West Virginia · Dove · 2026–27 Edition
West Virginia Dove Season 2026–27: Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove · Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 1 – Oct 11 |
| Mourning Dove · Segment 2 | Statewide | Nov 2 – Nov 15 |
| Mourning Dove · Segment 3 | Statewide | Dec 7 – Jan 10 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 15 |
|---|---|
| Possession | 45 |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 12:00 — 19:52
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset — except on Sept. 1, when shooting starts at noon. The time shown is West Virginia's noon start for opening day; from Sept. 2 on, the half-hour-before-sunrise rule applies. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local West Virginia sun times for any other date.
04 — License & HIP
Dove hunters in West Virginia need a West Virginia hunting license and — because doves are migratory game birds — HIP registration (Harvest Information Program). No federal Duck Stamp is required for doves.
West Virginia hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in West Virginia — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does dove season open in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
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 West Virginia per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 15. Possession — 45. 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 West Virginia?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:22 to 19:52. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset — except on Sept. 1, when shooting starts at noon. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local West Virginia sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt doves on my own land in West Virginia without a license?
West Virginia resident landowners, their resident children or parents, and resident tenants may hunt, trap, or fish their own land without a license — except on land designated a wildlife refuge or preserve. Some species stamps carry their own separate landowner rules.
Verified · West Virginia Division of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-11
Publisher's note. Dates, limits and hours as announced by WVDNR for 2026-27. THE OPENING DAY HAS ITS OWN SHOOTING HOURS: on Sept. 1 the season starts at noon, not at first light — for the rest of the season the usual half hour before sunrise applies. That single rule catches more West Virginia dove hunters than any date on this page, so the time shown for opening day below is the noon start, not a computed sunrise. WVDNR's separate Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations summary for 2026-27 was not yet posted when this page was verified; it will carry the same dates plus the wildlife-area details, including the special permit for part of Stonewall Jackson WMA on Sept. 1-2.