among the most popular of Illinois game birds. For many hunters, the annual Sept. 1 opener has become an unofficial holiday.

Opening day weather conditions typically resemble the dog days of August. With more than three dozen season openers under my belt, I recall few when the appropriate attire included anything heavier than light summer clothing.

Gusting breezes often whip across the dry stubble fields burning the eyes and leaving the hunter longing for a cool, wet refreshment. Various types of

stinging insects seem to zero in on any creature - particularly hunters - venturing into the fields.

Still, opening day also traditionally brings the greatest concentrations of doves to these popular

hunting grounds. And, this almost always means the very best gunning of the entire 60-day season.

Visit any popular dove hunting field on opening day and you'll soon discover why these tiny gray rockets have become Illinois' most popular gamebird.

The annual dove hunt brings a certain social atmosphere not found during any other hunting season. Long-time hunting companions, husband and wife teams and even entire families gather at

The dove opener brings Illinois' outdoor enthusiasts their first opportunity to go afield and celebrate the arrival of the fall hunting seasons. Without a doubt, the

state's annual dove opener has become a tradition that is treasured by thousands of hunters.

One easy way to assure excellent dove hunting throughout the season is to join one of the private dove hunting clubs in Illinois. With controlled shooting times and excellent field management, Graham Outdoor Adventures near Carlinville offers superb hunting throughout much of the season.

Sportsmen seeking more info about this excellent club can see the website at www.grahamoutdooradventures.com or call (217)854-9394.

dove hunt than merely showing up at any harvested crop field. The hunter needs to know a bit about the bird and its interesting habits.

Intolerant of cold damp weather, doves often head southward with the first signs of cooler weather. An untimely cold front can quickly spoil an opening day

research time. There are certain types of foods that seem to attract these birds like a huge dove magnet.

Sunflower fields are undoubtedly among the best dove hunting areas. Wheat stubble, milo and fresh cut silage fields are also among the top areas to hunt for mourners.

However, doves are finicky when shopping for groceries. Though sunflower seeds certainly rate

high on their list of desired foods, doves will often pass up fields that are not fully matured or poor in quality.

Depending upon the variety, sunflowers typically require three months or longer to fully mature. A

late or unusually wet spring can delay planting and often greatly impact the condition of the crops on opening day.

As might be expected, spring climate conditions can be nearly as important to dove hunting as the

opening day weather. Hunters should also avoid weed-infested fields as they seem less desirable to hungry doves.

The wise sportsman will spend considerable time scouting the fields before selecting an opening day hunting site. During scouting trips, hunters should also watch for flight paths. Flights of doves often follow the contour of the land when entering and exiting a

dove hunting hotspots. After feeding, doves almost always seek water. During a typically dry September, hunting near small lakes, ponds and streams can be

Roosting areas can also offer fast gunning, particularly late in the day. Doves seem to prefer locust

trees as roosts, perhaps because they provide some degree of added protection from predators.

The 2010 Illinois dove season is again split into two segments. The first portion opens Sept 1 and continues through Oct. 31.

The second segment is scheduled for Nov. 6-14. Hunting hours are from sunrise to sunset with a daily bag limit of 15 doves.