NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Dove season opens today in Tennessee, continuing what the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has called "one of the state's most long-standing outdoor sports traditions."
The daily bag limit for doves is 15, though the TWRA said that there is no limit on collared doves.
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"Doves not readily identifiable as collared doves will be considered mourning doves and will count toward the mourning dove daily bag limit," the TWRA noted in a Wednesday press release. "No person shall take migratory game birds by the aid of baiting, or on any baited area. Any auto-loading or repeating shotgun must be incapable of holding more than three shells while being used for dove hunting."
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Public dove fields in Region 1 include:
- Big Sandy, Bogota
- Camden, Eagle Lake
- Harmon Creek
- Horns Bluff
- John Tully
- Moss Island
- Natchez Trace
- Obion River
- Parker Branch
- Thorny Cypress
- Three Rivers
- Tigrett
- Tumbleweed
- White Oak
- Wolf River Unit 1
Public dove fields in Region 2 include:
- Bark Camp Barrens
- Cheatham Lake
- Haley Jaqueth
- Haynes Bottom
- Laurel Hill
- Mingo Swamp
- Percy Priest
- Sheltons Ferry
- Williamsport
- Yanahli
Public dove fields in Region 3 include:
- Bridgestone Firestone
- Catoosa
- Hiwassee
- Jackson Swamp
- McGlothin Largen
- North Chickamauga
- Pea Ridge
- Pentice Cooper
- Tellico Lake
Public dove fields in Region 4 include:
- Buffalo Springs
- Chuck Swan
- Forks of the River
- Joachim Bible Refuge Field
- Kyles Ford
- Lick Creek Bottoms
The TWRA urges hunters to become familiar with migratory bird hunting regulations before setting out into the field. See more about responsible dove hunting, and dove hunting legislation, here.
However, dove season isn't the only season that starts today.
"A short crow hunting season overlaps with the opening week of dove season, Sept. 1-5," the TWRA said in a press release. It will resume Sept. 13 through Dec. 20 and hunting is allowed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only in this segment."
Additionally, the early season for several other species of geese starts today, including Canada, Brant, blue, snow and Ross'. The early season for those species continues through September 22. Click here for information on bag limits.
The season for moorhens, gallinules, Virginia and sora rails also opens today and closes on November 9. To hunt these species, make sure you have a Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit. Click here for more information about hunting licenses and permits, or to purchase a permit.
You can obtain a copy of the 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Guide at any TWRA regional office or license vendor.