Information on Dove Hunting on Arizona Public Land

Public lands in Arizona offer good spots for dove hunting.

Arizona is ideally situated as a temporary home for migratory birds, including mourning doves, white-winged doves and collared doves, that travel north and south with the seasons. Public lands in the state offer good spots for dove hunting.

Identify Public Lands

Public lands in Arizona include BLM land and State Trust land. Unless the area is posted, dove hunters may hunt on many of the national wildlife refuges in Arizona. The Public Lands Information Center provides detailed information about Arizona's public domain, including areas where hunting is permitted.

Hunting Zones

Arizona is divided into a north zone and a south zone for dove hunting purposes, and shooting hours can be different in the two zones. Check an official Arizona Game and Fish map of hunt zones to comply with regulations.

License and Stamp

Dove hunters must have a migratory bird stamp on their valid Arizona hunting license, even on public lands. The stamp is available from Arizona Game and Fish and from certified license dealers.

Banded Doves

Hunters who take a banded dove on public lands are asked to contact the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center at the USGS to report it. You can reach them at 800-327-2263 (BAND) or on the web at www.pwrc.usgs.gov.

Protected Birds

Inca doves and ground doves are protected. These birds are smaller than mourning doves and white-winged doves and fly close to the ground. They are off-limits at all times in every place.

References

• Public Lands Information Center: Hunting
• Arizona Game and Fish Dove Regulations
• US Fish and Wildlife Service: National Wildlife Refuges in Arizona

Resources

• Common Ground Dove
• Inca Dove