In most areas, the principal management for doves is planting fields for dove shooting. Fields should be 5-10 acres. Large acreages can be planted if the field is long and relatively narrow. If hunters will be posted on both sides, it is best for the field to be at least 100 yards wide.
Fields near a good water supply are more successful than those far from water. This is especially true during dry years.
When planting in rows or with a drill, alternate planted and bate areas. During the shooting period, bare areas should be disked or plowed. When broadcast planting, disc strips prior to the season. Mechanically harvested, hogged-off or mowed fields are attractive to doves. Whenever possible, stagger these practices to extend the time when the field is attractive.
Limit shooting to once or twice a week.
Plants which may be used in dove fields are an annual game-bird mixture, corn, corn and soybean mixture, brown-top millet, proso millet (one of the best overall), brown-top millet-grain sorghum mixture, the various peas, sesame (one of the best in south Georgia), and sorghum soybean-millet mixtures.