The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will have lease fields available in DeRidder and Colfax for the opening day of dove hunting season on Sept. 2 along with several LDWF Wildlife Management Area (WMA) dove fields.
Hunters may access permits for the lease field hunts through the LDWF website at https://appengine.egov.com/apps/la/LDWF/Dove_Hunts Both hunts will begin one-half hour before sunrise on Saturday. The registration fee is $10 for adults plus a convenience fee. Youths age 17 and younger do not have to pay the registration fee.
Only non-toxic shot size 6 and smaller may be used at these hunts and no lead shot is to be used. Dogs are allowed and ATVs are allowed but may be restricted to field roads if wet conditions prevail.
The DeRidder hunt will have two fields located on Highway 190 approximately five miles west of its intersection with Highway 171 and Highway 27 with fields on north and south sides of the highway. The fields total approximately 150 acres of baled milo and 375 acres of harvested corn. The fields will open to the public at 5 a.m.
For more information, contact the Lake Charles Field Office at 337-491-2575.
The Colfax hunt will be located on the north side of Highway 492 approximately two miles west of the Highway 71/492 intersection. A total of 175 acres of shredded and burned corn will be available. The field will open to the public at 5 a.m.
For more information, contact the Pineville Field Office at 318-487-5885.
LDWF WMAs offering dove fields or dove hunting opportunities include Bodcau WMA, Boeuf WMA, Clear Creek WMA, Elbow Slough WMA, John Franks WMA, Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA, Richard K. Yancey WMA, Russell Sage WMA, Sabine WMA, Sandy Hollow WMA, Sherburne WMA, the U.S. Forest Service Calcasieu Ranger District Vernon Unit and West Bay WMA.
Dove season opens in Louisiana’s north and south zones on Saturday (Sept. 2). To learn more about dove hunting in Louisiana, go https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/dove. For more information on WMA dove fields, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/dove-fields.
Go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/kisatchie or call the Calcasieu Ranger District Office at 318-793-9427 for more information on Vernon Unit dove hunting opportunities.
Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations for hunting rules and regulations
For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Duguay at jduguay@wlf.la.gov or 225-765-2353.