Arizona provides a great chance for dove hunting fans, thanks to its various species and carefully managed hunting seasons. Except for this, there are also various game species you can hunt in this state. This article will offer you all the necessary details about the 2025 Arizona hunting season schedules, including dates, regulations, and hunting methods, with a special focus on the dove season and other game birds.
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.
Season 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 | / |
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.
For more details, you can also check the Arizona Hunting Regulation PDF.
Arizona Turkey Seasons
Spring Turkey Seasons
| Seasons | Areas | Dates | Limits |
| Limited Weapon-Shotgun Shooting Shot Spring Turkey | 1, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12A, 13A, 13B South, 17A, 17B, 18B, 19A, 20A, 21, 22, 23, 24A, 27 | May 9 – May 22, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey |
| 6A, 17A, 17B, 18B, 19A, 20A West and East, 21, 22, 23, 24A, 27 | May 2 – May 22, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey | |
| Camp Navajo in Unit 6B (Disabled Veteran/Wounded Warrior/Purple Heart),Camp Navajo in Unit 6B |
Apr 25 – May 22, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey | |
| Chiricahua Wilderness Hunt Area in Unit 29, 34B |
May 2 – May 29, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey | |
| 31, 32, 33, 34A, 35A, 35B, Fort Huachuca in Unit 35A | May 9 – May 29, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey | |
| 29, 30A, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 35A, 35B, Fort Huachuca in Unit 35A | May 16 – May 29, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey | |
| Youth-Only Limited Weapon Shotgun Shooting Shot Spring Turkey | 3C, 6A, 6B, 23 | May 9 – May 22, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey |
| Youth-Only Nonpermit-Tag Required (Limited Weapon-Shotgun Shooting Shot) Spring Turkey | 1, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 8, 10, 12A and 27 | May 9 – May 22, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey |
| Archery-Only Spring Turkey | 33 (south and east of Redington Road) B | May 16 – May 29, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey |
| 33 (south and east of Redington Road) B | May 9 – May 29, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey | |
| Archery-Only Nonpermit-Tag Required Turkey | 1, 4A, 4B, 6A, 12A and 27 | May 9 – May 22, 2025 | 1 Bearded turkey |
Fall Turkey Seasons
| Seasons | Areas | Dates | Limits |
| Limited Weapon-Shotgun Shooting Shot Turkey | 1, 3C, 4A and 4B, 5A, 5B Sount, 6A, 6B, 7, 8 and 10, 12A, 23, 27 | Oct 4 – Oct 10, 2024 | Any turkey |
| Archery-Only Permit-Tag Required Turkey | Camp Navajo in Unit 6B | Aug 30 – Sep 12, 2024 | Any turkey |
| Youth-Only Limited Weapon-Shotgun Shooting Shot | 1, 4A, 4B, 6A and 27 | Oct 4 – Oct 10, 2024 | Any turkey |
| 12A | Oct 4 – Oct 14, 2024 | Any turkey | |
| Archery-Only Nonpermit-Tag Required Turkey | 1, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B (excluding Camp Navajo), 7, 8, 10, 11M, 12A, 23 and 27 |
Aug 23 – Sep 12, 2024 | Any turkey |
*The 2025 fall turkey seasons haven’t been released. Stay tuned with the post with any new updates.
Arizona Waterfowl Seasons
| Seasons | Species | Dates | Limits |
| General Waterfowl | Ducks including mergansers, coots, and gallinules; including white (snow/blue, Ross’) and dark geese (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted) |
Oct 23, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025 | Ducks and mergansers : 7 per day Coots and gallinules: 25 per day White Geese: 20 per day Dark Geese: 5 per day |
| Scaup | Nov 7, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025 | ||
| Youth-Only Waterfowl | Ducks including mergansers, coots, and gallinules; including white (snow/blue, Ross’) and dark geese (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted) |
Feb 8 – Feb 9, 2025 | Ducks: 7 per day Coots and gallinules: 25 per day White Geese: 20 per day Dark Geese: 5 per day |
| Falconry-Only Waterfowl | Ducks including mergansers, coots, and gallinules | Feb 1 – 4, 2025 | 3 per day |
Arizona Licenses Requirements and Costs
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 |
| Species Tags | Resident | Non-resident | Resident Youth | Non-resident Youth |
| Pronghorn Hunt Permit-tag | $103 | $565 | $103 | $565 |
| Bighorn Sheep Hunt Permit-tag | $313 | $1,815 | $313 | $1,815 |
| Turkey Hunt Permit-tag | $38 | $105 | $237 (for Youth-Only hunts) | $257 (for Youth-Only hunts) |
| Bear Hunt Permit-tag | $38 | $165 | $38 | $165 |
| Javelina Hunt Permit-tag | $38 | $115 | $287 (for Youth-Only hunts) | $307 (for Youth-Only hunts) |
| Elk Hunt Permit-tag | $148 | $665 | $637 (for Youth-Only hunts) | $657 (for Youth-Only hunts) |
| Deer Hunt Permit-tag | $58 | $315 | $387 (for Youth-Only hunts) | $407 (for Youth-Only hunts) |
| Bison – Bull/Any Hunt Permit-tag | $1,113 | $5,415 | $1,113 | $5,415 |
| Bison – Cow/Yearling Hunt Permit-tag | $663 | $3,265 | $663 | $3,265 |
| Bison — Yearling only Hunt Permit-tag | $363 | $1,765 | $363 | $1,765 |
| Sandhill Crane Hunt Permit-tag (3 hunt permit-tags) | $43 | $45 | $43 | $45 |
License Requirements
- License Requirement: Everyone must have a license to hunt wildlife in Arizona, along with any necessary hunt permit-tags or stamps.
- Short-term License: A Short-term Combination Hunting and Fishing License is not valid for big game hunting.
- Age Restrictions: Individuals under 10 can hunt wildlife (excluding big game) without a license if accompanied by a licensed adult aged 18 or older. And no one under 14 may hunt big game without completing a Hunter Education Course.
- Purchasing Licenses: Arizona hunting licenses can be purchased online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website. Licenses are not mailed; instead, hunters must print their licenses at home. They can also be obtained from any license dealer or Arizona Game and Fish Department office.
- Permit Drawings: Permits for most big game species, as well as for Sandhill crane and raptor capture, are issued through a hunt drawing. Hunters must apply for a tag in this drawing to hunt these species.
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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