With the annual dove season opener on September 1, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for hunters, as well as recommendations for areas to hunt.
Doves are abundant statewide and, with generous bag limits, provide excellent wing-shooting opportunities. Doves may be hunted statewide from September 1 through October 30, 2022, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 45, respectively. Bag and possession limits are for mourning, white-winged, and Eurasian collared doves in aggregate. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
Sunflowers, millet, and wheat, which generally provide good food sources and dove hunting opportunities, were planted in numerous wildlife management areas earlier this year. For a listing of these “dove fields,” view the 2022 Dove Hunting Fact Sheet.
Drought conditions are affecting many areas of the state; hunters should follow proper safety practices to prevent wildfires.
Preseason scouting is recommended due to changing habitat conditions. All publicly accessible sites throughout the state – including federal, state, conservation partner and private lands enrolled in Game and Parks’ Open Fields and Waters Program – are displayed in the 2022-2023 Public Access Atlas. Private lands throughout the state also provide excellent hunting opportunities for doves.
Hunters are reminded they must obtain landowner permission prior to accessing private lands in Nebraska.
Nebraska residents 16 years and older and all nonresidents are required to have a valid Nebraska small game hunting permit, habitat stamp, and Harvest Information Program number. Federal and state migratory bird hunting stamps, or duck stamps, are not required to hunt doves. Shotgun plugs restricting it to no more than three shells also are required.
Hunters who harvest a dove with a leg band should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here. In addition, randomly selected hunters will be asked to save one wing from each dove during the first week of the season and mail them postage-free to the Service.
Eurasian collared-doves may be harvested between October 31, 2022, and August 31, 2023, with bag and possession limits of 15 and 45, respectively.
For summaries of hunting regulations, read the Small Game and Waterfowl Guide. Permits can be purchased at the Game and Parks Commission website.
