Kansas sportsmen always look forward to the opening of dove season on Sept. 1. At the same time, it is also the date for special youth hunts on Fall River and Melvern wildlife areas.

The Youth Dove Hunts are for hunters 15 years old and younger.

All youth must have completed a certified hunter education course and have an adult accompany them on the hunt. Only the youth are allowed to hunt.

Fall River and Melvern wildlife areas are well known for dove management.

Each year, fields known to provide good hunting opportunity for doves are designated as the Youth Hunt Fields.

They are then posted “Hunting for Special Youth Hunt Only” until the youth hunts have been completed. The fields are then opened to the public.

The Fall River Wildlife Area Youth Hunt is conducted with the assistance of the Greenwood County hunter education instructors, the Greenwood County Chapter of Friends of the NRA and Quail Unlimited.

The Melvern Wildlife Area Youth Hunt is co-sponsored by the Flint Hills Quail Unlimited Chapter.

The Fall River Wildlife Area Youth Dove Hunt is set for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 1. For information, call area manager John Bills at (620) 583-6783 or e-mail at johnrb@wp.state.ks.us.

The Melvern Area Youth Dove Hunt will be from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sept. 1. For information, call area manager Don Patton at (620) 699-3372.