This Dove Season Could Be for the Birds

One of the most popular days of the hunting season--opening day of dove season--is Sunday and those toting shotguns through the fields of the sun-baked Imperial Valley are expected to find lots of company, but few birds.

“There are birds, it’s just a matter of finding where they’re at,” said John Massie, upland game coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game.

No easy task, thanks to the sparse spring rains and the subsequent lack of natural food, particularly in areas along the lower Colorado River.

Doves are most likely to be found at the Wister unit of the state-run Imperial Wildlife Area north of Niland, Massie said.

“There are 6,000 acres open to shooter for starters, and they don’t have to worry about trespassing, which is a big deal,” he said.

“It’s been planted with wheat, safflower and sesame and it’s holding lots of birds.

“In addition, there is [the nearby Finney-Ramer unit of the wildlife area, south of Calipatria]. That’s been planted and there are a lot of doves using it. Both areas are free, open to walk-on hunters with no control of numbers.”

Elsewhere in the valley, hunters are advised to scout around Saturday for areas likely to hold birds if they hope to be successful. Keith Earle, pro at Lakeview Golf Course in El Centro, who has spent the last several days scouting doves, said he has seen impressive flights in the East Highline and All-American canal areas.

“There are still birds around,” he said. “They’re just not buzzing around like bees. But there are some wheat fields and feed lots still being picked through by doves. Hunters should also try areas where there are concentrations of large trees where birds might be roosting.”

Prospects in less traditional opening-day locations range from excellent in the Owens Valley to fair in western Riverside County to poor in the Victorville area.

The statewide season begins half an hour before sunrise Sunday and runs through Sept. 15. A second season is Nov. 9 through Dec. 25. Bag limits on mourning doves are 10 a day, 20 in possession. White-winged doves can be shot only in Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Bag limit is a combined 10 doves a day, 20 in possession.

Briefly

FISHING--Tuna continue to tease those on overnight boats out of San Diego, showing for a few days and disappearing for a few more. But yellowtail and dorado are biting under kelp paddies from south of the border to Catalina. Top catches, yellowfin tuna in the 50-pound range, were on multi-day boats. The albacore bite remains fairly consistent off Central California. Two trips aboard Virg’s boats in Morro Bay this past week produced 78 albacore, the largest close to 40 pounds.

PADDLEBOARD RACING--Conditions were so sloppy during last Sunday’s annual Catalina Classic--from the island to Manhattan Beach pier--that 26 of the 64 entrants didn’t finish. Jeff Daniels of Torrance won the stock class--boards 12 feet or under--with a time of 7 hours 23 minutes, edging Mark Levy of Manhattan Beach. Jeff Stoner of Palos Verdes won the unlimited class--boards over 12 feet--by crossing the San Pedro Channel in 6:25. Strong winds from start to finish protected the record time of 5 1/2 hours set on a calm sea in 1987.