California's dove hunting season opens September 1, kicking off the state's fall hunting tradition. Hunters will target mourning doves and white-winged doves from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The first half of the season runs through September 15, with a second season beginning November 14 and running through December 28. Hunters can take a combined daily limit of 15 doves, with no more than 10 white-winged doves. The possession limit is triple the daily bag limit.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that conditions are "looking good" with increasing dove populations as the season approaches. The agency manages habitat on multiple wildlife areas in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Imperial and Colorado River valleys, including Gray Lodge, Upper Butte Basin, Los Banos, North Grasslands, Mendota, San Jacinto and Imperial Valley wildlife areas and the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve. The agency plants crops such as safflower, sunflower, wheat and other cereal grains to support dove populations.
Hunters must have a valid hunting license, a Harvest Information Program Validation, and an Upland Game Bird Validation. Non-lead ammunition is required. Semi-automatic shotguns must be plugged to limit capacity to three shells maximum.
In addition to mourning and white-winged doves, spotted dove and ringed turtle dove become legal game September 1. Hunting for invasive Eurasian collared dove is open year-round with no bag limits.
License and validation fees support the state's conservation efforts, funding habitat restoration and wildlife management that benefit species far beyond doves.