Indiana's dove hunting season opens Sept. 1; there should be plenty of doves

        Dove hunters should have plenty of birds when they take to the field this fall.

Although the weather this summer was one of the wettest on record in many areas, it appears the dove population is in good shape. 

Despite the heavy rains, corn fields look good, pastures are green, and soybean fields have pretty much survived the excess rain. This all points to good conditions for the dove season opener Sept. 1 in both Indiana and Kentucky.

Indiana’s dove upcoming dove season is broken into three parts. The first runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 18. A second one week portion is slated Nov. 1 through Nov. 8, and the third will be Dec. 12 through Jan 10 of next year.

Fields have been designated and planted for dove hunting at a number of state-owned properties, including land at Patoka Lake. These field will offer controlled hunts on a drawing basis Sept. 1 and 2, and then will be opened to all of the public on Sept. 3,.

Five fields are at check station 17 (Jordan Branch). The other two are at check station 6 (Tillery Hill State Recreation Area). 

A drawing will be held at 6:45 a.m. EDT each hunt day at the scheduled fields’ check station. There is a maximum of two hunters per stake (assigned location) period. 

      Hunting hours will be 7:15 a.m.-noon EDT each day of the controlled hunts.  All fields surrounding controlled sunflower fields will be subject to similar time restrictions on Sept. 1 and 2.

  Non-toxic shot size will be limited to 6 or smaller, with a three-shell maximum capability per firearm.

  There will be no “stand-by” or refilling of shooting stations for early departures.

  According to a Department of Natural Resources news release, fields will be “open hunting” starting Sept. 3.  Shooting hours will be 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Non-toxic shot will be required for dove hunting throughout the season.

      If hunters require additional information, they can call the Patoka office at (812) 685-2464. The office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Patoka Lake is at 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513.