Eagle Bluffs is a managed hunting CA. There's a draw system to control the number of hunters; it's open only open in the afternoons for the first few days of the season. (It's also a nontoxic shot area.)

Another Schrorer pick is the Lamine River CA, consisting five tracts in Cooper and Morgan counties. The main tract is a mile east of Otterville on Route A. Lamine offers 110 acres of sunflowers and about 25 acres of wheat. As you might expect with so much forage, the fields are scattered. Most of them were in the central and southeast portions of this CA for the 2004 season, and will most likely be there for the 2005 season as well. Another good area is Franklin Island. A sandy river bottom two miles east of New Franklin on Highway 40 in Howard County, it supports over 40 acres of sunflowers and a few acres of wheat. Most of the fields were planted south of U.S. Highway 40 and east of County Road 465 in 2004.

For detailed, up-to-the-minute information about these areas or others in the Central Region call 1-573-882-8388, or check the MDC Web site at www.conservation.state.mo.us.

ST. LOUIS REGION
In north St. Louis County at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, Columbia Bottom CA is the hot area in the central region. And no wonder: It's got almost 300 acres of sunflowers, wheat and wheat stubble.

Joel Porath, wildlife regional supervisor, reports that the dove hunting is fantastic at Columbia Bottom -- this despite the hunting pressure it receives owing to its proximity to metropolitan St. Louis. Because of the hunting pressure, special regulations control dove hunts here. During the first 10 days of the season, the hunting is by drawing only. (The draw is in July, so if you haven't participated already, you're out of luck, at least for this year.) After that it's open hunting with steel shot only.

To get there: Take the I-270 Riverview Drive exit.

Another great spot in this region is Marais Temps Clair CA in St. Charles County, just a little north of St. Charles. Over 40 acres of sunflowers, wheat and millet here attract local and migrating mourning doves. In 2004, most of the plots were planted towards the center of the CA, south of state Highway 94.

If the pressure gets heavy, especially early in the season, access to this one can revert to a draw system as a means of controlling hunter numbers. You'll receive a full status report when you check in at the main office as you enter the CA.

Another spot worth a look is the August A. Busch CA. According to the MDC's Porath, the dove hunting here can be hit or miss, but when you hit it right, it's fantastic; a last-minute report will be available from the St. Louis Regional office by telephone. Busch, situated in St. Charles County, is huge, nearly 7,000 acres. It can be easily accessed from U.S. Highway 40. About 200 acres of sunflowers, wheat and millet are on this CA, most of it southwest of U.S. Highway 40 and northwest of state Highway 94 for the 2004 season. Busch offers morning hunts only, so get there early.