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Dove
Beginner · Statewide, with best hunting in agricultural areas of the Shenandoah Valley, Piedmont, and Southside. DWR manages public dove fields on select WMAs.
Mourning dove season is one of the earliest hunting opportunities in Virginia and a beloved tradition that kicks off the fall season. Virginia offers excellent dove hunting over agricultural fields, particularly sunflower plots and harvested grain fields. The fast-flying birds provide challenging wing shooting that sharpens skills before waterfowl and upland seasons. DWR manages several public dove fields on Wildlife Management Areas, and private farm fields can produce outstanding hunts.
Seasons
Dove Season (First Split)
Shotgun
Dove Season (Second Split)
Shotgun
Dove Season (Third Split)
Shotgun
Bag Limits
15 mourning doves per day. Possession limit is 45.
Tips
- • Set up along flight lines between roosting trees and feeding fields, typically within 30-40 yards of where birds are landing.
- • Use a modified or improved cylinder choke with 7.5 or 8 shot for the best pattern on these small, fast targets.
- • Hunt DWR-managed dove fields on Wildlife Management Areas—they plant and manage fields specifically for dove hunting.
- • Bring plenty of shells; even experienced shooters average 4-5 shots per bird. A limit of 15 might take 50-75 rounds.
- • Wear light, breathable clothing—early September dove hunting in Virginia often means 85-90 degree temperatures.
Counties with Dove
Amelia Appomattox Bedford Brunswick Buckingham Campbell Caroline Charles City Charlotte Chesterfield Clarke Culpeper Cumberland Dinwiddie Essex Fauquier Fluvanna Franklin Frederick Gloucester Goochland Greensville Halifax Hanover Henrico Henry Isle of Wight James City King George King William Lancaster Loudoun Louisa Lunenburg Mathews Mecklenburg Middlesex New Kent Northampton Northumberland Nottoway Orange Pittsylvania Powhatan Prince Edward Prince George Prince William Richmond Southampton Spotsylvania Stafford Surry Sussex Westmoreland York