In finding doves, the biggest key is getting to spots with abundant food. Kentucky has wildlife management areas (WMAs) to choose from, as well as fields that private landowners have leased to the agency for public hunting. Though the agency attempts to get about the same number of public-use fields in each of the five wildlife regions, sometimes availability of public hunting lands for doves is determined by landowner interest in the leasing program in any given area.

Let's take a look at the five regions to see what the opportunities will likely be and get you prepared for opening day -- and beyond.

NORTHEAST REGION
Over the last couple of years, reports from biologists and wildlife area managers in the Northeast Region have been quite good, according to Pritchert. The northeastern part of the state is more forested and hilly, not normally thought of as an agricultural mecca. Yet Pritchert says that dove hunting there is pretty productive, at least on the fields made available by the KDFWR.

Last season, hunters had nine locations in eight different counties to choose from -- a really good volume of opportunity. Six of the spots where dove fields are usually available are on WMAs in the region.

Most of these WMAs have offered fields for years now.

"I think there's something to be said for dove hunting," said Pritchert, "in that a spot that attract birds for a couple of seasons will likely keep attracting birds once it gets established."

WMA managers have to work with the landscape they have, but they've chosen spots on WMAs where doves are most likely to find the food plots, and also have roosting and watering capability close by. The more components of dove habitat are available in close proximity to each other, the better the chances for higher bird use on that field. This holds true on both public and private lands, and is something hunters need to look for when scoping out spots to shoot over prior to the season.

"Sometimes," said Pritchert, "hunters tend to search for good dove hunting in areas where a lot of grain production occurs and farming is done on a larger scale. But surprisingly, the Northeast Region is blessed with doves despite a lower amount of crop growing."

Perhaps on fields prepared in this region, doves produced in the area are better concentrated due to the lower general availability of their preferred food elsewhere. As an interesting side note, Pritchert has also noted that other migratory species -- such as wood ducks, particularly -- are more abundant in the Northeast Region than you might expect.

Something in this region is obviously good for migratory species. Here are public areas well worth your look when the season opens.

Dove hunters should note that at Yatesville Lake WMA, lead shot is prohibited for dove hunting. Grayson Lake, Clay, and Fishtrap WMAs, as well as Lewis County, have no special restrictions on the type of loads you can use.

SOUTHEAST REGION
The outlook in the southeast isn't quite as rosy as other regions. Yet fields are offered in six different locations, including the Green River WMA in Taylor and Adair counties.

Sunflower and wheat fields, totaling a little over 20 acres of food, are open to public hunting on the Green River WMA. Other fields available last year were located in Green, Lincoln and Pulaski counties. But with those fields, you need to be sure and check that landowners are again participating. Others may perhaps have been added for this season.