The Georgia dove hunting season opens Sat. Sept. 4, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources\u2019\u00a0Wildlife Resources Division.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor wing shooters, dove season kicks off the fall hunting season,\u201d says Alan Isler, Chief of the department’s Game Management Section. \u201cTwo big changes this year includes expanding the first dove season into October and changing opening day shooting hours \u2013 make sure you take note of the right shooting hours for the field you plan to hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The official 2021-2022 dove seasons are Sept. 4 to Oct. 10, Nov. 20 to 28 and Dec. 19 to Jan. 31. Statewide shooting hours — for all of the dove season — are one-half hour before sunrise\u00a0to sunset. However, on managed Wildlife Management Area quota dove hunts, shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The state is also releasing the following tips and information for hunting season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Dove Field Forecast<\/em><\/strong> (https:\/\/georgiawildlife.com\/hunting\/dove<\/a>): The dove field forecast identifies available crops and anticipated hunting conditions for opening day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Regulations Quick Review<\/em><\/strong>: The daily bag limit is 15 doves per hunter. Collared doves may\u00a0be taken and do not count toward your daily limit. Shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shot shells while hunting doves. Hunters must obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Report Banded Doves<\/em><\/strong>: In 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife\u00a0Service, 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 atwww.reportband.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Private Field Plans? Make Sure the Field is Legal<\/em><\/strong>: Check out the online brochure, \u201cDove Hunting and Agricultural Practices in Georgia,\u201d available at http:\/\/georgiawildlife.com\/migratory-bird-info<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licenses Needed<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0Hunters 16 years of age and older need to have a hunting license and a Georgia Migratory Bird Stamp. This stamp is how Georgia\u00a0participates\u00a0in the federal Harvest Information Program. Some licenses allow the license holder\u00a0to get the Georgia Migratory Bird Stamp at no cost.\u00a0Hunters may purchase licenses online at\u00a0www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com<\/a>, by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at license vendor locations (list of vendors available online).<\/p>\n\n\n\n