2014 Dove Season

Idaho Fish and Game has adopted the season recommendation approved by the Pacific Flyway Council and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These recommendations are the result of a new harvest strategy, which represents a more informative approach to managing harvest of mourning doves as envisioned in the Mourning Dove National Strategic Harvest Management Plan approved by the Flyway Councils in 2003. This new strategy is based on band returns from hunter-harvested doves, which are then used to predict mourning dove abundance. The new season structure allows more opportunity, while conserving mourning dove populations and minimizing annual regulatory change. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the new season structure in Idaho during a July 2014 meeting; six months after the Upland Game Hunting Regulations were published. While Eurasian collared doves have undoubtedly increased over time, we are unaware of any detrimental impacts to mourning doves. Eurasian-collared doves may be taken in any amounts and at any time by holders of the appropriate valid Idaho hunting or combination hunting license, provided such taking is not in violation of state, county, or city laws, ordinances or regulations.