Dove hunting season begins this Saturday
Get ready. Hunting season begins Sept. 1.
Special controlled dove hunt drawings were held Saturday. Controlled hunts will take place at Fallsville, Rush Run, Woodland Trails, Spring Valley, Indian Creek and Bott wildlife areas. The drawings were held at Fallsville, Rush Run, Spring Valley and Indian Creek wildlife areas. Woodland Trails will be held at Rush Run and Bott at Indian Creek. These controlled hunts will occur during the first two days of the season, Saturday and Sunday.
“We’re looking for a big turnout for Saturday and Sunday,” said Bret Beatty, wildlife supervisor for District 5 of the Division of Wildlife. The big thing is the season opens on a Saturday this year. Saturday turnouts are the busiest.”
He also said dove numbers and quality look strong this year. All are wild birds as none have been stocked.
“We hold the drawings for these wildlife areas on the Saturday before opening day, so those who aren’t drawn have a week to make other arrangements,” said Dave Honeycutt, wildlife area technician. “By having the season start on a Saturday, guys won’t have to miss work,” he added. Caesar Creek, for example, has no drawings prior to the season.
Drawings at St. Marys Fish Hatchery “opening day” hunts were held Tuesday at noon at the hatchery. Drawings for Sept. 2, 8 and 15 will be held at noon on the days of the hunts at the hatchery. Youth will be given priority on the Sunday and Sept. 8. An adult must be present with the youth(s) and sign the permit.
The office address is 01735 Feeder Rd., St. Marys. The hatchery is located at the east end of Grand Lake St. Marys. For information, contact the office at (419) 236-8838.
Hunting hours will be noon to sunset for all controlled dove hunts. Contact the Wildlife District Five office at (937) 3729261 for dove hunting information.
Accommodations will also be provided to handicapped hunters that are selected for the controlled dove hunts. Contact the staff at the wildlife areas. Fallsville, (937) 987-2508, Rush Run (513) 726-6795, Spring Valley (937) 4883115 and Indian Creek, (513) 875-2111.
In order to participate in the drawings, hunters must present a 2018-2019 hunting license and current Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification prior to the drawing. HIP certification is free and can be accomplished by calling 1-877-HIP-OHIO. For more information on HIP, go to fws.gov/hip/.
Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a onepiece filler that limits the capacity of the gun to three shells. The filler must be such it cannot be removed without disassembling the gun. Doves may be hunted with lead shot.
Dove hunting questions will be answered at wildohio.com.
Ron Eubel of Dayton is playing in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at the Eugene (Ore.) Country Club this weekend.
The stroke play portion of the tournament began with an 18-hole round Saturday. Eubel, who is paired with David West and 2015 Walker Cup player Mike McCoy, tees it up for his second round today at 3:35 p.m.
The 58-year-old Eubel, a partner in two local asset management firms, is competing in the event for the second time in four years. He was in the 2015 Senior Amateur in New Jersey but was not among the 64 who qualified for match play.
CCN foursome takes team title: A foursome from Country Club of the North won the team challenge in the annual Fall Classic on Monday at Walnut Grove Country Club. The group included Molly Horstman, Daryl Nels, Tee Pazitney and Cynthia Pratt.
Nels, who shot 76, was the gross pin winner, and Marilyn Duffy was the net pin winner after posting a 70 and winning a scorecard playoff with Nancy Hunter.
The final event for members of the Dayton District Women’s Golf Association will be The Celebration on Oct. 8 at Dayton Country Club.
Loveland’s Auterson wins SOPGA title: Michael Auterson, a pro at Hickory Woods Golf Course in Loveland, held off Bob Sowards of Dublin to win the 54-hole Southern Ohio PGA Professional Championship at Miami Valley Golf