LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will accept applications for one of seven permit-based dove-hunting locations Aug. 1-15.
Every September, hunters get excited to start their hunting season with a blast. Dove fly through the state during annual migrations, presenting one of the most difficult wingshooting targets available in The Natural State, prompting hunts and tailgating scenes across the state rivaling those found in Fayetteville during a home football game. The AGFC has some fields throughout the state that are managed to offer some hunting opportunity, but most AGFC-owned areas are forested and not set up for shooting doves, a bird found primarily in the open habitat of agricultural fields.
Michelle Furr, who coordinates many of the private land programs through the AGFC Private Lands Habitat Division, says that this unofficial kickoff to fall hunting seasons can be difficult for many Arkansans to enjoy.
“It takes at least 10 acres or so to even start a dove field, and a landowner pretty much has to set aside that property and put in some agricultural effort to get sunflowers or other seed-producing plants to come up and keep doves in the area,” Furr said. “A lot of Arkansans who don’t own that much land or know someone who does really are only left with the options of a few pay-to-hunt fields they may find or public land.”
Furr says the three private land hunting areas available through the AGFC this year will have hunts available during the first three Saturdays of September. They were all planted in sunflowers, but the AGFC and landowner had to pivot on one location’s habitat condition.
“The field in Little River County was hit hard by the rains in July and the sunflowers didn’t turn out as well as hoped, but the landowner has committed to getting out there and top sowing wheat the week before the hunt to offer good hunting that is well within the regulations concerning allowed farming practices on that 60-acre field,” Furr said.
