Online applications are being accepted through Friday, August 12 at fw.ky.gov for special mentor-youth dove hunts offered by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The department offers these hunts to allow adults to provide youths with a quality dove hunting experience. Participation is limited to avoid crowding of fields. Hunts allow an adult to take up to two youths under the age of 16 along for the experience. Youths are not required to hunt but at least one youth must accompany each adult.
Although the statewide dove season opens Sept. 1, the special mentor-youth fields will not be hunted until Saturday, Sept. 3. The department will offer these limited-entry hunts at three locations: in nearby Green as well as Union and Owen counties.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife randomly draws hunters from among the pool of applicants. There is no charge to apply for a mentor-youth dove hunt. All hunters must meet licensing and permit requirements.
Drawing results will be posted online at fw.ky.gov by Aug. 19.
The Green County field offers slots for 25 hunting parties; Union County offers space for 15 hunting parties; Owen County offers 20 slots. Hunters at the Owen County field must use nontoxic shot instead of lead shot. Standard lead or nontoxic shot may be used on the Green County and Union County fields. The three fields will not open to general public hunting until after the special mentor-youth hunts.
Directions to each field are available on the application form; hunters may only apply for one field. Shotguns must be plugged if necessary to hold no more than three shells total. Shotguns that are 10-gauge or smaller may be used for dove hunting.
Fields managed for dove hunting on public and private lands are made possible through hunting license and permit sales and special grants.
Information about regulations governing dove and migratory bird hunting is available online at fw.ky.gov by searching under the keyword “dove.”