It's really hard to beat -- sitting along a fencerow or on the edge of the woods watching and waiting as the first doves make their way into a field to feed in September. Things start slowly at first and then build with each passing minute and flight of the winged targets.

A good dove hunt, however, isn't just hard to beat -- it's often hard to find. With fewer and fewer private options for most of us, our best opportunities come each fall with the efforts of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The leased field and public hunts on regional wildlife management areas (WMAs) can often be as hot as any private hunt.

The public hunts might be a little lacking on the barbecue side of things, but you and your hunting buddies can always get together back at the house for that September tradition after a fine shoot elsewhere.

The only question you have to ask yourself is where you are going to hunt -- but we have some suggestions on that score for you. Read over these important hunt reminders and then onto where you might find your dove field of dreams.

PRE-SEASON DETAILS
For pre-season dove tips, refer to the TWRA's 2008 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide. All season regulations and dates are available there, including a full listing of WMAs per region that offer dove hunting. Guides are available at all locations where hunting and fishing licenses are sold, as well as at each TWRA regional office.

A few of the details you'll want clarification on as far as dove hunting on WMAS include specific dates and hours. Not all WMA hunts are the same as the statewide season, and many of them have hunt hours restricted from noon until sunset. There are a few WMAs that have reduced bag limits as well.

Many dove fields on WMAs are open as posted and some do require the use of nontoxic shot. That posting may also limit the number of hunters per field. In some cases, hunters are placed at staked positions and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis or drawn randomly. In those cases, a position becomes available after the initial hunter retires from the field.

Just before opening day, the TWRA will also post the site locations and directions for public leased fields in each region on its Web site at www.tnwildlife.org.

REGION I
Jim Hamlington, a small-game biologist in Region I, said the state of public dove hunting in Tennessee could be rated as stable last year. The best WMAs in his region last year have to include the Bogota WMA Youth Hunt and adult hunt. Hunters need to note that Hamlington pointed out the high water in the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers may prevent some sunflower fields from being planted this season. You need to do some pre-season scouting for sure.

As for current dove-hunting opportunities out there, he said, at this time, the TWRA will still have the fall lease dove field program, as well as hunts on WMAs. Hamlington added the TWRA in Region I in West Tennessee continues to distribute sunflower seed to landowners to plant their own fields, and that's a plus.

Because of the timing of other hunting seasons and opportunities, as well as participation, the September dove hunts continue to be the more productive ones over the October and December hunts.