Dove hunters during the month of September will be required to complete a daily hunting card at the Pony Express Conservation Area south of Maysville. This is a change from earlier policy.

In prior years, hunters were encouraged to pick up a daily hunting card at the area headquarters, provide basic information and drop a portion of the card in the box before their hunt, then return the other half of the card with wildlife harvest information to the drop box after hunting.

This year, filling out the daily hunting card and providing dove harvest information is mandatory. Conservation agents will be checking to see if dove hunters on the area have the cards.

Dennis Browning, management biologist, said the information is used in dove population and migration research. The information also helps wildlife biologists set bag limits and dates for the hunting season. On Sept. 1, opening day for dove season, biologists will also be collecting wings for research.

Hunters are also encouraged to watch for bands on doves used for research by federal wildlife agencies. Those bands have contact information for hunters to utilize. For more information about the Pony Express area, call 816-675-2205.