Hunters statewide can celebrate the beginning of dove season at noon Saturday, September 5. Long-awaited opening day is traditionally considered the beginning of fall hunting season, and with the numerous wildlife management area hunts scheduled, it is the perfect opportunity to introduce children and grandchildren to the sport.
The official 2009-2010 dove seasons are Sept. 5-20, Oct. 10-18 and Nov. 26 - Jan. 9. Shooting hours are noon until sunset on opening day (Sept. 5) of the first season and one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for the remaining two seasons. Sunrise and sunset times for each day are found in the 2009-2010 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide or online at www.georgiawildlife.com .
The daily bag limit is 15 doves per hunter. Additionally, there have been some reports of white-winged doves in Georgia. White-winged doves may be harvested, but count toward the daily bag limit of 15. Any autoloading or other repeating shotgun must be plugged to hold no more than three shotshells while hunting doves. As always, hunters must obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property and please respect the land by cleaning up spent shells, leaving gates the way they were found and removing all trash.
Dove hunters 16 years of age and older must possess a Georgia hunting license and a free Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program Permit.
