Dove Hunting Season Begins September 7

The 2024-2025 dove season is right around the corner.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), opening day will kick off the season on Sat. Sept. 7.

The official 2024-2025 dove season hunting dates are Sept. 7-Oct. 13, Nov. 23-Dec. 1, Dec. 19-Jan. 31. Statewide shooting hours for all dove seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

DNR Wildlife Biologist Kara Nitschke, says hunters should consider visiting a public dove field this year.

She said whether found in a Wildlife Management Area or a Voluntary Public Area Access area, the fields undergo a great deal of preparation to attract as many doves as possible for your hunt.

According to Nitschke the Dove Field Forecast identifies available crops and anticipated field conditions for opening day and can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/hunting/dove.

Hunters should take the Dove Harvest Survey if they hunt on a public dove field.

It provides feedback on your hunt experience. You can find the survey at GeorgiaWildlife.com/hunting/dove.

Hunters can also participate in the Banded Dove project.

In 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with several states, including Georgia, initiated an ongoing dove banding project.

Hunters can participate in this conservation effort by examining harvested doves for leg bands and reporting band numbers to the USFWS at www.reportband.gov.

And if you’ll be hunting on a private field make sure it’s legal.

Check out the online brochure, “Dove Hunting and Agricultural Practices in Georgia,” available at GeorgiaWildlife.com/migratory-bird-info.

And remember hunters 16 years of age and older must have a hunting license and a Georgia Migratory Bird License.

Hunters may purchase licenses online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at license vendor locations (list of vendors available online).

For more information on dove hunting in Georgia, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/migratory-bird-info.