The hunting season for mourning doves starts Saturday across North Carolina, and hunters can look forward to plenty of birds this year, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

The daily limit on doves is 12, with possession of 24. Hunters must have a migratory bird certification to hunt doves and other federal game birds. The certification is free.

Sgt. Andy Waldrop of the N.C. Wildlife Resources commission said shooting should be good this year.

"I've seen a tremendous number of birds around," he said.

While some cornfields have not been cut, due to heavy rains and damage from Hurricanes Bonnie and Charley, other crops that attract the birds have done well.

The state also has around 17 acres of millet seeded in the Bladen Lakes State Park Gamelands. The field is located about two miles north of the ranger station on N.C. 242, and is a popular site with many area hunters.

That site does not require a special use permit, according to the Wildlife Commission website, but gamelands license laws still apply.

Whenever the flock is healthy, Waldrop said, hunters often combine their harvests for the day.

That can lead to problems if the birds are not properly separated and tagged.

"There have been times we've found someone with a five-gallon bucket full of doves," he said, "and since the birds weren't tagged by the individual hunters, the one in possession was over the limit."

"That can be frustrating for someone who just volunteered to clean everyone's birds," he said. "Even though he was with the other guys, and just wanted to do everyone a favor, he gets the citation."

The simplest way to separate and tag doves, Waldrop said, is for each hunter to place his take in a bag with his or her signature, address and number of birds killed in the bag with the birds.

"You can legally possess extra birds if they're identified that way," Waldrop said.

Dove shooting hours begin at noon Sept. 4 through Sept. 11. Shooting time begins 30 minutes before sunrise after Sept. 11.

Hunting ends each day at legal sunset, as defined by the tables supplied with each hunter's license.

"It doesn't end a half-hour after sunset," Waldrop said. "Legal shooting ends at sunset."

The Wildlife Commission printed a supplemental flier in August to correct a number of errors in the solunar tables.

Shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three rounds, including one in the chamber.

Hunters taking advantage of open season on waterfowl-primarily Canada geese-are also reminded to use only non-toxic shot such as steel or Bismuth. Hunters cannot possess lead shot while hunting waterfowl.

Waldrop said the commission will have a full force of enforcement officers out this week, checking for regulation violations and unsafe hunters.

"We just want everybody to have a good, safe hunting season," Waldrop said.

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Goose, waterbird season opens Wednesday

By JEFFERSON WEAVER

Staff Writer

Doves are not the only game hunters can seek Saturday-an early Canada goose season begins tomorrow (Wednesday) and runs through Sept. 30. The resident goose season is in response to the increasing number of the big birds making their homes in the state.

Daily limit on the geese is five, with possession of ten. Hunters must also have a federal waterfowl stamps, and a migratory bird certification for their license. State waterfowl stamps are no longer required, but are available for collecting and to help support waterfowl restoration.

While geese are among the most popular waterfowl hunted in the early season, hunters looking for a change can take advantage of an unappreciated resource in Bladen County.

Sportsmen tired of doves and geese can also hunt rails, gallinules and moorhens Sept. 1-2 and Sept. 6-Nov. 10. Bag limit is 10 per day, with possession of 30, except for sora and Virginia rails, which are 25 and 25.

The small, long-legged birds, roughly the size of a dove, can provide challenging wingshooting in the marshes and creeks around the Cape Fear River.

The birds are especially common in the southeastern part of the county, but are rarely hunted.

Blue-wing, green-wing, and cinnamon teal may be taken Setp. 9-Sept. 18, with a daily bag of four and possession of eight. Wildlife officials say the early teal season is under scrutiny this year because of increased reports of accidental kills of other gameducks in recent years.

Non-toxic shot is required when hunting webbed-foot gamebirds of any kind.

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