SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION
Biologist Bill Palmer said that as a whole, the south-central region of the state is one of the East's top dove- hunting areas.

Franklin County WCO Barry Leonard reports that dove hunting is quite good throughout the northern part of his area: "I often see flocks of birds in the area south of Shippensburg off Route 11. Another good spot is the area off Route 997 across from the Letterkenny Army Depot.

"In the southern part of the county, dove hunters should explore the area around the town of Williamson. There are old quarries with heavy cedar growth surrounded by open farmland. There's also the orchard area around St. Thomas, and the open farmland in Quincy Township."

Land management officer Steven Spangle said that SGL 249 in Adams County offers good dove shooting in September. He added, "There should be some good shooting on SGL 169 in Cumberland County, as well."

Also in Adams County, WCO Darren David said that dove hunters should consider gaining access to the county's numerous apple orchards.

"We have found that apple orchards are unsung hotspots for doves, especially closer to sunset," David said. "Also, it just so happens that most of our 60 or so safety zone cooperators happen to be orchard owners. Orchard country starts in the southwest part of Adams county and then north and east again along the northern tier."

Cumberland County WCO Eric Horsh stated that a good area is SGL 169 and the surrounding area. "Also," he said, "there's the quarry outside of Shippensburg on Route 533."

Fellow Cumberland County WCO Tim Wenrich suggested spots in and around New Kingston and Silver Spring Township on farms adjacent to the train tracks. Also, South Middleton Township hunters do well in the same areas.

SGL 230 has some birds, but in the first season last year, their activity was slow because not all of the fields were cut until later.

NORTHEAST REGION
Where the habitat is conducive to doves in the northeastern part of the state, there are a number of good options -- including these picks of the region's officers:

Wayne County WCO Frank J. Dooley reported that dove hunting in northern part of his county is limited to the areas around farms and the numerous stone quarries that dot the landscape.

"Areas adjacent to SGL 159, where large stands of hemlock and white spruce join private farmlands, are probably the best areas to find good mourning dove hunting," he said.

"Areas north of Honesdale and east of Rileyville off Route 371 and Pine Mill Road should also produce good shooting."

Montour-Northumberland WCO Rick Deiteric said that in Montour County, the best dove-shooting action runs from PPL Washingtonville and the surrounding farms all the way north, and then over to Turbotville and Watsontown in northern Northumberland County.

LMO Keith Sanford, who serves Columbia, Montour and Northumberland counties, said that private lands throughout the Turbotville area offer some good dove hunting. But sportsmen will need to make their contacts on potential hunting areas prior to the season.

"There are also some farms in the Elysburg area that may provide some shooting," he said.

NORTHWEST REGION
The Northwest Region's dove-hunting opportunities include the fertile lands not far from Lake Erie's shoreline. Dove hunting is a long-standing tradition in the region, but hunters new to the game should be prepared to do some legwork to gain access. As a bonus, Erie County has a good number of farms enrolled in the Pennsylvania Game Commission's land access program.

Another Northwest Region area to consider, according to Clarion County WCO Rod Bimber, is the Longacre Potato Farm on Route 36 north of Leeper. "Potato fields mixed with strips of corn and grain are a big draw to doves," he said.

In Lawrence County, WCO Jeffrey Kendall reported that the most consistent place would be on SGL 151 along Mason Road at the old strip mine.

CO-OP SITES
Recently, the Pennsylvania Game Commission added the locations of its Farm-Game and Forest Game cooperators to its Web site -- which is a wonderful resource for sportsmen pursuing all species of game, including mourning doves.

For more information and to access the list, log onto the Commission's Web site at www.pgc.state.pa.us. Click on "Hunting" and then, under the "Places to Hunt" heading, "Public Access Cooperator Lands."