"I encourage prospective public dove field hunters to get a copy of the Public Dove Field List," Dukes said. "It is available Aug. 1 on our Web site, or contact one of the department's regional offices. This should be the beginning point of any season since it lists all of the available fields, including any new ones that we might have added since the last season.

"Further, I recommend that hunters scout fields prior to hunting. The Public Dove Field List is only a list of what is available. It does not rate the quality or tell you what is planted. It should not be a substitute for first-hand knowledge. A lot can happen to a dove field in a very short time period, and hunters should make sure that they include timely scouting in their schedules," Dukes suggested.

"Dove-field planting is an agricultural endeavor, and crop production and dove-hunting success is highly dependent on growing conditions," Dukes said. "The SCDNR staff takes great pride in proper field preparation and successful hunts; however, our public fields are very much like private fields. We have some good fields, some fair fields and some poor fields in any given year."

Here are Dukes' picks as best bets for 2005.

In the northwestern portion of the state, the 25-acre Evans Field in Anderson County has been exceptionally strong the past two seasons. Dukes said hunters should be aware that hunter numbers are limited and selected by a lottery for the opening day hunt. The area is only open on Saturdays.

Moving eastward across the northern section of the state, Dukes had several recommendations. Draper WMA in York County has had excellent success. There is a 30-acre field opened to hunting for the general public, plus a 30-acre youth field. After opening day, all 60 acres are open to all hunters. This area is also a draw-hunt field on opening day. The area has been open on Saturdays during the first season and Monday through Saturday during the second and third seasons.

A new 20-acre field was created on Gaffney Board of Public Works lands in Cherokee County in 2004. Dukes said this field was the top producer at 7.34 doves per hunter in 2004. Despite its success, crowds might be smaller at this field since it is newer. It is open on Saturdays.

McBee WMA in Chesterfield County can be a hit-or-miss public dove field. Dukes said there are 20 acres planted, but there is additional huntable acreage. The area is open during Saturdays of the first season and Monday through Friday during the second and third segments. He stated the soils are droughty at this WMA, and the ability of the location to attract doves depends heavily on weather conditions during the growing season. It had its best year ever in 2004 at 5.30 doves per hunter.

Continuing to move eastward, Lake Wallace Public Dove Field is located in Marlboro County. Despite its reduced success in 2004 it remains a mecca for doves and dove hunters.

"Weather permitting, I would expect success rates at Lake Wallace to rebound in 2005," Dukes said.

Dukes suggested three fields in the mid portion of the state. In McCormick County, the 40 acres at Clarks Hill WMA near Bordeaux is the best bet in the region. He said it only supports moderate success relative to other public fields, but it is generally very consistent from season to season.

Elsewhere in the region, Dukes points to Hallman Field in Lexington County. The 45-acre area was a new field in 2004 and only had fair success last season. He expects the Saturday-only field to be better this season with more intensive habitat management. The Richland County Landfill is Dukes last pick in this region. The 30-acre area is usually fair to good, depending on growing season and field conditions. This field has only hosted hunts during the first two Saturdays of seasons in the past.