Overall, the annual check on field conditions around local sites and select Downstate ones ahead of opening day for dove hunting in Illinois looks better than some years; whether that translates into doves being around for the opener depends a lot on the weather.

By Dale Bowman

The view on opening day last year at Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area, a familiar one for dove hunters at public sites around Illinois. Credit: Dale Bowman — The view on opening day last year at Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area, a familiar one for dove hunters at public sites around Illinois.

Dove hunting opens next Wednesday, Sept. 1, in Illinois. Here’s the breakdown of field conditions in anticipated order of opening-day success at local sites and a few select Downstate ones.

Jim Edgar/Panther Creek SFWA: Traditional top spot looks good; wheat burnt, sunflowers being mowed and there are birds. No longer first-come, first-served in opening days, now permit holders sign up for draw from 8-10 a.m. Back to alternating fields: 1-3-5 for opener, 2-4-6 for Day 2.

Green River SWA: Sunflowers good, some proso millet, mowed.

Matthiessen SP: Sunflowers good, mowed, field No. 1 a little weedy.

Des Plaines SFWA: Fields look good, flowers dried, one mowing done.

Iroquois County SWA: Good sunflowers, deer browsing made some spottiness.

Silver Springs SFWA: Rotation year, half sunflowers/half wheat, less weeds than last year.

Shabbona SP: 29 acres of sunflowers “look best in last seven years, very clean of weeds.”

Kankakee River SP: Proso millet planted late, starting to head late, natives (foxtail, smartweed) need to fill in until millet matures

Chain O’Lakes SP: Fields mowed

Marseilles SFWA: No planted fields, closed Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

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