Dove is the first opener of the hunting year across most of the country — the season that starts the calendar, run under a federal framework each state then fills in. The earliest opener we track is California on September 1, 2026. Every state below links to its own page with the full segment table, bag limits and legal light.
01 — Opening dates, earliest first
| State | Opens | First segment | Through | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Eurasian Collared-dove & Spotted Dove | Dec 28, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Colorado dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning & White-Winged Dove | Nov 29, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Delaware dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Illinois dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Eurasian Collared-dove, Ringed Turtle Dove & Pigeon | Jan 9, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Indiana dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove · Segment 1 | Dec 31, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Iowa dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove | Nov 29, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Kansas dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Exotic Dove (Eurasian collared / ringed turtledove) | Nov 29, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Kentucky dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Regular Season · Segment 1 | Jan 10, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Maryland dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove · Segment 1 (12 noon – sunset) | Jan 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Minnesota dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove | Nov 29, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Missouri dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Regular season (Mourning + Eurasian collared) | Dec 16, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Nebraska dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Eurasian Collared-dove only | Oct 30, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Ohio dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Regular Season · Segment 1 | Jan 1, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Oklahoma dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Dove (mourning, white-winged & Eurasian collared) · Segment 1 | Dec 29, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Oregon dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove · Segment 1 | Dec 14, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 2, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Tennessee dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Opener · Noon start (12:00 – sunset) | Jan 15, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Texas dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Regular Season · Segment 1 | Jan 21, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Washington dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove | Oct 30, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| West Virginia dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 10, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Wisconsin dove season | Sep 1, 2026 | Mourning Dove | Nov 29, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Alabama dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Opener · Afternoon-only (12:00 noon – sunset) | Jan 17, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Arkansas dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Mourning & White-Winged Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 15, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Georgia dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Mourning Doves · Segment 1 | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Louisiana dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Mourning & White-winged Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 17, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Mississippi dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Mourning & White-winged Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 24, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| North Carolina dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Regular Season · Segment 1 | Jan 30, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| South Carolina dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | Mourning Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Virginia dove season | Sep 5, 2026 | First Segment · Opener (noon–sunset) | Jan 18, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Florida dove season | Sep 26, 2026 | Mourning & White-winged Dove · Segment 1 | Jan 31, 2027 | Opens in 10 days |
“Opens” is the earliest date anywhere in that state, and “First segment” names what that date belongs to — a first segment in September and a last one in January belong to the same season. States split seasons into segments with closed weeks between them, so read the state page before you plan a date.
02 — What changes from state to state
September 1 is the common opener, and most states take it. The rest start a few days later, and Florida runs its own later calendar.
Nearly every state splits the season into two or three segments with closed weeks between them, so a single “opens” date describes the first segment rather than a continuous season.
Some states hold the opening day to noon rather than legal light, and a few count Eurasian collared-dove inside the daily bag while their neighbours leave it unlimited.
03 — FAQ
When does dove season start?
In most states, September 1. The table above lists every state we cover with its own opening date, and a handful start in the first week of September instead.
When does dove season end?
Dove seasons usually close in January after the final segment. Because the season runs in split segments, the closing date on a state page marks the end of the last one.
Do I need a license as well as a tag?
Yes — every state requires a hunting license, and most add a species tag, permit or stamp on top of it. Costs and age rules sit on each state's license page, linked from its dove season page.
04 — Elsewhere in the almanac
Each state page is read from that state's own wildlife agency and carries the date it was checked. The most recent verification across these 30 states was 2026-09-07. Season dates carry legal weight — confirm against the agency's own regulations before you hunt.