Arizona provides a great chance for dove hunting fans, thanks to its various species and carefully managed hunting seasons.
This article will offer you all the necessary details about the 2024 dove seasons in Arizona, such as season dates, regulations, and hunting methods.
Dove Species You Can Hunt In Arizona
In Arizona, there are three primary types of doves: the Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, and Eurasian Collared Dove. Each species offers its own unique characteristics and challenges, making dove hunting in Arizona an exciting experience for hunters.
The Mourning Dove is a popular dove species in North America. It is known for its soft sounds and is found in many places. Its fast and unpredictable flying patterns make it difficult for hunters to catch. The Mourning Dove has a slim body and sharp wings, so hunters need to be accurate and quick to catch it effectively.
The White-winged Dove is another favored species for dove hunting in Arizona. It has distinctive white patches on its wings. It is bigger than the Mourning Dove and flies faster and in a straighter path. You can often find the White-winged Dove in farms and dry areas, giving hunters different places to hunt.
The Eurasian Collared Dove is larger than the Mourning and White-winged Doves. It has a square-shaped tail and a black collar around its neck. Hunters who want more variety in their hunting experience face an extra challenge with the Eurasian Collared Dove because it flies consistently and in a straight line.
Remember that there are specific hunting seasons for each of the species. Now, let’s take a closer look at the key dates for the 2024 dove hunting seasons.
Arizona Dove Seasons
There are separate hunting season opportunities that allow hunters to enjoy bird hunting in the state fully.
The early dove season starts on September 1st and continues till September 15th, 2024. Note that the early season is open for Mourning and White-winged doves only.
Following a break, the late season for dove hunting starts from November 15th to December 29th, 2024.
In the above two seasons, the daily bag limit is 15, with a restriction that no more than 10 can be White-winged doves. The possession limit is 45 in total, with no more than 30 being White-winged doves.
Additionally, there are specific seasons for Eurasian Collared-Doves and Band-tailed Pigeons. The season is remarkably long, from September 1st, 2024, and extending to August 31st, 2025. Hunters will have enough time to hunt dove year-round.
The best part for enthusiasts is not only the long period of hunting season, but also no limits on daily bag or possession on hunting these birds.
Except for the above three dove hunting season, you can still hunt Band-tailed pigeons in Arizona.
The Band-tailed Pigeon season starts from September 27th till October 10th, 2024. The daily bag limit is 2, while the possession limit is 6.
For those specializing in Falconry, an exclusive Statewide Falconry-only Dove Season opens from September 16th to November 1st, 2024, with a daily bag limit of 3 and a possession limit of 9.
Want to go out hunting with your kids? No worries. The state also provides a dedicated hunting opportunity for youth hunters.
As part of encouragement for young enthusiasts, a special two-day hunting trip is provided on September 7th and 8th, 2024, exclusively for youth aged 10 to 17.
Summary:
| Seasons | Dates | Bag Limits |
| Statewide Early Dove Season | Sept. 1–15, 2024 | Daily limit: 15 Possession limit: 45 |
| Statewide Late Dove Season | Nov. 15, 2024–Dec. 29, 2024 | |
| Statewide Eurasian Collared-Dove Season | Sept. 1, 2024–Aug. 31, 2025 | Unlimited |
| Statewide Band-tailed Pigeon Season | Sept. 27–Oct. 10, 2024 | Daily bag limit: 2 Possession limit: 6 |
| Statewide Falconry-only Dove Season | Sept. 16–Nov. 1, 2024 | Daily bag limit: 3 Possession limit: 9 |
| Youth-Only Hunting | Sept. 7–8, 2024 | / |
Arizona Licenses and Regulations
In order to hunt doves in Arizona, hunters must purchase a valid license and follow certain regulations.
Licenses Fees
Individuals who are 18 years old and above need to have a valid hunting license or a combination license along with an Arizona migratory bird stamp.
Individuals between the ages of 10 and 17 are required to have a valid youth combination license.
| License Types | Residents | Non-residents |
| General Hunting | $37 | Not available |
| Combination Hunt and Fish | $57 | $160 |
| Youth Combination Hunt and Fish | $5 | $5 |
| Short-term Combination Hunt and Fish | $15 | $20 |
| Migratory Bird Stamp | $5 | $5 |
Regulations
To ensure ethical and responsible hunting, hunters must respect the regulations such as:
❌Do Not:
- Shoot within a distance of 440 yards from a structure that is occupied without obtaining permission.
- Fire upon, along, or towards streets or
- Leave shotgun shells or any other trash on the floor.
- Search or hunt prey in the water throughout the day, as it could obstruct other animals’ activities to reach the water source.
- Used drugs or alcohol while hunting or handling guns.
✅Do:
- Keep one complete wing with feathers on the bird for identification.
- Separate your daily limits for doves in the field from others. Try not to mix them up.
- Show respect for signs on other’s private property.
- Attempt to retrieve all fallen birds as far as possible.
Legal Methods and Shooting Hours
Multiple legal methods can be used for dove hunting in Arizona. The accepted firearms are:
- Only shotguns of 10-gauge or smaller that can hold a maximum of three shells are allowed for hunting migratory game birds (two in the magazine and one in the chamber).
- Doves are also allowed to be hunted by using a bow and arrow or crossbow or falconry.
Hunting Hours: Dove hunting is legally allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
Conclusion
Arizona offers exciting dove hunting opportunities for both residents and non-residents. By familiarizing yourself with the seasons, regulations, and methods discussed in this article, you can ensure a safe, enjoyable, and successful dove hunting trip in the state.
Make sure to always practice ethical hunting, respect the land, and admire the beauty of this thrilling outdoor activity. Start to mark your calendar for the dove seasons now.
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