The start of the fall semester signals a new season. Yes, football is here, but many students are also turning their attention to the 2008-2009 hunting season, which can get just as much attention on the weekends. Just two days after the Mississippi State-Louisiana Tech game kicks off the pigskin season, fall hunting will begin with dove season Sept. 1.
The first season lasts through Sept. 14 for the South Zone (areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35). The North Zone (areas north of U.S. Highway 84 and west of MS Highway 35) will extend its first season through Sept. 21.
Before hunting, you may need to get your license renewed. Under the new licensing process, which is a blessing, your license lasts one calendar year from the day you purchase it. Under the old rules, all licenses expired on June 30. Licenses can be purchased locally at Wal-Mart, or online at http://www.mdwfp.com. All persons between the age of 16 and 64 must take a hunter’s safety course before purchasing a license.
Now’s a good time for hunters to get their gear in order and start practicing. Anyone who has hunted this fast-flying, dipping and diving bird can attest to the fact that doves can give hunters fits when it comes to connecting with one. Most who have tasted the fine table fare these birds provide will gladly take their misses and a bruised shoulder to fill their plate with these delicious, fat-breasted birds.
Reports have been spectacular in most spots. Tommy Thomason, a South Delta farmer, said the birds are “thick and continue to get thicker each day.”
Reports have been great in Central Mississippi as well. Jamie Ross, who manages several hundred acres of his family farm in Pelahatchie, said he started working on his fields earlier this summer.
“We first started breaking up ground the second week in July,” Ross said. “The birds have been steadily increasing. If this drought keeps up, you should pile the birds up if you have good surface water where you hunt. But I think hunters should be happy regardless of rain with the numbers we’ve been seeing.”
One of the advantages of dove hunting lies in the ease of finding a hunting site. Unlike deer or duck hunting, dove hunts generally require plenty of hunters to keep the birds flying. If you’ve been on a hunt with too few folks, you’ve seen the birds light in the middle of the field, which leads to a frustrating hunt. If you haven’t found a place to hunt yet, get a newspaper and check out the classified ads. You will usually find plenty of hunts with openings and an assortment of price ranges among them.
As fun as dove hunting can be, it’s important to pay attention to safety issues. If a low-flying bird is cruising the field, alert the other hunters. Shooting at low birds causes the most hunting accidents in dove fields. Easy shots aren’t worth ruining a hunting trip.
So get out the dove stools and check your choke tubes. Make some phone calls and find yourself a hunt. This is a wonderful time of year for outdoor sportsmen and -women, so be safe, shoot straight and eat great.
Brandon Parker is a senior majoring in Communication. He can be reached at
[email protected].