Some spots in Yuma area not for dove hunters

Monday kicks off the two-week dove hunting season, and forecasts are that hunters should have lots of action this year.

Thousands of hunters, both from the area and out of state, are expected to take to the fields around Yuma to shoot their limits of mourning, white-wing and Eurasian doves over the course of the season that lasts through Sept. 15.

Sprague's Sports Shop has been doing brisk business with hunters purchasing shotgun shells and licenses, said owner Richard Sprague.

"We've been busy, but not quite as busy as when the season opens on a weekend. We've already had hunters come here to scout the area for concentration of birds. I, personally, have scouted areas, and there should be thousands of birds for the opener.

"Birds are concentrated around fields, and here, we have rotation crops, so there can be wave after wave of doves. It should be good shooting. We do have hundreds of out-of-state hunters, and many of these may wait until the next weekend.

"Regardless of economics and gas prices, a true hunter will be coming to Yuma for the opening of the kickoff to fall hunting," Sprague said. "Out-of-state hunters need to purchase a license, $61.25 for three consecutive days, and a state migratory bird stamp, $4.50, needed for all hunters.

"In Yuma we have second and third generations of hunters who won't miss a season. As to weather, we don't have too much rain, and about the only thing that would drive the doves away would be very strong winds," he said.

Randy Smith, south sector supervisor with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said: "Out in the field, we have seen some hot spots for doves. There's an area north of Tacna that has many doves, and the levee canal south of the Cocopah Reservation.

"The Yuma mesa has a good count. There is much private land, and hunters need to get permission from the owners. If the land is posted, permission is needed, or the hunter can be cited for trespassing, a criminal offense under Title 13."

In Arizona, legal hours to hunt are a half-hour before sunrise to noon for mourning and white-wing doves. Eurasian collared doves, which are pinkish or peach color with a dark brown collar, can be hunted until sunset without limit. Bag limit is 10 doves, but only six white-wing are permitted in the total.

Doves must have one feathered wing attached to each carcass while in possession or being transported to final destination.

Junior hunters, ages up to and including calendar year of 17th birthday, can hunt from noon to sunset.

"Many doves were spotted on the 'island' between Arizona and California, of which some is on the Quechan tribal land, the two states, and (Bureau of Reclamation) property," Smith said.

The regulation for hunting on the Quechan land is to have a tribal permit.

"We issue $55 permits for one year, based on the fiscal year, July 31 through June 1, so if a permit is purchased now, it will expire June 1, 2009," said Gordon Osborne, superintendent of the Quechan Fish and Game Department. "Places to buy the permit are at our Fish and Game offices, the Quechan Museum, at Hub Liquor Store in Winterhaven, the Laguna Dam RV park and the Sleepy Hollow park near Algodones.

"Here hunting starts one-half hour before sunrise and continues until sunset. The bag limit is 10 doves, whether mourning or white-wing. Eurasian collared doves are not allowed.

"We issue a transport form to hunters so they can show they have hunted the doves on the reservation," Osborne said. "It looks like a good season this year, because we've seen lots of doves."

Kermit Palmer, Cocopah tribal administrator, said, "Permits are required to hunt on reservation land. These are $40 each and will be in force until the end of the calendar year. We follow the same regulations as the state of Arizona on numbers of doves permitted and other requirements."

Officer Clint Norred, spokesman for the Yuma Police Department, reminds hunters that shooting is prohibited in areas that fall within the Yuma city limits.

Should the hunter be convicted of violating the city statute prohibiting discharge of firearms in the city, he or she is mandated to forfeit his or her firearm, Norred explained.

Smith added, "We work with all the law enforcement agencies during the dove and other hunting seasons. It is important the hunters are aware of the rules and regulations concerning where they can hunt - not within one-quarter mile of a building, no shooting across roads are examples.

"It is important the hunter is aware of what type of bird to shoot."

Maj. Leon Wilmot, of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, added, "Our deputies will be watching so hunters do not hunt in the citrus groves as a safety measure. Visibility is important. It is imperative the hunters have permission from owners of farming land to hunt."

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.