home 203 birds.
On TWRA leased fields, Greene Co. saw the best hunter success. The Milburn field saw 73 hunters take home 725 doves for an average of 9.9 birds per hunter. Another field in Greene Co. on the Rogers farm had 44 hunters harvest 427 doves for a 9.7 bird per hunter average. The Johnson field in Greene Co. also saw good success with 57 hunters taking 502 doves for an average of 8.8 birds per hunter. Other fields across the region in Jefferson and Claiborne Counties saw good numbers of doves harvested per hunter. TWRA leased dove fields will also be open for public hunting on Saturday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 5. Hunters are reminded that shotguns must be plugged and a Migratory Bird Permit is required. Hunter Education is also mandatory for those born after Jan. 1, 1969.