Along the coast there are five areas that Dukes suggested hunters should check out. Samworth WMA near Georgetown was his pick on the north coast. The 65 huntable acres suffered last year from the wet conditions, but Dukes said that this area, under more normal conditions, is typically a good producer. Seventy acres are available for dove hunting at Santee-Cooper WMA near Eutaw Springs in Orangeburg County. The area is only open on selected Saturdays, and Dukes said success varies but is generally good.

Just down the road from Santee-Cooper WMA is Santee Dam WMA. The dove field is located at the foot of Wilson Dam on the lower end of Lake Marion. The 137-acre field hosts a youth-only hunt on opening day but is open to all hunters on Saturdays afterward. Dukes stated the area can be very good, but given its location, it is prone to flooding and may not open in some seasons.

Canal WMA, outside of St. Stephens in Berkeley County, is a long-standing public dove field hotspot. The area has about 100 acres that is planted in several fields of various sizes. Based on past history, Dukes expects Canal WMA will rebound from last year's weather woes. This area is typically open on Saturdays.

Dukes' last pick on the coast was Donnelley WMA near Green Pond. He said the 100-acre dove hunt area is noted for its exceptional field preparation, and success rates have been good in recent seasons. Given recent hunter numbers, there were discussions about implementing a lottery for the opening hunt, so check before driving to the WMA.

Dukes reminded dove hunters that special regulations are in place on all public-land dove fields. The regulations are no entry before noon, a 50-shell limit per hunter and a 6 p.m. closure for hunts held during the first season segment.

SCDNR evaluated the use of some special regulations to improve the quality of public dove fields. Implemented on a trial basis on some WMAs during the 2001-02 season, SCDNR established the regulations on all fields during the 2002-03 season following a positive evaluation during the prior season.

"What we found was that the majority of hunters supported the regulations and that they improved the quality of the fields," Dukes said. "Hunters killed approximately the same number of doves per person but did it with fewer shots. They were taking better shots. By reducing the number of shots without sacrificing total harvest, the fields don't get burned out as fast."

South Carolina has a plethora of dove-hunting opportunities open to the public, most within an hour's drive from anywhere in the state. Grab your dove bucket and some No. 8 shot and head out to one of the fields this month.

A complete listing of all the public dove fields, including season dates and detailed driving directions, is available on SCDNR's Web site at www.dnr.state.sc.us beginning Aug. 1. You can also get a copy by calling one of SCDNR's regional offices or Columbia at (803) 734-3886 and requesting a copy. In addition, the Public Dove Field List is available by writing Public Dove Fields, SCDNR, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202.

The 2005 season dates were not finalized as of press time. Proposed season dates are Sept. 3 to Oct. 8 (afternoon hunting only from Sept. 3-5), Nov. 19-26 and Dec. 19 to Jan. 15, with a daily bag limit of 12 doves. Be sure to check the regulations for legal hunting dates, draw-hunt regulations, and bag limits for any WMA before you hunt. In addition to a valid hunting license, hunters on public-land dove fields need to have a WMA permit and free migratory bird permit, otherwise known as a H.I.P. permit.

(Editor's Note: Walt Rhodes is a biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.)