Dove hunting is fall’s first major hunting season

When the calendar turns to Sept. 1, which happened last Sunday, it brought with it Oklahoma’s first major hunting season of the fall. Dove hunting is highly anticipated by thousands of hunters.

However, if you’ve never tried dove hunting, it’s very easy to get started. A shotgun, an ample supply of shells, a place to go and a state hunting license is all most people really need to have a great day of dove hunting.

Dove are found from one side of the state to the other, and hunters don’t have to travel far to find them. Recently harvested grain fields and cattle watering ponds on private land can be excellent places to hunt dove. Additionally, excellent hunting can be found on many of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s wildlife management areas.

ODWC habitat managers prepare dove hunting fields on many wildlife management areas statewide. For an interactive map of these public areas, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/ resources/mgb/dove/fields.

Public access via permit is also offered through the Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP), which leases private land statewide for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.

To find out more about these areas, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com, click “Hunting” then “Where to Hunt.” Or check on the Go Outdoors Oklahoma mobile app. Hunters will find maps of WMAs along with information such as camping locations and contact information for local area managers.

Dove season remains open until Oct. 31, then will reopen Dec. 1-29. The daily bag limit of mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves is 15 in aggregate, but there is no limit on the Eurasian dove if the head or a fully feathered wing remains with the bird.

New this year, anyone age 17 and younger may hunt doves in Oklahoma without needing a hunting license or a federal Harvest Information Program permit. A HIP permit is required of all other hunters ages 18-63, unless exempt otherwise.

Ensure you are abiding by all the rules in the current Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations found online at www.wildlifedepartment.com, in the Go Outdoors Oklahoma mobile app, or in print across the state wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Waterfowlers won’t be waiting much longer before they can get out into the marsh or field to do some hunting in Oklahoma. Sept. 7 marks opening day for two early waterfowl seasons in Oklahoma. The September teal season will run through Sept. 22, and the special resident Canada goose season will run through Sept. 16.

Because blue-winged teal and greenwinged teal usually migrate through Oklahoma earlier than many other ducks, hunters are offered the chance to harvest these birds before regular duck seasons. Teal are small, fast fliers and have an erratic flight pattern, challenging even the best of wing-shooters.

Hunters are reminded that only teal may be harvested, and bird identification is important. Hunters often see other species of ducks while teal hunting, such as resident mallards or wood ducks, along with some other early migrants. Be sure of your target.

Waterfowl hunters also have a chance to hunt resident Canada geese during the special September season. These non-migrating geese have established healthy populations in areas across the state, particularly near some larger urban areas. Goose hunters must obey all hunting restrictions for any area in which they are hunting.

Teal hunters are allowed a daily bag limit of six birds. Hunters taking resident Canada geese are allowed a daily bag limit of eight birds.

All other federal migratory bird hunting regulations are in effect for these two early waterfowl seasons. Only federally approved nontoxic shot is permitted; possession of any lead shot while waterfowl hunting is prohibited. And all shotguns must be plugged to hold only three shotshells.

Duck and goose hunters must possess a resident or nonresident hunting license unless exempt; a federal duck stamp (age 16 and older); a state duck stamp or state waterfowl license (ages 18-64); and a federal Harvest Information Program permit (ages 16-63). In some cases, other license exemptions may apply. New for 2024, the adult nonresident five-day hunting license is not valid for waterfowl hunting.

Ensure you are abiding by all the rules in the current Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations found online at www.wildlifedepartment.com, in the Go Outdoors Oklahoma mobile app, or in print across the state wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.