
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 29, 1990                   TAG: 9007290014
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: E9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Medium

HUNTERS CAN START GUNNING FOR DOVES ON SEPT. 1

State game officials have set a split dove hunting season, one that lets sportsmen take advantage of locally produced birds in early September, yet saves a few gunning days in December for late migrators.

The 70-day season, which has a daily limit of 12, will be open Sept. 1-Nov. 3 and Dec. 24-29.

Dove populations are little changed from last year, but a predicted early corn harvest is expected to give hunters a better-than-average choice of hunting spots, game officials said.

"The 1990 spring [grain] planting season was considered excellent, with farmers generally planting two to three weeks ahead of schedule," said Gary Norman, a state wildlife biologist.

No delays in the corn harvest are expected, unless dry weather prevails, he said.

While the setting of the dove season attracts few comments from sportsmen, one hunter requested more gunning days at the end of the season, and another said the first Saturday in September is too hot for good sport.

Officials scheduled the season as early as federal guidelines would permit.

The opening of the woodcock season was set to coincide with the beginning of the general small game hunting season.

The Nov. 5-Dec. 1 and Dec. 19-Jan. 5 dates are designed to match peak migrations throughout most of Virginia, said Bob Duncan, chief of the game division of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. For western hunters, the early November opening means a chance to take a woodcock while afield during the early grouse season, he said.

Woodcock populations have been on a general decline during recent seasons, and a reduction in hunting dates has not reversed the trend, Duncan said. Loss of habitat and disease are a growing concern, he said.

The outlook for hunting rails holds more promise.

"We have had a better than average nesting year for rail birds," said Duncan. If you are planning to hunt, this is the season."

The dates are Sept. 1-Nov. 9. There is a 15 daily limit on clapper and king rails; a 25 limit or sora and Virginia rails.

An Oct. 17-Jan. 31 common snipe season was set. The daily limit is eight.

by CNB