The burning of wheat stubble in preparation of double cropping with soybeans has been occurring for several decades. Also, it has been use by farmers to remove the residue for seedbed preparation. However, its use tends to be localized. Burning for agricultural uses has allowed its legal use for dove management. Since burning wheat stubble is considered a normal agricutlural practice, it avoids the federal definition of baiting.
Wheat is an important summer food for doves.
The purpose of burning wheat is to improve the availability of food for doves by removing the stubble and litter and exposing the wheat and associated weed seeds. Do not use adjoining crops such as milo or fescue as a fire break. Conduct burn between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dove hunting regulations are part of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is a strict liability statute. This means that guilt may be established without proving that the hunter had knowledge or intent to violate the law.