AZGFD

Dove Hunt Information

There is only one place to be on Sept 1, Dove Hunting!

The 2018-2019 dove season outlook

The first half of 2018 was an extremely dry year. Based on what we’re seeing in the field, the mourning doves may not have pulled off as many nests as usual. Early estimates are 3-4 nests versus the regular 5-6 nests. So what does that mean? Well, you still have to consider the scale we’re talking about. A down year like this one will mean there’s approximately 20 million mourning doves on opening day instead of 30 million. You are still going to find plenty of doves out there.

The white-winged dove call counts still remain at high levels. It’s early August as I write this and white-winged doves are still abundant in most areas. If we get any really big storms between now and the opener many will start to migrate out of the state. If the monsoon slows down, we could be in for a very good opening day with white-winged doves.

Agricultural areas that grew small grain crops (like wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, etc.) will still have the greatest abundance of doves. If you plan to hunt the desert, focus on finding water sources.

Here’s what you need to know:

-Hunters age 18 and older need a valid Arizona Hunting License and Migratory Bird Stamp
-Hunters age 17 and under only need the Youth Combination License
-The bag limit is 15 doves a day (mourning and white-winged doves combined)
-No more than 10 per day can be white-winged doves
-There is a 45-bird possession limit after opening day
-Eurasian collared doves have no bag limit or possession limit

Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations
Buy your license

Gear and Equipment

Any style shotgun in any gauge that you shoot well is perfect for dove hunting.

Shot sizes from No. 7 ½, 8s or 9s will work just fine bringing down a dove, while they are fast, they are not overly tough on the wing.

Camouflage clothing is not as necessary as much as standing still and breaking up your silhouette.

Hunter orange is not mandatory, but a little is a great way to help others see you in the field in those pre-dawn hours.

Hunters should have ear and eye protection, water, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, bags and cooler to store their harvest.

Simplified License Requirements

A hunting license AND an Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp are required for all dove hunters ages 10 years and older.

The new Youth Combination Hunt and Fish License (ages 10-17) includes the Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp.
Kids under age 10 do not need a hunting license when accompanied by a licensed adult (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 online.

Open Hunting Areas

The latest map is below and the legal description of the boundaries are listed in the current dove regulations.

Recent law changes increased dove hunting access compared to recent years. Now, approximately 1 million acres of open, undeveloped, uninhabited desert areas on the periphery of city limits are now open to dove hunting.

Nevertheless, hunters can’t expect carte blanche access. The Game and Fish Commission has taken a conservative, thoughtful approach in its deployment of these shifted or modified authorities.

For instance, Game and Fish has closed hunting in a well-defined, densely populated, core area within Metro-Phoenix (see “Restrictions in Metro Areas” section below for map).

Even with these no hunting areas, the changes still maximizes hunting opportunity, while at the same time minimizing potential conflicts with urban communities.

The public should not be concerned about these new changes having an effect on the safety in their communities. It is important to note that even before these changes, there are three existing key state laws that make it illegal to hunt near homes, roadways, or trespass on private property, including:

A.R.S. § 17-309 (a)(4) It is unlawful for a person to:

“Discharge a firearm while taking wildlife within one-fourth mile of an occupied farmhouse or other residence, cabin, lodge or building without permission of the owner or resident.”

A.R.S. § 17-301(b):

“…No person may knowingly discharge any firearm or shoot any other device upon, from, across or into a road or railway.”

A.R.S. § 17-304 provides provisions for private landowners ensuring:

A person may not trespass on private property for taking wildlife if that property is posted ‘no hunting’ or if a person is asked to leave by the owner.

If anyone observes any these laws being violated, they should contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 352-0700, or the local law enforcement agency immediately.

Yuma Dove Hunting

Yuma is gearing up for another great dove season. There are a number of grain fields keeping doves close by. As long as Yuma doesn’t get beat up too bad by summer monsoon rains before the opening day, white-winged doves will remain plentiful before they migrate south.

Check out the www.yumadovehunting.com website for local information on the Yuma dove hunting hot spot. They have hunting information, events, activities, contests and visitor information.

Also, if you haven’t been to Yuma, and many consider the dove capitol of the country, check out this photo essay from the Arizona Wildlife Views – it will leave you wanting to take part in the festivities.

Hunting Tips

Scouting Tips

A good place to start your scouting is using Google Earth, www.google.com/earth. This valuable tool is great for locating water holes, dense roosting sites, and travel corridors before you gas up the truck for an on-the-ground inspection. An added bonus is the site gives you GPS coordinates that you can load in as waypoints on your GPS device to assist your scouting.

Another great website for scouting is Rain Log, www.rainlog.org. This site is a great way to find out the amounts of rainfall across the state. Just because you got a big storm in your neighborhood doesn’t mean your favorite dove spot did, and vice versa. Knowing this information will help you strategize your hunt. For example, if the area you hunt has been dry, find the biggest waterhole in the area and wait for the flights. If the opposite condition exists, focus your hunt around large roosting areas, or concentrated food sources.

When you hit the field to do your scouting, preferably the week before the hunt, be sure to bring a pair of binoculars to assist in locating flights of birds, a good map (with landownership), and your GPS with your pre-scouting waypoint locations. If you find a good flight pattern get out of the vehicle and find out what the birds are doing, eating, drinking, loafing, roosting, etc. Knowing what activity they are doing, and the time of day will be valuable when you plan your hunt. Spending a half day and the gas to do so will pay off come opening day.

Shooting Tips

Doves are incredibly fast – up to 55 mph. Doves are extremely agile – can change direction almost instantly. Doves are relatively small – 4 ounces, 12 inches long. Combine those ingredients and you have some challenging wing shooting. Common reasons for missing doves include taking shots at birds too far away or too high, shooting behind the bird, not picking one bird from a group (flock shooting), and waiting too late to take the shot.

Safety and Responsibility

Hunting in Arizona statistically is much safer activity than what some might perceive. Dove hunting is a very popular tradition, and more than 30,000 participate each year – typically the opening weekend. Here are a couple of basic safety tips, that in nearly all cases – will prevent an accident.

Maintain your zone of fire – this is 45 degree field of view “between 10 and 2 o’clock” in front of the hunter
Shoot for the sky – all shots should be above the tree line, birds should have clear sky above and below for a safe shot around other hunters and dogs
Know your range – don’t hunt too close to others, at 100 yards (football field) birdshot pellets can still have an impact
T.A.B. +1 – Treat every firearm like it’s loaded; Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; Be sure of your target and beyond; +1 keep your finger off the trigger until you are certain of your shot and ready to shoot
Unloaded and stored – Be sure to unload you firearm before you return to your vehicle and stow it safely. Never lean a loaded gun on the side of a vehicle, on the tailgate, in the truck, or otherwise

Snakes

Rattlesnakes are typically active during the early dove season. Dove hunters should avoid walking directly through thick cover, or blindly grab a downed bird from the brush without carefully looking for snakes. Gun dogs should be snake broken. Finally, snakes are also a part of our environment. Leave them alone, and they will do the same to you. There are 13 rattlesnake species in Arizona, learn more.

Video: Two ways to clean your doves in the field

Dove Kabobs

There is nothing like the feeling of shooting a dove at first light on a humid Arizona morning, but sometimes, the best part of the hunt is sharing your harvest with close friends and family members. Here is a tried and true recipe, guaranteed to get you excited about that 3 a.m. wakeup.

Using filleted dove meat marinated in Italian dressing, onions, green peppers, red peppers, bacon, and corn. Then build your kabob to your tastes. Grill on the top rack (or indirectly) for 15 minutes to bring all the ingredients to temperature, then cook on the bottom rack over hot fire, quickly, for about 5 minutes. Dove meat should be rare to medium-rare for best taste. Serve with cheese-garlic toast and wild rice. Will feed 6-10 people.

10 dove breasts – filleted off breast bone
2 bell peppers
2 red peppers
1 large red onion
4 ears of corn
1 pound bacon
2 cups Italian dressing

Remove dove breast from bone and quarter. Marinate in Italian dressing for 1-2 hours. Chunk cut peppers and onions. Slice corn into one-inch wide wheels. Slice bacon into 3-4 inch strips. On a skewer, alternate vegetables and dove, using bacon on both sides of meat and an onion slice by the bacon.

But the fun is, you can build them how you like. Slow cook over indirect heat for 15 minutes, then cook on hot grill, basting with Italian dressing often. Dove should be cooked rare to medium-rare.

About Hunting and Conservation

North American Wildlife Conservation Model

Regardless of whether one chooses to actively participate in hunting or angling, people interested in wildlife and its future should understand the conservation role sportsmen play.

Hunting and angling are the cornerstones of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. These activities continue to be the primary source of funding for conservation efforts in North America. Through self-imposed excise tax on hunting, angling and shooting sports equipment, hunters and anglers have generated more than $10 billion toward wildlife conservation since 1939.

Arizona’s 7-Core Concepts of Conservation

Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust
Regulated Commerce in Wildlife
Hunting and Angling Laws are Created Through
Public Process
Hunting and Angling Opportunity for All
Hunters and Anglers Fund Conservation
Wildlife is an International Resource
Science is the Basis for Wildlife Policy

Note: Did you know, mourning doves are the most numerous, widespread game bird in North America? They are prolific breeders with an average life span of 1-2 years. Dove hunting seasons are regulated and maintain doves as a sustainable wildlife resource. Dove hunters are a valuable conservation tool. There is an excise tax on firearms and ammunition that is contributed to the federal Pitman-Robertson Fund, which in turn is apportioned to state wildlife agencies for the management of wildlife, which benefits all citizens.

Additionally, hunters provide hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy, by purchasing ammunition, gas, food and lodging while engaging in this American tradition. To learn more about this cycle of success, and the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Fund, visit /www.azgfd.gov/h_f/federal-aid-cycle.shtml.