Warmer Weather Means More Dove Hunting

With warm temperatures stretching into mid-September, there are still opportunities for dove hunting in Nebraska.

Cold fronts tend to spur migratory doves to move through Nebraska, said Jeff Lusk, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The warm temperatures that Nebraska has experienced recently have likely encouraged migratory mourning and white-winged doves to stay a bit longer.

Those hunting doves should take care to hunt safely and legally:

— It is unlawful to shoot at birds from roads.

— Hunters may not shoot at birds perched on telephone wires or power lines. Doing so is both unsafe and unlawful.

— Dove hunters must have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Hunters may register for HIP at OutdoorNebraksa.gov/HIP or any Game and Parks office.  A federal migratory bird hunting stamp (duck stamp) is not required to hunt doves. Shotgun plugs are also required, restricting it to no more than three shells.

— Dove hunters who find a leg band on a dove should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at reportband.gov. In addition, randomly selected hunters will be asked to save one wing from each dove during the first week of the season and mail the wings postage-free to the USFWS.

Doves may be hunted statewide. The season is Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 45, respectively. Bag limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared-doves in aggregate. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.