Opening day of this year’s dove season on Saturday is expected to be successful in Oglethorpe County, despite recent heavy rain, according to officials and hunters.
The area received 10.31 inches of rain in the month of August, the highest recorded rainfall in August in over 100 years, according to the National Weather Service. Around 5 inches is typical for the area, with 2016 being the last time the month received 10 inches of rain.
Mourning doves, the birds most commonly hunted during dove season, feed on the seeds left in cut fields of corn, wheat, millet and other crops. Farmers, however, have delayed cutting their fields to allow them to dry out, decreasing the available seed for doves.
In fact, fields are often cut a week or more before the season starts, but as opening day draws near, many fields aren’t cut.
Cpl. Brandon Pierce, a Department of Natural Resources game warden in Hartwell, has been monitoring the condition of fields and the availability of doves around the region.
He said although many fields have not been cut, doves are flocking to the ones that have, providing hope for a successful hunt. As long as the fields are cleared soon, the birds will find them, he said.
Jerry Nation, a farmer in the Devil’s Pond community, celebrates dove season with a large gathering and opening day hunt each year on the Nation Family Farm with his brother Randy. The family hosts around 250 people each year with plenty of food and festivities.
Nation said despite last month’s rain, he was able to cut all of his fields with minimal delay to prepare them for dove season.
“It was kind of a challenge because of the rain,” he said,” but then the rain stopped in time, so we got it done.”
A similar rain pattern in 2024 led to dampened success for many hunters around Oglethorpe County. Hurricanes, especially Hurricane Helene, particularly impacted the season, with winds, heavy rains and flooding, pushing doves out of many areas in September.
Nation noticed fewer birds on his land during the opening of the season in 2024.
This year, though, Pierce said he believes the nearly dry fields and plentiful dove sightings indicate a more successful opening day.
“If the weather continues the way it is, then it should be a pretty successful season,” he said.