Kentucky farmers can earn some much-needed extra cash
by enrolling in the Cooperative Dove Field Program. Enrollment is
underway and continues through March 1.
The Cooperative Dove Field Program pays landowners to lease fields on their property for public dove hunting.
“Landowners
may earn up to $10,000 in the Cooperative Dove Field Program,” said Wes
Little, migratory bird biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish
and Wildlife Resources. “They earn $300 per acre planted.”
Little
said the department has accepted fields ranging from six to 40 acres
with additional lease payments offered for buffers around planted
fields. “Fields generally run from 20 to 30 acres in size,” he
explained. “But, we encourage anyone interested to apply.”
Farmers
may plant sunflowers, millet or another acceptable crop for a public
dove field by working with a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands
biologist and following some simple guidelines.
Payment amounts
depend on the number of acres enrolled, crop type and fulfillment of the
plot management agreement with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
The
department is especially interested in reaching agreements with property
owners who have acreage in underserved areas with significant numbers
of dove hunters. In the west, this includes Caldwell, Calloway,
Christian, Daviess, Fulton, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Hickman, LaRue,
Logan, Lyon, Simpson, Todd and Trigg counties. In southcentral Kentucky,
this includes Boyle, Cumberland, Laurel, Lincoln, Pulaski and Wayne
counties.
To get the process started, landowners must contact
their Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist or Natural
Resources Conservation Service liaison. For a listing of biologists,
visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife homepage at www.fw.ky.gov and search under the keywords, “private lands biologist.”
Property owners may also call the department at 1-800-858-1549 for more information.
From Fish and Wildlife Resources Communications