Dove fields available to public

In addition to opportunities on several wildlife management areas, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is making three private fields available to dove hunters on opening day.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, hunters may access two fields totaling 1,500 acres in Beauregard Parish and one field of 100 acres in Avoyelles Parish.

The first Beauregard Parish field, of 900 acres, can be accessed by traveling west on U.S. 190 out of DeRidder. The permit station will be located south of 190 near the railroad tracks.

The other field, of 600 acres, can be accessed by traveling two miles west of Reaves (in Allen Parish), and turning south on Topsy Bel Road. After traveling seven miles, turn right on Texas Eastern Road. Go 1.7 miles, and turn left on Leon Dartez Road. Turn left on Chris Cormier Road.

The Avoyelles Parish field can be accessed by traveling north on LA 115 out of Hessmer. Turn right on Dewey Bernard Road (3.6 miles north of railroad tracks in Hessmer). Go .5 miles on Dewey Bernard Road, and turn right onto Schexnyder Road. Go .6 miles, and field will be on right side of road.

All hunters over 15 years of age will be charged a $10 fee to hunt the fields, and no shot sizes larger than 7 1/2 are permitted. The fields are opened on a first-come, first-served basis. The fields will close when a predetermined number of hunters are admitted.

The department also offers opening-day hunting at several WMAs, including:

* Bayou Pierre WMA, Red River Parish -- 100 acres of sunflower, millet and 1-year-old winter wheat. (Sept. 2 is limited to successful lottery applicants only).

* Big Colewa WMA, West Carroll Parish -- 20 acres sunflowers.

* Boeuf WMA, Caldwell Parish -- 60 acres sunflower and millet.

* Buckhorn WMA, Tensas Parish -- 75 acres sunflower and millet.

* Elbow Slough WMA, Rapides Parish -- 12 acres millet and sorghum. (Open Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday only, Sept. 2-10 and Oct. 14-31, and steel shot size 6 and smaller only.)

* Ouachita WMA, Ouachita Parish -- 20 acres sunflower.

* Red River WMA, Concordia Parish -- 130 acres sunflower, millet and milo.

* Sandy Hollow WMA, Tangipahoa Parish -- 60 acres millet (north tract, which is open only to adults with children on opening day) and 14 acres millet (south tract).

* Sherburne WMA, Pointe Coupee Parish -- 40 acres browntop millet.

According to DWF, additional opportunities can be found on upland pine-dominated WMAs such as West Bay, Jackson-Bienville and Clear Creek. Doves will often congregate in recent clear-cuts to feed on native grass seeds and goatweed.