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Migratory birds
Mourning Dove in Kentucky, 2026-27 Seasons and Permits
Season windows, legal methods and licenses for mourning doves, straight from the 2026-27 KDFWR guides.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
Mourning Dove in Kentucky by the numbers
Mourning doves get 1 separate line in the KDFWR calendar this license year; the earliest opens September 1, 2026. Among the dove details, KDFWR stresses this: HIP survey and migratory bird permit. For mourning doves the method list reads: shotgun.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 7 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky dove dates, line by line
The table carries every dove line in the 2026-27 guides, each linked to its source page.
| Season | Covers | Date range | Take | Note | Right now | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dove | Statewide | Sep 1–Oct 26, 2026 Nov 26–Dec 6, 2026 Dec 19–Jan 10, 2027 | 15 daily (mourning and white-winged), 45 possession | Department-leased dove fields open only Sept. 1 and Sept. 5-Oct. 26. Sept. 1: 11 a.m. local time to sunset. | Waterfowl guide p. 7 |
Drawn hunts for mourning doves
Quota and youth/mentor dove hunts in September. Apply Aug. 3-21, 2026; General quota hunts Sept. 1 and Sept. 5; youth/mentor hunts in September. Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.
Source: Guide p. 34 and Waterfowl guide (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
How many mourning doves you may take
Possession limits govern what a dove hunter carries home; daily limits reset each day.
| Species or group | Limit as printed |
|---|---|
| Mourning and white-winged dove | 15 daily, 45 possession |
| Eurasian collared dove | No limit (leave head or wing on for ID) |
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 7 and Waterfowl guide p. 8 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Mourning Dove methods of take
Weapon rules for mourning doves follow the season type, so check which season you are in before reading across.
| Season type | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl and migratory birds | Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot no larger than T for waterfowl and cranes; shells max 3.5 in. | Lead shot for waterfowl/cranes; rifles; recorded calls (except light goose conservation order); sink boxes. |
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and boats | No taking wildlife from a vehicle; boats may be used (not under power) for small game, furbearers and waterfowl; disabled hunters may use a stationary vehicle with an exemption. |
| Wanton waste | Reasonable effort to recover big game and upland birds and remove edible parts. |
| Fire, explosives, gas | No taking wildlife with fire, explosives, smoke or gas. |
The species table sums up legal methods for mourning doves as: shotgun.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10, Guide p. 10 and Guide p. 11 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Licenses and permits for mourning doves
Kentucky sells these dove items online and through license agents; nothing is mailed.
| Item | Resident | Nonresident | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $15.86 | $15.86 | Not needed for hunters under 16 or for crows. |
Hunters under 12 need no license for mourning doves; ages 12 to 15 buy the youth versions, and an adult must accompany youth with a firearm after deer, elk, turkey or bear.
Migratory bird and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP survey (My Profile) and write the confirmation number on the license.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Rules on the ground for mourning doves
A short rule list for mourning doves, from hunter orange to reporting.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | Because waterfowl and dove hunters are exempt, orange is optional when hunting mourning doves. |
| Bait | area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl. |
| Harvest report | Unlike deer or turkeys, mourning doves need no Telecheck call or online report. |
| Hunter education | Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975; a first-time dove hunter can instead use the free one-time exemption permit and hunt beside a qualified licensed adult. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Where to hunt mourning doves on public ground
Of 5 public areas tied to mourning doves in the KDFWR records, the largest twelve are listed with their counties.
| Area | Type | Counties | Acreage | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refuge | 11,852 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 8,735 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 7,574 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 3,643 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 259 | Listed species |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky mourning doves hunting gear picks
Kentucky mourning doves hunters get four items suited to a Kentucky year, from the September bow opener to February rabbits.
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Small cooler
Dove hunters sitting a sunflower field like having a small cooler close by.
Shooting time for Kentucky mourning doves
The times are worked out for three county seats on the dove dates that matter, each on its own clock.
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Henderson (Henderson) | Frankfort (Franklin) | Somerset (Pulaski) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 5:50 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. CDT | 6:38 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. EDT | 6:38 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. EDT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:32 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. CST | 7:22 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. EST | 7:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. EST |
Hours rule from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for each county seat on its own clock (KDFWR prints no sunrise table, so sunrise and sunset are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the exact point, on Central Time in the 41 western counties and Eastern Time elsewhere, with daylight time ending November 1, 2026 and starting March 14, 2027.); checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Black oil sunflowers planted on a dove fieldPhoto: greenebriar (Public domain)
Mourning dove perchedPhoto: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mourning dove perched on a bare branchPhoto: ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0)
Answers about Kentucky mourning doves
Is hunter orange required for mourning doves?
Exempt group for mourning doves: Waterfowl and dove hunters.
Can I hunt mourning doves over bait in Kentucky?
area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl.
Are dove fields open every day?
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset. Dove quota: apply Aug. 3-21, 2026; General quota hunts Sept. 1 and Sept. 5; youth/mentor hunts in September. Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.
How many public places have mourning doves?
5 public areas in the KDFWR records list mourning doves or open them on the 2026-27 chart; the land table above names the biggest.
Do I need hunter education to hunt mourning doves?
Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975; a first-time dove hunter can instead use the free one-time exemption permit and hunt beside a qualified licensed adult.
What are the 2026-27 dates for mourning doves?
Dove (Statewide): Sep 1 to Oct 26, 2026; Nov 26 to Dec 6, 2026; Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027.
What are the Kentucky dove limits for 2026-27?
The current dove rule: 15 daily, 45 possession; No limit (leave head or wing on for ID).
Do mourning doves need a special permit?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit $15.86 resident, $15.86 nonresident. Other dove permits appear in the license table.
Which methods may be used on mourning doves?
Shotgun. Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot no larger than T for waterfowl and cranes; shells max 3.5 in.
Which hours apply to mourning doves?
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset. Mind the time zone on a dove trip; the western part of the state keeps Central Time.