When most hunters think of dove hunting, fields of freshly cut corn or even better yet mowed over vegetable fields come to mind. I know my best hunting memories are from the September dove hunts we had as teenagers at the vegetable farm where I sometimes worked. But what is a hunter to do if he does not have access to a local farm and still wants to go dove hunting?
Maryland DNR has provided the answer with Dove Management Areas on public hunting areas.
Don’t be so quick to dismiss the idea. Sure it may not be the same as hunting a private farm that only you and your best friend are allowed to hunt, but with some effort and forethought, these areas can provide a hunt when there may not have been one.
TIPS for hunting Maryland Dove Management Areas on Public Hunting Areas
Avoid the high traffic times. Many times I’ve hunted public dove fields when no one else was around. Week day afternoons while everyone else is still at work or stuck in commuter traffic is the time to be in the fields.
Find and hunt a staging area instead of the food source. Dove will often post on a nearby dead tree or high wire and look over an area before dropping in to dinner. Find that tree and hunt it.
While every hunter who visits a public dove field may want to sit and watch the mowed sunflowers, the cut hay-field across the road might be the better spot. Just because a field is not managed for Doves does not mean they are not feeding in it. Sometimes the consent shooting can drive the dove to find food elsewhere. Like the hidden field no one else hunts.
Think outside the box. I’ve had a few nice dove hunts by walking along a corn field shooting the dove as they jumped from the corn or from the trees along the edge.
Maryland Statewide Mourning Dove Hunting Season 2015-16
Sept. 1 – Oct. 10; Oct. 31 – Nov. 27; Dec. 25 – Jan. 15
Statewide shooting hours: 12 Noon to Sunset during Sept. 1 – Oct. 10. One half hour before Sunrise to Sunset during other season segments.
MARYLAND DOVE MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATIONS: The following areas are managed by the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service to provide food and cover for doves and other wildlife. These areas are open to the public for dove hunting. Certain restrictions apply. Fields are open only on the days and times indicated during the period Sept. 1 to Oct. 10. Areas marked with an asterisk (*) require a permit and the number of hunters may be restricted. Areas not marked with an asterisk (*) are open on a first-come basis. Acreage numbers are cumulative; some areas have multiple fields.
During the periods Oct. 31 to Nov. 27 and Dec. 25 to Jan. 15, most areas are open for dove hunting on a first come basis without additional restrictions. All Federal and State laws apply.
One half hour before Sunrise to Sunset during other season segments.
*PERMIT REQUIRED
MARYLAND DOVE MANAGEMENT AREAS
| County | Area | Location and Size | Area Hunting Regulations | ||
| Caroline | Idylwild WMA | NE of Federalsburg on Route 306. 13 acres | Opening day, Wed. & Sat. Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-376-3236 | |
| Cecil* *Free annual hunting permit and daily reservation required. | Grove Farm WMA | Grove Neck Road. 20 acres in 4 fields | Mon.-Sat. Noon till sunset. Non-toxic shot only. Dove fields open for hunting will be posted on the information boards in each parking area. | 410-356-9272 | |
| Cecil* *Free annual hunting permit and daily reservation required. | Old Bohemia WMA | 1 mile north of Warwick, on Church Road. 20 acres in 6 fields. | Mon.-Sat. Noon till sunset. Non-toxic shot only. Dove fields open for hunting will be posted on the information boards in each parking area. | 410-356-9272 | |
| Charles | Myrtle Grove WMA | 1 mile down Myrtle Grove Rd., off Rt. 225; 10 acres | Opening day, Tues., Thur. and Sat. Noon-5:00 p.m. | 301-743-5161 | |
| Dorchester | LeCompteWMA | 5 mi. SW Vienna on Steels Neck Road. 12 acres | Mon.-Sat. Noon-5:00 p.m. | 410-376-3236 | |
| Kent Daily sign-in required | Millington WMA | 1.5 mi. E Massey on Maryland Line Road. 25 acres | Opening day, Mon., Wed., and Sat.; Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-928-3650 | |
| Montgomery | McKee-Beshers WMA | Two sites: Int. of River Rd. and Sycamore Landing Rd. 5 acres, and River Rd., 12 acres | Opening Day, Tues., Thur. & Sat. Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-356-9272 | |
| Somerset | Deal Island WMA | Two sites: Dames Quarter (12 mi.) and Deal Island (16 mi.) W. Princess Anne on Rt. 363. 30 acres. | Opening day, Sat. Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-651-2320 410-543-8223 | |
| Somerset | Maryland | Marumsco, Back Shelltown | Opening day, Mon., Wed. & | 410-651-2320 | |
| Marine Properties WMA | Rd., about 10 mi. E of Crisfield. 25 acres | Sat. Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-543-8223 | ||
| Somerset | Wellington WMA | Dublin Road, 6 miles S of Princess Anne. 5 acres | Mon.-Sat. Noon – sunset. | 410-651-2320 410-543-8223 | |
| Wicomico | Nanticoke River WMA | 5 mi. W Quantico. 16 acres | Opening day, Mon., Wed. &Sat. Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-376-3236 | |
| Worcester | Pocomoke River WMA | 7 mi. S Snow Hill on Rt.113. 6 acres | Mon.-Sat. Noon – sunset. | 410-651-2320 410-543-8223 | |
| Worcester | E. A. Vaughn WMA | Two sites: 2.5 mi. E of Stockton on George Island Landing Rd. and 9 miles S of Snow Hill on Rt. 12; 30 acres | Opening day, Mon., Wed. &Sat. Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 410-651-2320 410-543-8223 |
