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Register free at Ky. Fish and Wildlife website

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Free registration to participate in Kentucky’s quota mentor-youth dove hunts is about to end.

Hunters have until 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) Friday, Aug. 16 to apply for a hunt.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources offers these hunts to allow adults to provide kids with a quality dove hunting experience. Participation is limited, to avoid crowding of fields. Adult hunters can take up to two youths under the age of 16.

Dove season opens statewide Sept. 1.

People have had two weeks to apply.

“Mentors must go online and complete the registration. Then, they can go back to the website by Aug. 23 to see if they were drawn for the mentor hunt,” said Migratory Bird Program Coordinator John Brunjes.

Kentucky will offer four mentor-youth dove hunting fields this season in Ballard, Union, Lincoln and Grant counties. Statewide, Kentucky has 40 fields open for public dove hunting.

Hunters can find dove field locations, maps and online applications at fw.ky.gov, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website. A new regulation effective this year prohibits hunters from entering fields for public dove hunting from Aug. 15 until sunrise, Sept. 1. Hunters may still park nearby to scout fields at a distance.

Information about regulations governing dove and migratory bird hunting is available online at fw.ky.gov by searching under the keyword, “dove.”