North Carolina · Dove · 2026–27 Edition
North Carolina Dove Season 2026–27: Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 5 – Oct 10 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Statewide | Nov 7 – Nov 28 |
| Regular Season · Segment 3 | Statewide | Dec 16 – Jan 30 |
| Extended Falconry | Statewide | Oct 12 – Oct 24 |
02 — Bag limits
| Mourning & white-winged dove — Daily | 15 birds combined |
|---|---|
| Possession | 45 birds (three times the daily bag — not printed in the season table itself, set by the proclamation's own notes) |
| Extended Falconry | 3 daily / 9 possession, singly or in the aggregate — not on top of the gun-season bag |
| Every week of the season | No hunting of migratory game birds by any method on Sundays |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 5, 2026) 06:23 — 19:38
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory game birds (per NCWRC proclamation) — no Sunday hunting of migratory game birds by any method, all season. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local North Carolina sun times for any other date.
04 — License & HIP
Dove hunters in North Carolina need a North Carolina hunting license and — because doves are migratory game birds — HIP registration (Harvest Information Program). No federal Duck Stamp is required for doves.
North Carolina hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in North Carolina — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does dove season open in North Carolina?
The 2026–27 opener is September 5, 2026. Most states open Sep 1 under the federal migratory bird framework.
When does dove season end in North Carolina?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 30, 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 North Carolina per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Mourning & white-winged dove — Daily — 15 birds combined. Possession — 45 birds (three times the daily bag — not printed in the season table itself, set by the proclamation's own notes). Extended Falconry — 3 daily / 9 possession, singly or in the aggregate — not on top of the gun-season bag. Every week of the season — No hunting of migratory game birds by any method on Sundays. 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 North Carolina?
On opening day (September 5, 2026) legal light runs 06:23 to 19:38. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory game birds (per NCWRC proclamation) — no Sunday hunting of migratory game birds by any method, all season. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local North Carolina sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt doves on my own land in North Carolina without a license?
A North Carolina landholder — owner, or a lessee who mainly cultivates the land — plus their spouse and dependents under 18 living with them, may hunt, trap, and fish it without a license. Elk, alligator, and the bear stamp aren't included, and deer, bear, or turkey still need a free License-Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card.
Verified · North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. From the NCWRC Executive Director's signed Proclamation for the 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons and Extended Falconry Hunting Seasons (N.C.G.S. § 113-291.2(f) and § 113-291.1(f)), dated April 21, 2026. TWO RULES A HUNTER WOULD MISS FROM A DATES-ONLY SUMMARY: the proclamation's own table lists no possession limit for dove — it's set separately in the notes at three times the daily bag (45), and there is NO hunting of migratory game birds by any method on Sundays, statewide, every week of the season. Both apply to every species this proclamation covers, not dove alone.