Georgia 2018 Pay Dove Shoots List

I’m pretty sure I haven’t heard the first complaint this summer that it’s been too dry to plant a dove field. In fact, I was talking to an old country farmer the other day who actually had to wait a few weeks past his normal time of planting because it’s been too wet in his fields. As a result of the moisture, we could see some pretty impressive stands of dove crops.

For some dove hunters, it’s mostly about watching their dogs work. If you’ve got a dove hunting canine, confirm that it’s OK if you bring them along for the hunt.

Dove hunting, one of Georgia’s greatest hunting traditions, kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 1.

There are some great public-land dove-hunting opportunities that you can check out on pages 94-95. Some of those shoots are quota-only, while others are open to whoever wants to show up. Deadline to apply for dove quota hunts is Aug. 15, so act fast.

If you’re looking for a private field, a number of options are below. You’ll see a variety of dates, amenities and field sizes for these shoots.  GON doesn’t endorse any of the below shoots. We simply provide this free opportunity for dove-field owners to fill their fields, while providing our readers with places to shoot birds and make a fun transition from summer fishing to fall hunting.

2018-19 Dove Dates: Sept. 1-16; Oct. 13-31; Nov. 22 – Jan. 15

Crawford Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1-3, 8-9. Field—42-acre field planted in sunflowers, proso and browntop. Cost—$150 for both weekends. Amenities—None. Contact—Ed Parent, (478) 822-9483.

Dodge Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1, 3, Nov. 24. December and January will be extra and depends on migratory birds. Field—Four fields totaling 250 acres planted in corn and sunflowers Sept. 1, 3. Peanuts and wheat in November. Cost—$150 lets you hunt all three shoots. Kids younger than 16 sitting with a parent is $75. Amenities—BBQ cookout Sept. 1 for the 24th annual dove shoot at the farm. Bathroom, skeet shooting, fishing and opening-day raffles for guns and coolers, along with other prizes. Contact—Radford Dunlap, (478) 960-0103 or [email protected]. I also do other dove shoots in other counties throughout the year if you are interested.

Elbert Co.: Shoot Date—Opening day; call for later shoots. Field—Two fields totaling 18 acres in millet. Cost—$150 for opening day. Call for later shoots. Amenities—Cabin rental, bathroom, RV hook-ups, BBQ lunch, drinks. Contact—Scott, (678) 361-7107.

Gordon Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1-3. Field—300-acre field planted in sunflowers and corn. Cost—$65/day Amenities—None. Contact—Kevin, (706) 676-7756.

Jones Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1-2. Field—50-acre field planted in browntop millet and milo. Cost—$200/gun for both days; 10 spots remain. Contact—Grady Miller, (478) 986-7684.

Madison Co.: Shoot Date—Opening day and throughout season. Field—Four fields totaling 100 acres in white proso millet, sorghum and sunflowers. Cost—$100 opening day, $200 season pass. Amenities—BBQ lunch, clays course, bathrooms, pole barn rest area. Contact—South Fork Hunting Preserve, 1211 Veterans Dr., Danielsville. Call Colby Phillips, (706) 255-9524 or Jacob Nash, (706) 255-6372.

Marion Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1. Field—Two fields totaling 60 acres in corn, sunflowers, Egyptian wheat, wild-game sorghum. Cost—$150/gun. Amenities—BBQ plates, restrooms. Contact—Randy Powell, (706) 326-3786, (770) 337-8934.

Murray Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1, 2. Field—Four fields totaling 400 acres in wheat, sunflowers, milo, corn, millet. Cost—$100/gun Sept. 1; $50 Sept. 2. Amenities—BBQ lunch at the lodge on Saturday. Contact—Jim, (404) 428-6541, please leave a message.

Taliaferro Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1. Rain date is Sept. 2. This is the annual Claibourne Darden dove-field fund-raiser for SEEDS. Cost—$125/shooter.  Sponsorship spots $250. If you have a youth hunter 17 or younger, and he or she hunts from your stand, you can both attend the barbecue and hunt for an additional $50. Amenities—BBQ lunch. Contact—GON beginning Aug. 14, (800) 438-4663.

Tift Co.: Shoot Date—Oct. 13. Field—40-acre field in peanuts. Cost—$100/gun. Amenities—Lunch, portable toilets. Contact—Judd Wolfe, (770) 315-7008.

Treutlen Co.: Shoot Date—Fox Head Farm, Sept. 1, 8, 15. Field—Five fields totaling 28 acres in corn, grain sorghum, browntop millet. Cost—$150/gun. Amenities—Sept. 1 BBQ and drinks. For all hunts, drinks, pavilion, big-screen TV, grills, tables, chairs, restroom. Contact—Mark Slade, (404) 918-3187.

Washington Co.: Shoot Date—Sept. 1. Call for other shoots. Field—Five fields totaling 90 acres in corn strips, millet and proso. Cost—Sept. 1, $135. Other shoots $50/shoot. Amenities—Sept. 1 BBQ and door prizes. Gun raffle on Sept. 1. Contact—Hartley Place Hunts. Bill Hartley, (478) 640-1001. Matt Hartley, (478) 232-5161.

Washington Co.: Shoot Date—Hosted by Oconee Ridge Outfitters on Sept. 1 with 38 spots. Other shoots may take place throughout the seasons. Please call for information. Field—Sept. 1, 42-acre field in sunflowers, standing wheat, corn, sorghum and browntop.

Cost—Sept. 1st is $125. Amenities— Sept. 1, BBQ chicken plates at 11:15 a.m. $15 extra for lunch, and it will be served at 11:15 a.m. Shooting starts at 12 p.m. Draw for stands. Lodging and combo hog hunt packages are also available. Call for availability. Contact—Rusty Rhodes  (478) 232-2559; Austin Rhodes (478) 232-1275 (after 5 p.m.).