Dove baiting

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regulations say it is illegal to hunt or kill doves with the aid of bait, including salt, grain or other feed that has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered to attract game.

An area is considered baited for 10 days after the complete removal of all bait.

Anyone hunting who knows or reasonably should know the area is baited is liable for the offense. Hunters should physically inspect the field for any signs of baiting and question landowners, guides and caretakers to ensure the field is legal to hunt.

Natural vegetation may be manipulated in any way to attract doves and other migratory game birds.

It is legal to plant grain crops in a field that has been plowed and disked, including topsewn or aerially seeded wheat fields, if seeding rates are in line with Extension Service recommendations. It is illegal to seed the same field repeatedly, concentrate wheat in long rows or pile wheat on a field.

Harvesting a field often scatters some waste grain which attracts birds. If harvest was conducted as normal agricultural operation, it is legal for doves.

Unharvested fields may be mowed, shredded, disked, rolled, chopped, trampled, burned or treated with herbicides. These fields may be hunted legally for doves.

It is legal to plant food plots, provided that grains grown for wildlife management purposes are not harvested then returned to the field.

Livestock may be allowed to graze on harvested and unharvested grain. These fields may be hunted legally for doves.