Daily dove bag limit increases in Georgia and South Carolina

The daily bag limit for dove hunting has increased from 12 birds per day to 15 birds per day.

According to Lake Front Hartwell News, "this change is based on extensive analysis and recommendations from dove biologists from eastern states striving for a consistent mourning dove season and bag limit throughout the Eastern Management Unit (EMU). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurred with the increased bag limit and it is available for the 2008-09 dove season."

Previously if the daily bag limit increased the hunting days decreased, but this year hunters will be able to hunt 15 birds with the full 70-day season in Georgia and South Carolina.

The dove hunting season is segmented into three parts. Georgia will open it season for the first segment on September 6 until September 21. The second segment will open October 11 until 19, and the last segment runs from November 27th to January 10th.

Hunting hours (except for September 6th in Georgia and September 1-6 in South Carolina) will be 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset in both states.

So you ask, "Where do I go dove hunting in Georgia?"

Dove hunting land in Georgia is usually found on or around agricultural fields. Doves like to gather around recently harvested crop fields. Features such as water and perching places (trees, snags, power lines) also appeal to doves.

From the Georgia DNR Web site: "Georgia has more than 90 wildlife management areas (WMA) throughout the state, and there's one within an hour's drive of every Georgian. Through the WMA system, hunters have access to nearly one million acres of hunting land for the price of one WMA stamp."

Here is a PDF from the DNR site that includes hunting regulations and the locations of the WMAs:Hunting Regulations and WMAs

Tips for Buying Land for Sale

Whether you are looking into buying land for sale as a real estate investment or you're looking to find hunting land for sale there are several general things to consider.

As with any project large in scope, clearly define your goals and expectations. Having a clear understanding of why you want to buy land makes the process a little bit easier. This may seem like a "head-smacking tip," but you'll be glad you clearly outlined your purpose.

Determine what you want your land to be near.

Obviously land further from development is cheaper, but it will be more expensive if you intend to build on it. Builders often charge more the further they have to drive to the site. It can also be costly to dig a well or build a septic tank, and these things may have to be built the further you are from the city.

Determine if you can even build on the land.

According to a CNN Money article, the checklist below will help you determine if the land for sale can be built upon:

ZONING How the land is zoned determines what rises on it. Farmers across the country are subdividing their excess farmland into homesites and hanging FOR SALE signs -- but if the land is still zoned for agricultural use, the law may allow just one home for every, say, 40 acres. A five-acre parcel, therefore, isn't worth much.

Back at city hall, find out what your zoning designation means, whether a zoning change is planned and how to obtain a building permit. Ask what kind of setbacks from the property boundaries are required. Check flood maps to see if the property is in a flood zone. And if your land borders water, environmental regulations may limit your ability to develop the land as you'd like.

UTILITIES Are there hookups for water and sewer, electricity and telephone? If not, find out when the city plans to extend access. If there's no sewer, you'll need to order soil tests from the county health department or a local engineering firm to determine whether the land can support a septic system.

SOIL QUALITY Depending on the region, you may need soil borings to determine how far down builders must go to excavate for your foundation -- too much moisture can add tens of thousands of dollars to building costs. Also, if you need to dig a well for water, find out how deep you'll likely have to go; well digging can get expensive.

TOPOGRAPHY Hills or steep slopes will affect what you can build and how much it will cost. That woodsy tract also means you'll spend big bucks on tree removal in order to build.

ROAD ACCESS If your land isn't accessible by a public road, there should be a deeded right-of-way that gives you the right to access your land. That means you and your neighbors will be responsible for road upkeep, adding more costs to the project. Find out if the road floods during heavy rain or snow.

Finding the money to buy the land for sale is the next step in the whole land buying process. It is also a step that unfortunately can't be skipped.

Many lenders see vacant land as a risky investment so they require large down payments. If you finance the land locally, the lenders may be more familiar with the area, and therefore be more willing to take the risk.

Bird Watching in Georgia-- A sometimes forgotten activity on your recreational land

While bird watching may seem as exciting to you as watching paint dry, it can actually be a very thrilling past time to adopt on your recreational property.

Now is a perfect time to do a little research on bird watching in Georgia. The fall migration season is just getting started.

Bob Zaremba, a birder in Georgia says, "The fall migration season begins in July with the arrival of the first migrants around the 4th of the month. The first arrivals are usually black-and-white warbler, Northern parula and black-throated green warbler. The migration slowly builds over the next few weeks as cerulean and worm-eating warblers begin to pass through. By the end of the first week of August, prairie and hooded warblers are making an appearance. The migration picks up in late August and into September peaking towards the middle of the month."

Non-migratory birds can also be found year-round in the state. Birds that do not migrate are called resident birds. In Georgia, our year-round resident American goldfinch waits until around this time to breed. Apparently there is a relationship between the flowering of thistles and the start of nest building.

Are you wondering, "Where can I find sites about bird watching in Georgia?"

There are many fantastic resources online that point to what Georgia land is best for birding. You can use these sites to bird watch on your own, or sign up for a bird walk.

Oconee Rivers Audubon Society
http://www.oconeeriversaudubon.org/index.html

eBird
http://ebird.org/content/ebird

Georgia Birding
http://www.georgia-birding.com/