Nebraska Dove Hunting Season Begins Sept. 1
OutdoorHub 08.17.11
LINCOLN, Neb. – Dove hunting season opens Sept. 1, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. This season presents good opportunities to take young hunters out into the field.
Doves may be hunted statewide from Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, except no hunting is allowed on state and federal refuges and sanctuaries. The aggregate bag and possession limits for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared-doves are 15 and 30, respectively. Also, Eurasian collared-doves may be hunted Oct. 31 – Aug. 31, 2012. The bag and possession limits are 15 and 30, respectively.
Nebraska residents 16 years and older and all nonresidents are required to have a 2011 Nebraska hunting permit and a habitat stamp for all dove hunting. A 2011 Harvest Information Program number is required for dove hunting Sept. 1 – Oct. 30 but not required for the Oct. 31 – Aug. 31 Eurasian collared-dove season.
Some doves have been banded. Hunters who find a leg band on a dove should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) banding office toll-free at 800-327-BAND or report it at reportband.gov.
And some hunters will be asked to save a wing from each dove during the first week of the season and mail the wings postage-free to the USFWS. Data from the wings will be used to estimate annual productivity of the dove population.
Sunflower, millet and wheat generally provide good dove-hunting opportunities. They have been planted at several wildlife management areas across the state. For a list of WMAs, and more dove-hunting information, visit OutdoorNebraska.org, then click on Hunting, Upland Game, Doves and 2011 Forecast.
Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.
