Dove hunting season opened on Thursday, Sept. 1 at noon (local time), which marks the annual start of one of Tennessee's most long-standing outdoor sports traditions.

Tennessee's 2016 season is again divided into three segments: Sept. 1 through Sept. 28; Oct. 8 through Oct. 30; and Dec. 8 through Jan. 15, 2017. Hunting times, other than opening day, are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Doves are found throughout the various regions in the state, but the highest concentration is in farming areas. The hunter must have in his/her possession a valid state hunting license and Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit at all times while hunting. Hunters must have landowner's permission to hunt on private land.

The daily bag limit for doves is 15. There is no limit on collared doves.

The mourning dove is the most hunted and the most harvested migratory game bird in North America. There are about 450 million birds in the continental population. The overall harvest in the U. S. is 45 million birds. In Tennessee, some 100,000 dove hunters harvest an estimated 2 million or more doves annually.

Source:

Partner Station WMSR