AZ DOVE HUNTING

The information provided here is for mobile convenience only. Hunters are reminded that the 2012-13 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations have precedence and is the legal controlling document.

» SEASON DATES «

  • Sept. 1-15, 2012 – Early Dove Season
  • Sept. 1-2, 2012 – Juniors-only Dove Hunt at Robbins Butte Wildlife Area
  • Sept. 1, 2012 - Aug. 31, 2013 – Eurasian Collared-Dove Season
  • Nov. 23, 2012 - Jan. 6, 2013 – Late Dove Season

For details about the juniors-only dove hunt and other dove hunting events, visit our non-mobile dove webpage at www.azgfd.gov/dove.

» SUNRISE TIMES «

Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset, statewide, all seasons

  • Sept. 01, rise 6:03 a.m., set 6:53 p.m.
  • Sept. 05, rise 6:05 a.m., set 6:48 p.m.
  • Sept. 10, rise 6:09 a.m., set 6:41 p.m.
  • Sept. 15, rise 6:12 a.m., set 6:34 p.m.
  • Nov. 25, rise 7:10 a.m., set 5:21 p.m.

(Times shown are for central Arizona. Figure up to nine minutes earlier for eastern areas, nine minutes later for western areas.)

Online sunrise, sunset resource

» BAG LIMITS «

Dove limits: 10 birds in aggregate daily, 20 birds in possession after opening day

  • Early season legal species: Any mourning or white-winged dove
  • Late season legal species: Any mourning dove

Eurasian collared limits: Unlimited daily, unlimited possession

  • Legal species: any collared-dove

» LICENSE REQUIREMENTS «

A hunting license AND a migratory bird stamp are required for all dove hunters 16 and older.

  • Kids age 14 and 15 do not need the migratory bird stamp, but they do need a hunting license. Discounted youth licenses are available.
  • Kids age 13 and under do not need a hunting license when accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older (two kids per adult).

Hunting licenses and migratory bird stamps can be purchased at more than 300 license dealers statewide, any Game and Fish office or website (non-mobile).

» NEW LAWS «

A.R.S. §13-3107 and §13-3108 were revised by the Arizona Legislature and approved by Governor Brewer through SB 1334 (on April 29, 2011) and HB 2543 (in 2010).

These laws transfer authority to regulate the discharge of a firearm for the take of wildlife within the limits of municipalities to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Now, approximately 1 million acres of open, undeveloped, uninhabited desert areas within city limits are now open to dove hunting.

However, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission has taken a conservative, approach in its deployment of these modified authorities by closing hunting in well-defined, densely populated, core areas within Phoenix metro as well as in other metro areas in the state.

Now all the information dove hunters need to know about where it is legal to hunt doves is contained in the annual Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon regulations.

However, with this one-stop resource comes some complexities and responsibilities. Hunters need to read the notes section CAREFULLY for each type of season before they go hunting. Violation of these notes (laws) can result in revocation of one’s hunting privileges.

These changes are monumental for Arizona hunters, but it is also up to hunters to be responsible, ethical, and good neighbors to prevent the law from being changed again.

» BRAGS, STORIES & STORIES «

After your trip to the field trying to bring down those speeding bullets, let us know how you did, share your experience, a photo, and maybe a hunting tip at any one of our social sharing sites:

» MORE INFORMATION «

For a more information about the recent law changes, FAQs, informational handout, full-scale printable map, dove hunting tips and recipes, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department's non-mobile dove web page at www.azgfd.gov/dove.