Looking for a place to go dove hunting? Tennessee's season opens this Friday

Tennessee's 2023 dove season opens Friday, Sept. 1 at noon (local time). Hunters can find public dove fields available in areas that include the Chattanooga region as well as other places across the Volunteer Stateon this TWRA website.

Tennessee’s dove season is once again divided into three segments: Sept. 1-Sept. 28; Oct. 14-Nov. 5; and Dec. 8-Jan. 15, 2024. Hunting times, other than opening day, are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Hunters are required to have 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.

REGULATIONS

The daily bag limit for mourning doves is 15. There is no limit on collared doves. Doves not readily identifiable as collared doves will be considered mourning doves and will count toward the mourning dove daily bag limit.

No person shall take migratory game birds by the aid of baiting, or on any baited area.

Any auto-loading or repeating shotgun must be incapable of holding more than three shells while being used for dove hunting.

EARLY GOOSE SEASON

In addition to the start of dove season, the early season for Canada geese also starts on Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 17. Refer to the 2023-24 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide for daily bag limits.

A short crow hunting season overlaps with the opening week of dove season, Sept. 1-5. It will resume Sept. 9 through Dec. 17 and hunting is allowed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only in this segment.