Kentucky · Dove · 2026–27 Edition
Kentucky Dove Season 2026–27: Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 1 – Oct 26 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Statewide | Nov 26 – Dec 6 |
| Regular Season · Segment 3 | Statewide | Dec 19 – Jan 10 |
02 — Bag limits
| Mourning & white-winged dove — Daily | 15 birds combined |
|---|---|
| Possession | 45 birds |
| Eurasian collared-dove | No closed season, no bag limit — leave the head or a wing on for identification, and count only mourning/white-winged birds toward the 15-bird limit |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 06:42 — 20:09
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for most of the season, EXCEPT opening day (Sept. 1) on private land, which runs 11 a.m. to sunset instead — and public dove fields (WMAs, leased fields) run that same 11 a.m. start for the entire first segment through Oct. 26, not just opening day. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Kentucky sun times for any other date.
04 — License & HIP
Dove hunters in Kentucky need a Kentucky hunting license and — because doves are migratory game birds — HIP registration (Harvest Information Program). No federal Duck Stamp is required for doves.
Kentucky hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Kentucky — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does dove season open in Kentucky?
The 2026–27 opener is September 1, 2026. Most states open Sep 1 under the federal migratory bird framework.
When does dove season end in Kentucky?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 10, 2027. Split segments and late seasons vary — see the table above.
Do I need a Duck Stamp to hunt doves?
No. Doves are migratory game birds but the federal Duck Stamp is only required for waterfowl (ducks, geese, brant, swans). Dove hunters need only their state hunting license and HIP registration.
How many doves can you shoot in Kentucky per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Mourning & white-winged dove — Daily — 15 birds combined. Possession — 45 birds. Eurasian collared-dove — No closed season, no bag limit — leave the head or a wing on for identification, and count only mourning/white-winged birds toward the 15-bird limit. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting doves in Kentucky?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:42 to 20:09. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for most of the season, EXCEPT opening day (Sept. 1) on private land, which runs 11 a.m. to sunset instead — and public dove fields (WMAs, leased fields) run that same 11 a.m. start for the entire first segment through Oct. 26, not just opening day. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Kentucky sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt doves on my own land in Kentucky without a license?
Kentucky resident farmland owners — or their spouse or dependent children — may hunt (not trap) and fish that land without a license; resident tenants living there and their dependent children get the same right. Season dates, zone rules, bag limits, and telecheck reporting still apply.
Verified · Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. From the official Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl, September 2026 – March 2027. Kentucky splits dove into a mourning/white-winged dove bag combined at 15/45 — Eurasian collared-dove is a separate species with no bag limit at all (it isn't a protected migratory bird), so hunters are told to stop once they've reached 15 mourning/white-winged birds even if they keep shooting collared doves. SHOOTING HOURS ARE UNUSUALLY LAYERED: opening day (Sept. 1) runs 11 a.m. to sunset on private land — not the normal half-hour-before-sunrise start — to spread out opening-day pressure; the rest of the season reverts to the standard half-hour-before-sunrise-to-sunset rule. Public dove fields (WMAs, leased fields) run the same 11 a.m. start through the whole first segment (Sept. 1–Oct. 26), not just opening day, then switch to the standard rule for the second and third segments. Hunters need a Kentucky hunting license, the Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit, and a completed HIP survey — everyone except license-exempt hunters and those aged 12-15 (who need a hunting license but not the permit). Public dove fields are closed to all access Aug. 15 through sunrise on Sept. 1, and decoys are barred on public fields before Oct. 1.