SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Pyramid State Park and Ten Mile Creek FWA are the two top picks in southern Illinois, according to harvest surveys. Cole said both of these areas have been yielding good success to dove hunters.

The Pyramid area is broken into five separate tracts or units. In total, this property encompasses over 19,000 acres near Cutler and Pinckneyville in Perry County. This area has all the makings for great dove hunting, because there are ample open fields, cropland, food plots, water sources and wooded areas. Each of the different units offer dove hunting opportunities, but regulations vary between the areas. A lottery drawing limits hunter access during portions of the season. There are also variations on legal shooting times, shot requirements and more.

Hunters are best served by contacting the site office at (618) 357-2574 for more information and specific regulations. A site permit is required for all units.

Ten Mile Creek FWA is in Jefferson and Hamilton counties. The property has nearly 6,000 acres and is divided into four different tracts. A free permit is required before hunting, and it can be obtained from the site office on State Highway 14 about four miles west of McLeansboro. There are around 4,000 acres of land here that are either open or used for cropland. Ample water sources and timber are also present, making this area highly attractive to doves.

More information on Ten Mile Creek FWA can be had by calling (618) 643-2862.

Another area that can offer good dove shooting is at the Rend Lake State FWA eight miles south of Mount Vernon in Jefferson County. However, dove hunting at this location is allowed only on opening day and then on Wednesdays and Saturdays thereafter. Hunter numbers are regulated for safety reasons, and a drawing will be held in the event more hunters arrive on a particular day than the area can accommodate. Dove hunting is allowed from noon until 5 p.m.

Call or visit the Rend Lake headquarters for more information at (618) 279-3110.

The Carlyle Lake State FWA in Fayette County is another good place to kill doves. The area is mostly open under statewide regulations, but there are a few variances. Hunters are required to sign in before hunting and sign out when leaving the area. More information is available by calling the Carlyle Lake site office at (618) 425-3533.

PARTING SHOT
These dove hotspots are but a glimpse at the hunting opportunities in Illinois. There are countless other public-land opportunities, as well as virtually unlimited private ground to seek out. You should always ask for permission before hunting private land, and you should be aware of any special rules while hunting on public lands.

With some diligent scouting and by taking into consideration the bird movement throughout the season, hunters can extend dove hunting action beyond just the first week or two. Of course, birds get tougher to hunt after the first few days, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of action out there to be had. It takes a little extra work, but the reward is well worth it.