Georgia DNR Extends Dove Hunting Season for 2019-2020 Season

Dove hunting season traditionally signals the start of the fall hunting season overall and this year, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says dove hunters will have a little longer to bag their birds.

The 2019-2020 migratory bird season hunting dates and regulations, which includes doves, were recently approved by the Board of Natural Resources.

Doves are a federally regulated migratory bird. As such, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annually establishes a framework  within which the states must set their seasons.

That framework includes rules for opening and closing hunting dates, maximum season length, and maximum bag limits.

Recent changes to the maximum closing date for doves allows Georgia to adjust its dove season responsive to public desires.

“For years our dove hunters have expressed a desire to end the dove season later,” said John Bowers, Chief of the Game Management Section of the Wildlife Resources Division. “The recent framework change allows us to provide dove hunting opportunity until January 31, and our dove season provides the maximum opportunity allowed.”

Dove season hunting dates this year are September 7-30, November 23-December 1, and December 6-January 31.

Hunters may purchase licenses online at www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or at more than 800 license agent locations.

A complete summary of migratory bird hunting season dates and bag limits is online at www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations.