Game warden seizes more than 200 doves taken illegally

Jonathan Zweygardt
Hays Post

Four hunters were stopped in Ellis County Tuesday with more than 200 doves over their daily limit.

According to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Captain Dan Melson, a game warden conducted a field inspection on a group of hunters in northern Ellis County Tuesday night just before sunset and discovered the group was well over their limit.

Doves seized in Ellis County. Courtesy of KDWPT

Melson said they had taken 269 doves, 209 over the group’s daily limit. The daily limit in Kansas is 15 doves per hunter.

At this time no charges have been filed because doves are a migratory birds and Melson said charges can be filed in either federal or Ellis County court.

Melson said KDWPT is in contact with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about possibly filing charges in federal court.

If USFWS declines, it will be left up to Ellis County whether to file charges.

According to Melson, a first offense is a class C misdemeanor. If it is a second offense, the fine is at least $250.

Melson said federal courts would typically impose higher fines.