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Migratory bird
White-winged dove hunting in Colorado: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
Seasons, limits, license prices and where to hunt white-winged doves in 2026-27.
Photo: ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0)
Colorado white-winged dove hunting in brief
White-winged doves in Colorado: 1 row of dates and licenses, spanning September 1 to November 29, 2026, with open now when this page was checked. The most common white-winged dove limit on those rows: daily 15 in aggregate, possession 45.
- Limit in short (white-winged dove): Daily 15 in aggregate, possession 45
- Season shape (white-winged dove): Regular season: September 1, 2026 to November 29, 2026 (Statewide)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 14 and CPW website, checked November 5, 2026.
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Every 2026-27 season row for white-winged doves
Each white-winged dove row keeps its own license type, so OTC, limited, private-land-only and youth windows sit side by side.
| Hunt | License type | Where | Dates | Bag | Codes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Small game + HIP | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 29, 2026 | Daily 15 in aggregate, possession 45 | – |
- Season (white-winged dove, Statewide): Counted with mourning dove.
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 14, checked November 5, 2026.
White-winged dove: units, zones and counties
- Season (white-winged dove): Statewide; September 1 to November 29, 2026.
White-winged doves are statewide: every county is inside the row, and access rules decide the rest. Find a county
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 14, checked November 5, 2026.
White-winged dove bag and license limits
- Daily 15 in aggregate, possession 45 (white-winged dove, 1 row)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 14, checked November 5, 2026.
White-winged dove license and stamp fees
Every white-winged dove license price below already carries the $1.25 search-and-rescue surcharge and the $1.50 education fee. Expect the $12.76 Habitat Stamp on top of the white-winged dove price if you are between 18 and 64.
| Item | Residency | Price | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game (annual) | Resident | $38.49 | 13 months |
| Small game (annual) | Nonresident | $104.86 | 13 months |
| Youth small game | Anyone | $2.53 | 13 months |
| HIP registration | Anyone | free | from March 1 |
| Habitat Stamp (annual) | Anyone | $12.76 | 13 months |
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 15, 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 5 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 7, checked November 5, 2026.
Legal weapons for white-winged doves
- Migratory birds (white-winged dove), legal gear: Shotguns 10 ga max, plugged to 3 shells, fired from the shoulder; hand-held bows; hawking.
- Migratory birds (white-winged dove), prohibited: Rifles, pistols, slugs, traps, nets; unplugged guns except light-goose conservation order.
- Season (white-winged dove method text): Shotguns 10 ga max, 3 shells max (plugged), fired from shoulder, no slugs; hand-held bows; hawking; Nontoxic shot rules per federal law; No bait; no recorded/electronic calls (except crows and light geese in the conservation order).
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 10 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 14, checked November 5, 2026.
Rules that apply on a white-winged dove hunt
- Fluorescent clothing (white-winged dove): Not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged).
- Shooting hours (white-winged dove): One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Baiting (white-winged dove): No hunting big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait; furbearer bait allowed; bear luring prohibited (CRS 33-6-131).
- Electronic calls (white-winged dove): Prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
- Trespass (white-winged dove): Permission required on private land whether or not posted; State Land Board lands only where leased/signed by CPW.
- WIA (white-winged dove): Walk-In Access: small game September 1-February 28, 2027 (regular), late cropland from pheasant opener; extended properties to March 31; big game on some properties September 1-December 31; small-game license and Habitat Stamp required; foot access only.
- Days of the week (white-winged dove): No statewide Sunday restriction appears in the 2026 brochures, CPW regulation chapters read or CRS Title 33; seasons run every day; Some State Wildlife Areas limit hunting to certain days (Chapter W-5/W-9 property rules, for example waterfowl only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays on some SWAs).
- State land (white-winged dove): Everyone 16+ needs a hunting or fishing license (or State Wildlife Area Pass) on state wildlife areas and state trust lands.
- Hunter ed (white-winged dove): Anyone born on or after January 1, 1949 needs a hunter education card to buy or apply for a hunting license; carry it (or have it verified "V" on the license); Other states' cards honored.
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 25, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 24, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 22, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
White-winged dove: the biggest public areas
White-winged doves appear on 167 public land records, most of them SWA, State Trust Land. Species lists come from CPW, Forest Service, BLM and refuge pages; check each place for white-winged dove rules and seasons.
| Public area | Type | Counties | Acres | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | National forest | Archuleta +8 | 1,866,191 | Southwest |
| Gunnison | National forest | Delta +4 | 1,666,609 | Southwest |
| Gunnison | Ranger district | Gunnison +2 | 1,284,166 | Southwest |
| Colorado State Trust Lands Hunting and Fishing Access Program | Access program | Adams +41 | 973,000 | – |
| Uncompahgre | National forest | Delta +7 | 952,961 | Southwest |
| Columbine | Ranger district | Archuleta +3 | 687,144 | Southwest |
| Weldon Valley | State Trust Land | Morgan | 6,560 | Northeast |
| Bonny Creek | State Trust Land | Yuma | 630 | Southeast |
| Oxbow | SWA | Otero | 410 | Southeast |
| Kinney Lake | State Trust Land | Lincoln | 320 | Southeast |
| Boedecker Reservoir | SWA | Larimer | 308 | Northeast |
| Turks Pond | SWA | Baca | 200 | Southeast |
From CPW website, CPW website and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
White-winged dove hours across Colorado
Times for white-winged doves use the NOAA solar formula at each county centre. Rule: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
| Day | Event | Denver | Grand Junction area | Lamar area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Today (checked) | 6:02 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Season closes | 6:29 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:47 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 8, checked November 5, 2026.
Adult mourning dove with a fledgling on a wooden rail. Photo: lostinfog (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mourning dove perched. Photo: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Black oil sunflowers planted on a dove field. Photo: greenebriar (Public domain)
White-winged dove questions
What limit applies to white-winged doves this season?
CPW limit for white-winged doves: Daily 15 in aggregate, possession 45.
Which CPW license covers white-winged doves?
Licenses for white-winged doves: Small game (annual) (resident) $38.49; Small game (annual) (nonresident) $104.86; Youth small game & furbearer (under 18) (anyone) $2.53; Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration (anyone) free.
What methods does CPW allow for white-winged doves?
White-winged doves, migratory birds rules: Shotguns 10 ga max, plugged to 3 shells, fired from the shoulder; hand-held bows; hawking; off limits for white-winged doves: rifles, pistols, slugs, traps, nets; unplugged guns except light-goose conservation order.
Orange or pink for white-winged doves: required?
Not for white-winged doves: not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged). Wear it anyway during big game rifle seasons.
Do white-winged dove hours end at sunset or later?
Legal white-winged dove hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Denver, November 5, 2026: 6:02 am to 4:55 pm (NOAA solar formula).
Which public lands list white-winged doves?
For white-winged doves, 167 public areas; the three largest are San Juan National Forest, Gunnison National Forest and Gunnison Ranger District (Gunnison National Forest, Uncompahgre National Forest).
Are there harvest numbers for white-winged doves?
The reports read (big game, turkey, small game 2023-24) do not break out white-winged doves.
Can white-winged doves be hunted over bait?
CPW bait rule for white-winged doves: no bait for small-game mammals, game birds or migratory birds; federal baited-area rule (10 days after removal) for migratory birds; CPW call rule for white-winged doves: prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
What registrations does a white-winged dove hunter need?
For white-winged doves: Required for small game, coyote and migratory bird hunters, including falconers; not for turkey.
What is the white-winged dove calendar for 2026-27?
CPW starts white-winged doves with season: September 1 to November 29, 2026 and the latest row runs to November 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: lostinfog (CC BY-SA 2.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain).