2008-2009 Georgia Dove Hunting Season

The 2008-2009 Georgia dove hunting season begins at twelve o'clock noon, September 6, 2008 and ends at sunset on January 10, 2009. During this time, there are three sections of dates when it is legal to hunt doves in Georgia. These three sections are September 6, 2008 to September 21, 2008, October 11, 2008 to October 19, 2008 and from November 27, 2008 to January 10, 2009. During the first section of the 2008-2009 Georgia hunting season, hunters can enjoy their sport from noon until sunset on the opening day, then all the following days hunting begins half an hour before the sunrises and ends each day at sunset. This season is set by the Georgia Board of Natural Resouorces, Wildlife Resources Division with the approval of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The length and days of the dove season are not the only regulations that are set forth by these two entities. They also set the daily bag limit and the possession limit as well as any other rules and regulations that pertain to the 2008-2009 Georgia dove hunting season such as restrictions and licensings. The daily bag limit for doves in Georgia are 15 dove per day and the possession limit is 30 doves. Other information that hunters in Georgia need to know is that dove hunters must carry a 10 gauge or smaller shotgun that can only hold three shell in the magazine and chamber combined. If the shotgun has a manufactored plug, the plug must be in the shotgun while hunting. Also, it is illegal for a dove hunter in Georgia to use a stupefying substance, a drug, a poison, explosives, a fishhook, a battery, a net or to trap or snare doves. It is also illegal for dove hunters to take doves with a punt gun, machine gun, swivel gun, pistol, rifle or a crossbow. It is also illegal to "bait" doves, which is, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service "Baiting is the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could lure or attract birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them.''

Georgia is also among the other states in that they have banded doves. These doves have a small metal band around one foot that has a number on it. Any hunter who gets one of these birds should call 800-327-BAND or go to www. pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl. These banded birds are helping the US Fish and Wildlife Service determine the overall condition of the dove population throughout the United States.