Dove season 2016

Dove season 2016

By the time you read this, dove season will start the next day, Sept. 1 or on Saturday 3, 2016, depending on which state you hunt.

Arkansas dove season begins on Saturday. Before you get to the field make sure you have a new 2016 hunting license unless you have one of the lifetime licenses. The second most important item is bug spray for the chiggers, ticks, and mosquitoes. Get a new can with a lot of Deet in it and put it in your hunting vest. You will need it! Check and make sure the gun is plugged. Try not to put too many shells in the magazine.

Wash the fishy smell out of the cooler and load it up with drinks and ice. Water is always best. If you take your retriever, remember, he is wearing a fur coat. Be extra careful in this heat. Try to keep him in the shade and let him have plenty of water.

While you are going through the check list, add an extra box of ammo for that young hunter going with you.

There’s nothing worse than running out of bullets when the birds are really flying.

Most of us go on “invite” hunts. Make sure you are invited or have permission to be on the dove field. It is posted unless you have permission. Check and make sure it is not baited. That’s hard to do in the dark but easy in the afternoon hunts. If you suspect it’s baited, pack up and get out of there quickly. Two of the most common game violations are no shotgun plug and hunting on a baited field. The mourning dove limit is 15 birds per day with a 3 day bag limit of 45.

That 45 bird limit is only good after the 3rd day of hunting. Collared doves do not have a limit, but if you clean the birds in the field, make sure you leave a wing on those birds.

I have been asked why I write about the sportsmen that you read about. The answer is simple. These folks tell me what activity they are involved in and have some pictures of what they were doing. If you don’t tell me what you are doing, I simply don’t know. I am always looking for a good story, especially local folks when kids are enjoying the outdoors. I enjoy putting your pictures and stories in the paper.

If you would like to get a good write up and lots of pictures, give Papa Duck a call and invite me to hunt or fish.

A lot of my hunting and fishing partners have gone on to The Big Duck Blind In The Sky and I am always looking for new friends. You can’t share a hunting or fishing trip without becoming friends.

Enjoy this opening of hunting season. It only happens once a year. Enjoy your family and friends and take plenty of pictures. This is Labor Day weekend and there will be a lot of people on the road. Please BE CAREFUL and BE SAFE!

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-732-0455 or 901-4823430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

By John Criner Outdoors Columnist