Young hunters will have an opportunity to get first crack at doves on four state WMAs. Black Prairie, Hell Creek, Leroy Percy and Muscadine Farms WMAs are hosting youth dove hunts this fall. The hunts are very popular and there’s usually a lot of shooting and good times to be had also.
Black Prairie WMA
Black Prairie has 50 acres of sunflowers, and the opening youth hunt will be held on Sept. 5. The hunt is open to youth hunters 15 years of age and younger. Youth dove hunters must apply online, and they will be selected by a random online drawing. A parent or guardian over 21 years of age must accompany each youth hunter during the entire hunt.
Hunters and their parent should be at Black Prairie to check in by 11 a.m. Planned events prior to the hunt include skeet shooting and a safety discussion with MDWFP Conservation Officers. Lunch will be provided. The hunt will begin at 2 p.m. and will conclude at sunset.
Dove hunting will be allowed on designated fields after the Sept. 5 youth hunt, from 2 p.m. to until sunset, on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, during the first season only.
Hell Creek WMA
Hell Creek has 12 acres of Millet and Sorghum fields, and it will be open for a youth hunt on Sept. 3 on a designated field. The youth hunt will be held from 2 p.m. to sunset.
After the youth dove hunt, dove hunting will be allowed from 2 p.m. to sunset during the first season, except during scheduled deer gun hunts. After the first season, dove hunting is allowed during the statewide season dates, except during special event dates.
September 4 – October 14, 2022: Hunting hours are 2 p.m. until sunset. No hunting during scheduled deer gun hunts (Oct. 5-8 and Oct. 12-15).
Leroy Percy WMA
Leroy Percy has 30 acres of sunflowers, and they will host a youth hunt on Sept. 3. Youth hunters must hunt with a guardian. Hunting hours are 2 p.m. until sunset. Guardians accompanying youth may hunt. One guardian is allowed per youth and is defined as a person over 21 years of age with a valid hunting license. The youth hunter and their guardian must hunt together in one of the 25 designated hunting locations.
September 8 – October 12, 2022: Wednesdays and Saturdays only. Hunting hours are thirty minutes prior to sunrise until sunset. The number of hunters on the dove field is limited to 25.
Muscadine Farms WMA
Muscadine Farms has 46 acres of sunflowers and corn. A youth draw dove hunt will be held on designated fields on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. Drawn youth participants must check in at the WMA Headquarters on Sept. 5 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
September 10 – October 13, 2022: Dove hunting will be allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays only from 2 p.m. until sunset.
All other migratory game birds may be hunted in assigned units while on permitted duck hunts during the legal season for the species. Outside of the regular duck season, migratory game birds may be hunted daily on the WMA during the legal season for those species.
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