Fall River Wildlife Area News
Area News
Dove Hunting Opportunities at Fall River and Toronto Wildlife Area
Four fields of sunflowers totaling 80 acres and 1, 5 acre field of wheat have been planted this year at Fall River WA and 2 fields totaling approximately 21 acres have been planted at Toronto WA. These fields will be managed through timely mowing and burning to attract doves. Fields at Fall River WA are in excellent condition this year and good hunting opportunities are expected. Sunflower fields at Toronto have not done as well with droughty conditions but will hopefully provide good opportunities. Last year, 427 hunter trips during the first seven days of dove season resulted in a total harvest of 1330 doves. This represents a 29% decrease in the total dove harvest and 9% increase in hunter trips when compared to the 2009 harvest data. Accurate collection of this data is very important to help KDWP staff to evaluate the effectiveness of dove field location and management strategies that will help maximize opportunities for the dove hunters that choose to hunt at Fall River Wildlife Area. Hunters who traditionally hunt doves at Fall River WA may notice that only one larger field in each unit has been planted to sunflowers as opposed to planting two or more smaller fields in a group. The need to make this change became very obviously apparent when data collected from report cards was analyzed. It appears that when multiple, smaller fields are available to doves, the doves tend to strongly prefer one field over the other fields and the result is that hunting success is very high on one relatively small field while hunting success on adjacent fields remains very low. So, hopefully by investing efforts in one larger field, many more dove hunters will enjoy better hunting opportunities.
Dove hunters will find mailboxes with registration cards posted at each sunflower field. Instructions posted at these mailboxes will guide hunters through the registration and harvest reporting process. Hunters are asked to please take the time to register and report their harvest accurately and be aware that registration and reporting is required. Extra signs will be posted around dove fields this year, and KDWP Law Enforcement Officers will be patrolling dove fields to answer questions and remind hunters that registration and reporting of harvest is required. Hunters are also reminded that doves may be banded as part of a nationwide dove banding study. Hunters can help by inspecting all harvested doves for the presence of leg bands. The more bands that are reported by hunters the better understanding wildlife biologists will have about the habits of these challenging game birds. The phone number to call to report band information is 1-800-327-(BAND)2263. This number is also printed on the bands but the bands are relatively small, making the phone number difficult to read.
Again this year, two sunflower fields are being reserved until the evening of Saturday, September 3rd for the special Youth Dove Hunt. This special event will be hosted at the Fall River Wildlife Area office near Climax. The Youth Dove Hunt is for young hunter’s ages 10 to 15 who will be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults will not be allowed to hunt. Some shotguns will be available for youths who do not have a gun available to them, or in case a shotgun becomes inoperable during the hunt. KDWP will provide at least two boxes of shells for each hunter. There is usually no shortage of shot opportunities so young hunters are encouraged to bring a couple boxes of shells with them to ensure the action doesn’t have to stop before the hunt concludes. A brief review of hunter safety will be given prior to the hunt. Space may be limited so early registration is encouraged, and all young hunters must be pre-registered by September 2nd to hunt.
For more information or to register a youth for the Youth Dove Hunt at Fall River Wildlife Area contact the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks at: (620)-583-6783.
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