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Dove fields
Ohio public dove fields
133 managed dove fields on 44 public areas, 1,510 acres; 29 are controlled fields drawn by lottery for the opener.
133
Fields
44
Areas
1,510
Acres
Photo: greenebriar (Public domain)
Every mapped dove field on Ohio public land
The Division of Wildlife plants seed crops on public land and mows strips to draw doves for September. The most common plantings in the layer are wheat, millet, sunflower, corn and two-sided. Non-controlled fields are first come, first served with a license and HIP; controlled fields need a one-day lottery permit for September 1 or 2, drawn in July for $3. By acreage, Deer Creek Wildlife Area (169 acres), Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (104 acres) and Fallsville Wildlife Area (92 acres) plant the most dove ground. Controlled fields sit on 13 areas; the other 31 areas offer only first-come fields.
| Area | Field | Acres | Status | Planting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin Lake | Fewtown Rd | 14.8 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
| Berlin Lake | 225 Field 1 | 9.6 | Non-Controlled | sunflower |
| Berlin Lake | Powerline Field 3 | 1.4 | Non-Controlled | sunflower |
| Berlin Lake | Powerline Field 4 | 6.9 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
| Berlin Lake | 225 Field 2 | 7 | Non-Controlled | sunflower |
| Big Island | PF4 | 16.2 | Non-Controlled | egyptian wheat cover, wheat and millet lure |
| Big Island | B7 | 40.9 | Non-Controlled | two-sided, corn cover crop, wheat lure crop |
| Caesar Creek | Dove Field 5 | 9.7 | Controlled | 1-sided, w to e, 1-8; millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Caesar Creek | Caesar Creek Youth/Mentor Dove | 8.1 | Controlled | 1-sided, e to w, 1-10; millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Caesar Creek | Open Dove Field 1 | 5.1 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Caesar Creek | Open Dove Field 4 | 8.4 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Caesar Creek | Open Dove Field 3 | 9.6 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Caesar Creek | Open Dove Field 2 | 8.2 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Charles O. Trump | 4 | 18.7 | Controlled | two-sided, corn, wheat, sunflower, millet, stakes 1-18 |
| Clark Lake | Clark Lake Dove | 5.7 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat, egyptian wheat |
| Coldwater Creek Nature & | Coldwater Creek Nature Corridor Dove | 9.3 | Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Cooper Hollow | A13 | 5.9 | Non-Controlled / Cover-Corn Attractant-Wheat & Millet | – |
| Cooper Hollow | L40 | 5.8 | Non-Controlled / Cover-Corn Attractant- Wheat&Millet | – |
| Darke | B9 | 2.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet, sprayed millet 8-15-25 |
| Darke | B2 | 3.9 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Darke | B12 | 3.5 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Deer Creek | B1:4 | 25.6 | Non-Controlled | two-sided, corn, wheat |
| Deer Creek | C3:26 | 10.9 | Controlled | two-sided, sudan grass, wheat, stakes 1-12 |
| Deer Creek | A2:16 | 21.5 | Non-Controlled | two-sided, corn, wheat |
| Deer Creek | E1:4 | 19.1 | Non-Controlled | two-sided, corn, wheat |
| Deer Creek | C1:4 | 23.2 | Non-Controlled | one-sided, corn, wheat |
| Deer Creek | D:4 | 14.7 | Non-Controlled | one-sided, corn, wheat |
| Deer Creek | F:9 | 50.4 | Non-Controlled | one-sided, corn, wheat |
| Deer Creek | Deer Creek SP | 3.7 | Controlled | corn, wheat, stakes 1-12 |
| Delaware | E7 | 12.4 | Non-Controlled | two-sided, eygptian wheat cover crop, wheat and millet lure crop |
| Delaware | A8 | 11.3 | Non-Controlled | one-sided, corn cover crop, wheat lure crop |
| Delaware | L8 | 10.2 | Non-Controlled | field edge for cover, wheat lure crop |
| Della Gates & Edward | Bott | 24.2 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| Dillon | Dove | 5.7 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Dillon | Dove Field 2 | 4.2 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| East Fork | Dove Field 1 | 14.3 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| East Fork | Dove Field 3 | 7.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| East Fork | Dove Field 2 | 8.4 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| Fallsville | Field 4 | 9.3 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Fallsville | Field 52 | 9.5 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Fallsville | S7 | 28.7 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Fallsville | Field 53 | 7.9 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Fallsville | 33 | 13.3 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Fallsville | 44 | 23.5 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Hebron | Hebron Hatchery Dove | 3.6 | Controlled | sudan grass cover, wheat and sunflower lure |
| Highlandtown | I1 | 15.2 | Non-Controlled | corn, sunflower, millet |
| Highlandtown | C4 | 11.1 | Non-Controlled | corn, millet, buckwheat |
| Highlandtown | I5 | 6.6 | Non-Controlled | corn, millet, buckwheat |
| Highlandtown | K4 | 8.2 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, corn, millet |
| Highlandtown | J3 | 5.1 | Non-Controlled | buckwheat, millet |
| Highlandtown | F9 | 10.3 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, corn, millet, buckwheat |
| Indian Creek | Indian Creek Turner Road | 21.8 | Controlled | wheat, sunflower |
| Indian Creek | Indian Creek Campbell Road | 22.7 | Controlled | wheat, sunflower |
| Killbuck Marsh | Lee 7 | 17.3 | Non-Controlled | corn |
| Killbuck Marsh | Lee 8 | 13.5 | Non-Controlled | corn |
| Killdeer Plains | M-13 | 17.5 | Non-Controlled | proso millet, corn |
| Killdeer Plains | Q-7 | 17.8 | Non-Controlled | proso millet, egyptian wheat |
| Killdeer Plains | K-5 | 9.9 | Non-Controlled | proso millet, egyptian wheat |
| Killdeer Plains | J-4 | 20.5 | Non-Controlled | proso millet, egyptian wheat |
| Kokosing Lake | B3 | 15.4 | Controlled | 14 stakes, wheat lure, corn cover |
| Kokosing Lake | B7 | 4.1 | Non-Controlled | wheat lure, corn cover |
| Lake La Su An | 576 Dove | 4.2 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat |
| Lake La Su An | Keller Dove Field East | 5.3 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat |
| Lake La Su An | Cook Dove | 12.1 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat |
| Lake La Su An | S Dove | 10.6 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat |
| Lake La Su An | Schlacter Dove | 5.9 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat |
| Mosquito Creek | M29 | 26.7 | Non-Controlled | corn cover, wheat and millet lure |
| Mosquito Creek | M51 | 19.7 | Non-Controlled | eqyptian wheat cover, wheat and millet lure |
| Mosquito Creek | M3 | 57.4 | Non-Controlled | egyptian wheat cover, wheat and millet lure |
| Ottawa County Wildlife Area | Field 2 | 13.1 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat, millet – failed |
| Oxbow Lake | Back Dove | 4.5 | Dove Field State Contract | – |
| Paint Creek Lake | A-34 | 10.9 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Paint Creek Lake | A-26 | 8.5 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Paint Creek Lake | A-48 | 8.8 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Paint Creek Lake | A-40 | 8.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Paint Creek Lake | A-20 | 16.3 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Pater | 3a | 8.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| Pickaway County Wildlife Area | 4 | 18.2 | Controlled | two-sided, corn, wheat, sunflower, millet, stakes 1-36 |
| Pickerel Creek | Jena's | 17.6 | Non-Controlled | wheat, bare ground |
| Pickerel Creek | Boggy Dove | 10.9 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Pickerel Creek | State | 8 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Pickerel Creek | 216 Dove | 21.5 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Pickerel Creek | Brome | 12.1 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Pickerel Creek | Jim's | 15.4 | Non-Controlled | wheat, bare ground |
| Pickerel Creek | South | 6.4 | Non-Controlled | wheat, bare ground |
| Resthaven | East of Wahl Ditch | 15.2 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, millet |
| Resthaven | North of Oxbo | 11 | Non-Controlled | millet, bare ground |
| Resthaven | West of Wahl Ditch | 8 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Resthaven | Clay Pits | 6.2 | Non-Controlled | wheat, sunflower |
| Ross Lake | RL4 | 21.6 | Non-Controlled / Cover-corn Attractant-Wheat&Millet | – |
| Rush Run | Dove Field 5 | 8.5 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Rush Run | Dove Field 1 | 9.8 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Rush Run | Dove Field 4 | 7.2 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Rush Run | Dove Field 3 | 10.7 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Rush Run | Dove Field 2 | 8.1 | Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| Salt Fork | 38 | 4.4 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
| Salt Fork | 36 | 3.3 | Non-Controlled | egyptian wheat, millet |
| Salt Fork | 35 | 4.9 | Non-Controlled | corn |
| Salt Fork | 39 | 4.1 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, buckwheat |
| Salt Fork | 34 | 4 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, buckwheat |
| Salt Fork | 32 | 0.3 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
| Salt Fork | 33 | 3.5 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
| Salt Fork | 40 | 1.8 | Non-Controlled | soybeans |
| Salt Fork | Deerassic B Fields 37 | 4.6 | Non-Controlled | corn |
| Sandusky County Wildlife Area | 198 Dove Field – North | 3.3 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Sandusky County Wildlife Area | 198 Dove Field – South | 6 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet, sunflower |
| Seneca County Wildlife Area | 2 | 8.6 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
| Spring Valley | Dove Field 3 | 7.8 | Controlled | 1-sided, n to s, 1-9; millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Spring Valley | Dove Field 1 | 9.1 | Controlled | 1-sided, n to s, 1-11; millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Spring Valley | Dove Field 4 | 12 | Controlled | 1-sided, w to e, 1-11; millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| Spring Valley | Dove Field 2 | 9.9 | Controlled | 1-sided, s to n, 1-12; millet, wheat, sunflower, corn |
| St. Marys | SMSFH CWH 2 | 28.3 | Controlled | wheat, millet, sunflowers |
| Tri-Valley | Dove | 3.5 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Tri-Valley | Dove | 3.5 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| Tri-Valley | Dove | 9.7 | Non-Controlled | millet |
| Tri-Valley | Keyes Dove field | 8.1 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Urbana | A8 future permanent dove field/ food plot | 18.2 | Controlled | two-sided, stakes 1-14, runs west to east, wheat, millet, sudan grass |
| Urbana | B3 | 15 | Controlled | two-sided, stakes 1-14, runs north to south, wheat, millet, egyptian wheat |
| Urbana | D8 Permanent Dove field/food plot | 23.9 | Controlled | two-sided, stakes 1-15, runs west to east, wheat, millet, egyptian wheat |
| West Branch | Pine Tree 4 | 8.6 | Non-Controlled | wheat, sunflower |
| West Branch | JT 2 | 6.2 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| West Branch | 14 Side Field 2 | 5.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| West Branch | Cableline Front Dove | 7.2 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| West Branch | Cableline Back Dove Field 2 | 2.3 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| West Branch | Booth Rd. Dove Field 1 | 9.5 | Non-Controlled | wheat, sunflower |
| West Branch | Cableline Back Dove Field 1 | 1.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat |
| Willard Marsh | 23 | 8 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat, annual seed producing plants |
| Wood County Wildlife Area | Wood County 1 Dove | 5.4 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat |
| Woodbury | 80C | 8.3 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Woodbury | Lowery's Dove field | 6.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Woodbury | Dove | 8.5 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Woodbury | Range Dove field | 6.3 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| Wyandot | 7 | 7.8 | Non-Controlled | winter wheat |
From the ODNR dove fields layer. Checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio dove season dates
Ohio dove season runs in two statewide segments, with 15 mourning and Eurasian collared-doves combined per day. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
| Segment | Opens | Closes | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dove | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 15 daily |
| Dove | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 15 daily |
From the 2026-27 hunting seasons list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Dove field questions
How many public dove fields does Ohio have?
133 in the ODNR layer on 44 areas.
Is HIP registration needed for Ohio dove fields?
Yes. Dove hunters register with HIP each year along with the hunting license.
What is a controlled dove field?
A field hunted on September 1 or 2 only by lottery permit holders, with youth and mentor hunts at a few areas.
Which Ohio public areas have the most planted dove fields?
Salt Fork State Park (9), Deer Creek Wildlife Area (8) and Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area (7).
Is there a December dove segment in Ohio this season?
Yes, in the second segment: Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Dove country
Other photos on this page: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).