08-02-2007, 10:10 PM
Wyomingites that hunted doves last year are alerted they may get a letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asking them to save a wing from each bird they bag Sept. 1 - 6.
The service is conducting the survey to get a read on this year's production and age structure of the population. The service will furnish postage paid mailing envelopes.
Mourning dove production should be pretty good in eastern Wyoming this year. Migratory Bird Biologist Larry Roberts said hail, the main nemesis of dove production, has been minimal this year. As usual, the No. 1 limiting factor for Cowboy State dove hunting is a late August cold, wet spell sending birds winging for New Mexico.
Dove hunters these days have a chance for a mixed bag with the expansion of the Eurasian collared dove. This invaders are a little bigger than a mourning dove (nearly pigeon size), have a squared-tail compared to a mourning dove's pointed tail and the black collar on its neck. Initially, these collared doves were attracted to cities and towns and some eastern Wyoming farmsteads. As they filled up those niches, they have begun infiltrating the countryside. They don't count against the mourning dove limit and actually can be hunted year-round. Make sure you know for certain it's a collared dove if you plan to bag them before Sept. 1 or after Oct. 30. They can be tricky to ID when flying.
Before you go after mourning doves, here's the annual reminder: in addition to a license, make sure you get the federal Harvest Information Program permit.
In Wyoming, the permit is free at the Game and Fish's Web site or it costs $.50 at license agents and Game and Fish offices. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses the information from the HIP application to better target respondents for their harvest surveys.
The service is conducting the survey to get a read on this year's production and age structure of the population. The service will furnish postage paid mailing envelopes.
Mourning dove production should be pretty good in eastern Wyoming this year. Migratory Bird Biologist Larry Roberts said hail, the main nemesis of dove production, has been minimal this year. As usual, the No. 1 limiting factor for Cowboy State dove hunting is a late August cold, wet spell sending birds winging for New Mexico.
Dove hunters these days have a chance for a mixed bag with the expansion of the Eurasian collared dove. This invaders are a little bigger than a mourning dove (nearly pigeon size), have a squared-tail compared to a mourning dove's pointed tail and the black collar on its neck. Initially, these collared doves were attracted to cities and towns and some eastern Wyoming farmsteads. As they filled up those niches, they have begun infiltrating the countryside. They don't count against the mourning dove limit and actually can be hunted year-round. Make sure you know for certain it's a collared dove if you plan to bag them before Sept. 1 or after Oct. 30. They can be tricky to ID when flying.
Before you go after mourning doves, here's the annual reminder: in addition to a license, make sure you get the federal Harvest Information Program permit.
In Wyoming, the permit is free at the Game and Fish's Web site or it costs $.50 at license agents and Game and Fish offices. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses the information from the HIP application to better target respondents for their harvest surveys.