There’s only a few days left in the month of August which means September is just around the corner.
Many of you know this is one of my favorite times of the year. Next Tuesday is Sept. 1, and that marks the opening day of the annual statewide dove season.
Area State Game Wardens and Jacob Harriet indicate the season at this time looks really good and both have been seeing concentrations of doves.
The season that opens this coming Tuesday runs through Oct. 31. Then it reopens Dec.1 and is open through the 29th of that month.
Free Hunting Days are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6, the two game wardens noted, stressing, “For Oklahoma residents only.”
Daily bag limit is 15 and there is no bag limit on Eurasian collared doves provided the head or one fully feathered wing is attached to the carcass while being transported to its final destination.
The Free Hunting Days are an added benefit and enticement in hopes of attracting more people to become hunters.
When I was growing up, Free Hunting Days hadn’t even been thought of I guess.
Not sure when the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation began having those but I was well into my adult years before they started.
My dad passed away just over 32 years ago. But he loved to hunt and for years he looked forward to Sept. 1 just like I did and still do.
For years it was rare that I ever missed an opening day of dove season. The same is true for some of my cousins and close friends.
That was just something we did each Sept. 1. It was almost a priority.
Some of my cousins still make sure they hunt that day. For the past few years I’ve hunted on some opening days, but occasionally I have had to miss.
Not sure about next Tuesday yet. I’d like to, just not sure I’ll be able to swing it. With any luck, maybe I can get out later that week.
Dad began having me pick up his downed doves when I was 4 years old. Pretty early age, but I actually can remember doing that around a farm pond he and others hunted on land owned by my late cousin Bill Mansfield and his wife Carolyn.
They knew we’d be coming on Sept. 1 each year.
We always checked before we headed out there and Bill would let dad, later me, whether he’d been seeing many as he farmed their land and raised their cattle.
Early September is just a special time of year.