Weather is always the determining factor on how well the fields produce, said Butterworth. So there's always the chance of a poor growing season, which means the birds will look elsewhere.

Both wildlife areas are good producers later in the season after the excitement of opening day is over. But the late-season birds are usually a little more wary than their early-season counterparts.

Two fields are located south of the upground reservoir northeast of the intersection of county highways 67a and 77. Two fields lie off county Highway 71 east of county Highway 115. Another is between Meeker-Upper Sandusky Road and Washburn Road, close to the southern edge of the state lands.

The area has several ponds that provide doves with a source of water. To say the terrain is flat and relatively open is an understatement.

The area covers 8,627 acres in Wyandot and Marion counties, 11 miles west of Marion.

For more information, call the ODOW's District Two at (419) 424-5000.

RESTHAVEN WA
"I think our fields attract doves because we specifically manage to attract resident and migrant birds," said Butterworth.

The first few days of the season are always hunted heavily. With the opener falling on a Saturday, Butterworth looks for even more hunters.

Doves can be spooked if harassed a few times, and you may need to identify secondary feeding areas. If hunters can find nearby fields where the birds have roosting cover and seed crops to attract them, they may just have the spot to themselves.

Both Killdeer and Resthaven produces multiple limits of doves, said Butterworth. But that can lead to some problems. He reminds hunters to clean up their shells, boxes and snack wrappers before leaving the area; and to clean birds in out-of-the-way spots, rather than near parking lots and traveled areas.

Resthaven's dove fields border Oxbow Road on either side of the dog training area and off Road D-1, northwest of Castalia.

Resthaven lies in Erie and Sandusky counties, a stone's throw from Lake Erie. The area's 2,272 acres are off state routes 6 and 269. Call the ODOW's District Two at (419) 424-5000 for additional information.

DORSET WA
"The dove fields on Dorset change from year to year, depending on what's planted," said wildlife biologist Jeff Westerfield.

"We usually put in sunflower, corn, buckwheat and millet, though not every crop is put in every year. Dorset is surrounded by farmland and has a fair population of doves. But if the crops don't come up as we'd like, there's always the chance that other fields near the area will draw the doves away."

The Dorset WA covers 1,080 acres in Ashtabula County and can be reached from state Route 193 via Tower Road. To reach the dove field, follow Footville-Richmond Road east from state Route 193 in Dorset. The field is next to the parking lot.

Three parking lots give good access to the rest of the area. For more information, call the ODOW's District Three office at (330) 644-2293 or the area manager at Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area at (440) 685-4776.

GRAND RIVER WA
Birds on the Grand River WA enjoy five different fields that total about 25 acres. Buckwheat, sunflowers, corn, millet, wheat and sorghum are all planted in rotation.

Not all of the area is good dove habitat, but the fields should help tip the odds in favor of the hunters.

"If the fields produce well and the weather cooperates, there should be plenty of birds," said Westerfield.

If you want to get off the beaten path, there's timber, ponds and marshes to hunt. There are plenty of field edges where doves will make a brief stopover in nearby trees before moving to the ground to feed.

These secondary fields are worth locating once the birds have been spooked off the main fields during the opening days of the season.

The wildlife area covers 7,231 acres in Trumbull County and is 36 miles outside of Cleveland. Hunters can use state routes 88 and 534 for access. For more information, call the ODOW's District Three office at (330) 644-2293, or the area manager at (330) 644-2293.