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Georgia migratory birds
Georgia Mourning Dove Hunting
Dove season comes in three splits: Sep 5 to Oct 11, 2026; Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027. Below: every 2026-27 segment, the limits, public land, legal weapons and the WRD rules for doves.
Photo: StephenGA (CC0 1.0)
The limit is 15 a day and 45 in possession, and shooting ends at sunset. Anyone 16 or older who needs a hunting license also needs the GA Waterfowl and Migratory Bird License, $5.00. On managed WMA dove fields nobody may enter or set up before one hour before sunrise on opening day.
Mourning Dove in the 2026-27 guide
- Equipment: Shotguns plugged to 3 shells (federal rules apply).
- Note: Sept. 5-Oct. 11, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 19-Jan. 31. GA Waterfowl & Migratory Bird License required (16+).
What WRD allows for doves
The wording on the cards is WRD’s own for doves.
Mourning dove
15 per day; possession 3x daily (45).
Migratory birds (possession rule)
Possession limits are 3 times the daily bag limit.
2026-27 dove dates in Georgia
The full dove calendar for 2026-27: 3 dated segments, newest status on the right.
| Hunt | Zone or land | Start | End | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 37 | |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 9 | |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 44 |
Conditions on the dove segments
- 15 per day. On managed WMA dove fields, no entry/setup before 1 hour before sunrise on opening day.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Where to hunt doves on Georgia public land
Dove hunters have 55 public options in our list, led by Cedar Creek WMA.
| Name | Land type | County | Region office | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Putnam, Jones, Jasper | Thomson | 41,000 |
| Redlands WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Greene, Oglethorpe, Morgan | Gainesville | 37,500 |
| Dixon Memorial WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Ware, Brantley | Brunswick | 35,247 |
| Altamaha WMA | Wildlife Management Area | McIntosh | Brunswick | 31,569 |
| Savannah National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Effingham, Chatham | Fitzgerald | 30,715 |
| Dawson Forest WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Dawson | Gainesville | 25,658 |
| Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Walker | Armuchee | 21,895 |
| Chickasawhatchee WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Dougherty, Calhoun, Baker | Albany | 19,700 |
| Berry College WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Floyd | Armuchee | 15,605 |
| B.F. Grant WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Putnam, Morgan | Thomson | 11,400 |
| Canoochee Sandhills WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Bulloch, Bryan | Fitzgerald | 10,224 |
| Clarks Hill WMA – East | Wildlife Management Area | McDuffie, Wilkes, Lincoln | Thomson | 10,224 |
| West Point WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Heard, Troup | Armuchee | 10,000 |
| Silver Lake WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Decatur | Albany | 9,200 |
| Di-Lane WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Burke | Thomson | 8,100 |
40 more areas for doves
Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Hilliard Plantation Tract (8,089 ac) · Oconee WMA (7,930 ac) · Yuchi WMA (7,800 ac) · Big Lazer Creek WMA (7,200 ac) · Alapaha River WMA (6,870 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Almo Tract (6,700 ac) · Clybel WMA (6,700 ac) · Rum Creek WMA (5,800 ac) · Hannahatchee Creek WMA (5,600 ac) · Blanton Creek WMA (4,800 ac) · Joe Kurz WMA (3,700 ac) · River Bend WMA (3,670 ac) · Georgia WRD Public Dove Fields (3,023 ac) · Fishing Creek WMA (2,900 ac) · Wilson Shoals WMA (2,800 ac) · Coosawattee WMA (2,714 ac) · River Creek, The Rolf & Alexandra Kauka WMA (2,437 ac) · Flint River WMA (2,400 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Fort Perry Tract (2,100 ac) · McGraw Ford WMA (2,067 ac) · Elmodel WMA (1,600 ac) · Lower Broad River WMA (1,500 ac) · Alexander WMA (1,300 ac) · Paradise PFA (1,300 ac) · Hart County WMA (1,000 ac) · Featherfield WMA (875 ac) · Flat Creek PFA (850 ac) · McDuffie PFA (600 ac) · Buck Shoals WMA (582 ac) · Rogers State Prison Farm Dove Fields (538 ac) · Hiltonia WMA (500 ac) · J.L. Lester WMA (477 ac) · Albany Nursery WMA (300 ac) · Perry Dove Field (226 ac) · Walton WMA (200 ac) · Appling County Dove Field (123 ac) · London Farms Dove Field (111 ac) · Indian Ford Farms Dove Field (100 ac) · McEntire Road VPA (95 ac) · Fort Stewart & Hunter Army Airfield
Areas and species lists from WRD’s 2026-27 area listings, the WRD WMA layers and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-13. Harvest by area from WRD Game Check.
Mourning Dove licenses and requirements
Everything here comes from the 2026-27 guide and applies statewide unless an area listing says otherwise.
Fees
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| GA migratory bird license | $5.00 | $5.00 |
Hunting hours
For doves the shooting day closes at sunset; it opens half an hour before sunrise.
Safety colours
The guide leaves dove and waterfowl out of its orange rule, so camouflage is fine for doves.
Baiting
Doves fall under the federal baiting regulations.
Weekends
Georgia sets no statewide Sunday closure, so dove seasons run straight through each weekend.
Public dove fields
Managed WMA/VPA dove fields, many by quota on opening day (Sept. 5, 2026); youth dove fields.
Quota dove hunts
Dove and youth dove quota applications close Aug. 15; up to 5 hunters (youth: 3 children).
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 guide, licenses and fees and hunting information, checked October 13, 2026. Georgia hunting laws · License guide.
What you may hunt doves with
WRD lists legal equipment by season; these rows cover doves.
| Applies to | Legal equipment | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl / migratory birds | Shotguns 10 ga or smaller with federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller for waterfowl; shotguns limited to 3 shells (one-piece plug) for all migratory birds. | Possessing lead shot while hunting waterfowl. |
Methods that matter for doves
Baiting (general)
Unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds on, over, around or within 200 yards of bait, or for 10 days after complete removal of bait; unlawful to place bait so as to prohibit hunting on adjacent property.
Transporting game killed by another
Deer: written name, address, phone, license number and Game Check confirmation number of the hunter. Migratory birds: hunter signature, address, number by species and dates.
Shooting preserves
Pen-raised birds on licensed preserves need a hunting license or shooting preserve license; bobwhite quail may be hunted Oct. 1-Mar. 31 on licensed preserves.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Loading the truck for Mourning Dove country
Picked around the hunting done here; prices change daily.
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Quick answers on doves
When does dove season open in Georgia?
Sep 5, 2026, the first of three splits.
Where are public dove fields in Georgia?
Managed WMA/VPA dove fields, many by quota on opening day (Sept. 5, 2026); youth dove fields.
What does WRD allow per day for doves?
15 per day; possession 3x daily (45). Possession limits are 3 times the daily bag limit.
What paperwork do dove hunters carry in Georgia?
For doves, resident prices: Hunting License ($15.00); GA migratory bird license ($5.00).
Can I hunt doves on a Georgia WMA?
55 areas on our list qualify; the largest are Cedar Creek WMA, Redlands WMA and Dixon Memorial WMA.
Can doves be hunted at night in Georgia?
For doves the shooting day closes at sunset; it opens half an hour before sunrise.
Do dove hunters have to wear orange in Georgia?
The guide leaves dove and waterfowl out of its orange rule, so camouflage is fine for doves.
Can I hunt doves over bait in Georgia?
Doves fall under the federal baiting regulations.
Does Georgia close Sundays for doves?
Georgia sets no statewide Sunday closure, so dove seasons run straight through each weekend.
Can I use a rifle for doves in Georgia?
Waterfowl / migratory birds: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller with federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller for waterfowl; shotguns limited to 3 shells (one-piece plug) for all migratory birds.
When can I hunt doves in Georgia this season?
Dove hunters get mourning dove Sep 5 to Oct 11, 2026; mourning dove Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; mourning dove Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Wrapping up doves
A WMA, refuge or Corps lake can add its own rules on top of the statewide dove rules here.
Other photos on this page: Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); vanhookc (CC BY-SA 2.0); peterichman (CC BY-SA 2.0); larus10 (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).