Arkansas › Species › Mourning Dove
Migratory game bird
Mourning Dove Hunting in Arkansas (2026-27)
Seasons, limits, legal methods and hours for mourning doves in Arkansas, opening September 5, 2026.
Photo: greenebriar (Public domain)
Mourning Dove in Arkansas at a glance
From September 5, 2026 to January 15, 2027, the AGFC books hold 1 row covering mourning doves. For mourning doves, the printed limit is 15/day with white-winged dove, possession 45. Dates and methods in short: September 5-October 25 and December 8-January 15.
Sources: Waterfowl guide p. 4 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
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Mourning Dove season dates for 2026-27
Dates as printed by AGFC for mourning doves; notes from the same rows follow the table.
| Season line | Covers | Dates | Bag | Status | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dove | Statewide | Sep 5–Oct 25 Dec 8–Jan 15 | 15 mourning and white-winged doves/day combined,… | Waterfowl guide p. 4 |
- HIP required. Dove permit hunt applications August 1-15.
Sources: Waterfowl guide p. 4 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Migratory bird rules for mourning doves
The migratory bird pages of the Waterfowl Guidebook hold the dove dates and limits for the whole state.
The dove draw is open August 1-15, 2026.
Never hunt mourning doves over bait; AGFC treats a spot as baited until ten days after complete removal.
Sources: Waterfowl Guidebook and baiting (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Arkansas dove limits for 2026-27
For mourning doves, the bag table holds 1 row; each links to its guidebook page.
| Species line | Limit as printed | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared dove | 15 mourning and white-winged doves/day combined, possession 45; Eurasian collared dove no limit (Dove) | Waterfowl guide p. 4 |
Legal methods for mourning doves
Gear rules for mourning doves, taken from the weapon lists and the season rows.
- Waterfowl and migratory birds
What the waterfowl and migratory birds list allows for mourning doves: shotguns 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than three shells; nontoxic shot T or smaller for waterfowl and coots; other migratory birds nontoxic T or smaller or lead BB or smaller. Dove hunters may not use rifles, pistols, traps, live decoys, sink boxes, motorboats under power, bait.
What each dove row allows
- Dove method line: Shotguns (nontoxic or lead shot BB or smaller); manipulated crops allowed for doves.
Sources: Waterfowl guide p. 36 and Waterfowl guide p. 4 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
What you need to hunt mourning doves
Which license covers mourning doves? The rows below list the AGFC products that apply, with prices for 2026-27.
| License or permit | Residency | Fee | Product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combination Sportsman's License | Resident | $35.50 | CS |
| Sportsman's License | Resident | $25 | RS |
| Wildlife Conservation License | Resident | $10.50 | HNT |
| Annual Small Game License | Nonresident | $110 | NRH |
| Annual Hunting License | Nonresident | $410 | NBG |
Sources: license list and license requirements (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Arkansas law for dove hunting
Every dove hunter uses a shotgun of 10 gauge or less, plugged to three shells.
| Subject | Guidebook rule |
|---|---|
| Near homes | On a dove hunt: written permission of the owner or occupant needed to hunt with firearms within 150 yards or archery within 50 yards of a residence (owners and lessees excepted). |
| Levees | On a dove hunt: no hunting from or across the main levee of the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers from Louisiana to state Highway 11 north of Grady (Lincoln County). |
| Vehicles, aircraft | When after mourning doves: no hunting from a moving motorized land vehicle or from an aircraft. |
| Wanton waste | Applies to mourning doves: edible portions must not be wasted (game mammals: quarters, loins, tenderloins; birds: breasts; alligators: tail, legs, flanks, loins); no carcass disposal in cemeteries, waters or within 50 yards of a public road centerline. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 55, Guidebook p. 49 and Guidebook p. 54 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Public ground that names mourning doves
These public areas print a line about mourning doves in their guidebook entry or list them among their game; read the full entry before you go.
Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA
Dove line in the entry: Deer Notes: Dove (mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared): Sept.
Lake Conway WMA
Dove line in the entry: Bear Notes: Dove (mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared): Sept.
Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA
Dove line in the entry: Deer Notes: Dove (mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared): Sept.
Hot Springs State Forest WMA
Dove line in the entry: Area Notes: Shotguns using legal ammunition may be used to take dove on areas designated on the public use map as open for firearms.
Hope Upland WMA
Dove line in the entry: Area Notes: Dove hunting open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only during the statewide dove seasons.
Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
The record names migratory game birds; read the area rules before a dove hunt.
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
The record names migratory game birds; read the area rules before a dove hunt.
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
The record names migratory game birds; read the area rules before a dove hunt.
Sources: WMA listings (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Sunrise, sunset and dove hours
Mourning doves are migratory birds, so shooting stops at sunset; it may start 30 minutes before sunrise. Sunrise and sunset for each town use AGFC's Little Rock table, shifted one minute for every nine miles east or west.
| Town | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal hours | Sun times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | Sep 5, 2026 | 6:52 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Fort Smith | Dec 8, 2026 | 7:17 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fort Smith | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:25 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Texarkana | Sep 5, 2026 | 6:52 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Texarkana | Dec 8, 2026 | 7:14 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Texarkana | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:22 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Monticello | Sep 5, 2026 | 6:43 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Monticello | Dec 8, 2026 | 7:00 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Monticello | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:08 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Little Rock | Sep 5, 2026 | 6:45 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Little Rock | Dec 8, 2026 | 7:04 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Little Rock | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:12 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | AGFC table |
Sources: shooting hours and AGFC Little Rock sun table (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Mourning dove perched on a branchPhoto: sqrphoto (CC BY 2.0)
Mourning dove resting on snow in ArkansasPhoto: Mike Goad (CC0 1.0)
Mourning dove perchedPhoto: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mourning Dove FAQ
Which WMAs are good for mourning doves?
Areas such as Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA, Lake Conway WMA and Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA name mourning doves in their guidebook entries.
Are mourning doves in season now?
No, mourning doves are between windows; the next opens December 8, 2026.
How current is this dove information?
Checked November 9, 2026 against the 2026-27 AGFC books.
Do mourning doves need a federal stamp?
No federal duck stamp is listed for them; HIP is required.
How many mourning doves may one hunter keep?
15/day with white-winged dove, possession 45, as printed for 2026-27.
What dates does AGFC set for mourning doves?
The dove rows run dove September 5 to October 25, 2026 and December 8, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
Which AGFC license works for mourning doves?
The Combination Sportsman's License ($35.50) covers mourning doves; nonresident options are in the license table.
What gear does AGFC allow for mourning doves?
Legal for mourning doves: shotguns 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than three shells; nontoxic shot T or smaller for waterfowl and coots; other migratory birds nontoxic T or smaller or lead BB or smaller.
What hours apply to dove hunting?
Mourning doves follow 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset, which on September 5, 2026 at Little Rock ran 6:15 a.m. to 7:32 p.m.