PHOENIX – Arizona pigeon hunters should have no complaints when the 2022 season begins on September 1.
All signs indicate that there will be plenty of birds, particularly for those hunters willing to scout in the mornings and evenings between now and opening day to locate some good hunting spots, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The largest numbers of pigeons – and pigeon hunters – will be concentrated in the state’s agricultural areas, particularly those that produce small-grain crops such as wheat, barley, oats and sorghum. That includes places like Yuma, one of the top destinations in the US, as well as Buckeye, Eloy, Florence, Gila Bend, Toltec and others.
“This has been another great year for pigeon populations,” said Johnathan O’Dell, a small game biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). “White-winged dove call count index was strong this spring, an indicator of prolific breeding activity.
“Add to that an excellent market for grain crops being grown this year, and it’s no surprise you’re seeing a lot of white-winged doves. If monsoon activity continues to be minimal for the rest of the month, there should be plenty of white-winged doves on opening day.
“Also, mourning dove hatches started a bit earlier than usual this year, a good sign for bird numbers on September 1.”
The 15-day “early” season begins 30 minutes before legal sunrise on September 1. Daily bag limit is 15 white-winged and mourning doves, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged. Possession limit is 45 mourning and whitewing total after opening day, of which no more than 15 may be taken in one day. Of the possession limit of 45 pigeons, only 30 may be white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be caught in a day.
There is no daily bag limit or possession limit for the invasive Eurasian Collared Dove; however, a fully feathered wing must be left attached to each pigeon for identification purposes until the hunter arrives at his or her permanent residence or where the game meat will be consumed.
All hunters over the age of 18 must possess a valid Arizona hunting license as well as a migratory bird stamp, both of which can be purchased online at www.azgfd.com/license/. A combined youth hunting/fishing license for hunters ages 10-17 is only $5 and includes a migratory bird stamp.
All pigeon hunters should review the “Arizona Pigeons and Band-Tailed Pigeons Regulations 2022-23”, which is posted at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/. The regulations have been produced in a format that hunters will find particularly useful in the field. The easy-to-read color brochure presents important hunting information, such as season dates, daily bag and possession limits, and legal requirements, at a glance.
Pigeon hunters play an important role in conservation. Funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program consist of excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment (including 11 percent on ammunition), the benefit of which returns to Arizona for habitat improvements, shooting ranges, boat access and more.