Mentor-youth dove hunt sign-ups begin Aug. 13

Registration for Kentucky's mentor-youth dove hunts begin Monday, Aug.13.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conducts special hunts for adults wishing to introduce dove hunting to youth. These hunts are held on the first Saturday of dove season each September. The department limits the number of participants to avoid overcrowding.

Hunters interested in reserving a space for these hunts must register by calling the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at 1-800-858-1549 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Hunting reservations will not be accepted prior to Aug. 13.

Limited spaces are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is open through Aug. 27, or whenever all the slots are filled. Most mentor-youth hunts will be held this year on Sept. 1; opening day of dove season statewide. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge will conduct four mentor/youth hunts on Sept. 1, 2, 8 and 9.

The mentor-youth dove hunts offer adults a path to introduce youth aged 15 years and under into the enjoyment of an early season dove hunt. Each adult may take one or two youths. Hunter education and licensing requirements apply to those participating in these hunts.

Hunting hours run from 2 to 7 p.m. (local time) on Sept. 1. Hunters must be out of the field by 7:30 p.m. Hunting groups must check in prior to hunting and check out prior to leaving the field with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff members.

Mentor-youth fields located on private land are open to general hunting on Labor Day, Sept. 3. These fields then close to all hunting Sept. 4-7; they reopen to general hunting Sept. 8 through Oct. 24.

Mentor-youth fields located on wildlife management areas (WMA) are open to general hunting Sept. 2 through Oct. 24.

For more information on the mentor-youth dove hunts, consult the 2012 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow. This guide is available on the Internet at fw.ky.gov and also soon available in booklet form wherever hunting licenses are sold.

This year's mentor-youth dove fields include:

Union County, Higginson-Henry WMA:

Directions: Hwy. 56, about 7 miles southeast of Morganfield.

Grant County, Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA:

Directions: Take Crittenden exit off I-75 and follow U.S. 25 south to KY 491, turn left across railroad tracks, then right on Wildlife Road.

Green County, private field:

Directions: Take U.S. 68/70 south from Greensburg for 5.9 miles. Turn right on KY 218 for nearly 2 miles, then left onto Roy Bagby Road. The field is located at the end of the road, on the right

Washington County, private field:

Directions: From U.S. 150 at Fredericktown, take Short Creek Road to Burg Hill Road.

McCracken County, Clark's River National Wildlife Refuge:

Mentor/Youth Hunts on Sept. 1, 2, 8, and 9, opens to public hunting on Sept. 10.

Directions: From Symsonia, take KY 131 north for a little over 2 miles to fields on left marked by signs. U.S.F.W.S. approved non-toxic shot required for all dove hunting on this area.

KDFWR