Yuma Dove Hunting

Brought to you by the Arizona Game and Fish Department Region IV offices and our Yuma Community Partners.

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Your Local Resource for Dove Hunting in Yuma, Arizona!

Photo courtesy of George Andrejko AZGFD

The 2018-2019 Dove Hunting Season kicks off on Saturday September 1st at 1/2 hour before sunrise and runs through Saturday September 15th at sunset. 2018-2019 legal season dates:

Sept 1st through Sept. 15th - Any Mourning or White-winged Dove
Late Season (Dates available soon) - Any Mourning Dove
Year round - Eurasion Collared Dove (unlimited bag limit)

Yuma Dove Hunting News

2018 World Championship Dove Cookoff News

Due to the upcoming Saturday opener we were faced with some unique challenges pulling off a Dove Cookoff. For the past two years this event has been part of our opening weekend activities, however, finding an adequate location, allowing hunters enough time in the field, and competion with other events has pushed us to postpone this year's event. Our current plan is to bring it back in 2019 in conjunction with Yuma's "Beat the Heat" festival on Main Street. The festival organizers have been very open to the idea and have moved the dates of their event in 2019 to accomodate a Dove cooking competition during Dove season. We hope to see you in 2019 for our new adventures in Dove cooking.

2017 World Championship Dove Cookoff

Please visit our Dove Cookoff tab for a video recap of the 2nd Annual World Championship Dove Cook-off held in Yuma, Arizona.

2017 Yuma Dove Hunt Cleanup

On Sept. 16th local volunteers and partners participated in the annual Dove Hunt Cleanup. Eleven groups of over 30 volunteers filled two dumpsters full of garbage from around Yuma Co. Thank you for helping to keep Yuma clean and access open.

15 August 2017

Southwest Wildlife Foundation is seeking donations for a charitable dove hunt to honor America's wounded veterans. Click HERE for more details.

27 February 2017

Randy Newberg is the voice of the public land hunter in America. In 2016 Randy travelled to Yuma, Arizona to experience what the dove hunting capital of the United States has to offer. View the video on Randy's youtube channel HERE.

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The 2nd Annual Dove Cookoff Registration is now Live through the Yuma Visitors Bureau Website, click HERE to register, space is limited.

The 2nd annual World Championship Dove Cook-off will be held in Yuma on Saturday Sept. 2nd at the Cocopah Casino. Exciting news, because this year we will be cooking indoors! Stay tuned for more information

General Information

2017 Registration coming soon!
Limited team space is available.
$50 entry for one or two-man teams $75 for three-man.
Doves must be cooked on site. Any type of cooking device and fuel may be used. All fires must be contained in a grill, smoker or similar device. Meat may not be marinated prior to inspection and must be recognizable as Dove (one feathered wing attached).
Plan to provide samples to a least 6 judges. Dish must be predominantly Dove (80%).
One side dish is also required.
Providing extra samples for guests encouraged.
Each contestant shall supply all of his/her own Dove, cooking equipment, cooking ingredients, utensils, and serving dishes. Contestants will be provided a cooking area.
For more information please visit the main Dove Cook-Off tab HERE.
Prizes for top three teams donated by Sprague's Sports.

Renew your license or purchase your migratory bird stamp at the Yuma Regional office (mention you saw it on this website) and you will receive a free "I hunt Yuma" bumper sticker.

(Video) Yuma: A Dove Hunter's Paradise

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's 2014 Yuma Dove Hunting video is now available on YouTube. View it HERE.

During the early season (September 1-15) the bag limit will be 15 mourning and white-winged doves per day in the aggregate; of which no more than 10 may be white-winged doves. The possession limit for the early dove season will be 45 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate; of which no more than 30 may be white-winged doves.
During the late season (Dates available soon) the bag and possession limits are 15 and 45 mourning doves respectively.

Legal Hunting Areas

Recent law changes will increase dove hunting access compared to recent years. Now, approximately 1 million acres of open, undeveloped, uninhabited desert areas within city limits are now open to dove hunting.

For more information about legal hunting areas please visit our "Where to Hunt" tab on the left.

Operation Game Thief

If anyone observes any laws being violated, they should contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 352-0700, or the local law enforcement agency immediately.

Are you a resident?

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: Effective in August 2012, the Arizona Game and Fish Department updated the definition of an Arizona resident for the purposes of obtaining resident hunting and fishing licenses.

Per ARS 17-101.A16 the new definition of Resident for the purposes of applying for a license, permit, tag or stamp, means a person who is: (a) A member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty and stationed in: (i) This state for a period of thirty days immediately preceding the date of applying for a license, permit tag or stamp. (ii) Another state or county but who lists this state as their home of record at the time of applying for a license, permit, tag or stamp. (b) Domiciled in this state for six months immediately preceding the date of applying for a license, permit tag or stamp and WHO DOES NOT CLAIM RESIDENCY PRIVILEGES FOR ANY PURPOSE IN ANY OTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION.

It is important to note that a person can not be a resident of two states at the same time. Owning a property, having an Arizona Identification Card or Driver’s License may not be sufficient proof of residency. Factors that may be considered when determining residency include where you are registered to vote and where you file your personal state income tax return. Per ARS 17-341 it is unlawful for a person to knowingly purchase, apply for, accept, obtain or use, by fraud or misrepresentation a license, permit, tag or stamp to take wildlife and a license or permit so obtained is void and of no effect from the date of issuance thereof.

A conviction of ARS 17-341 may result in criminal sanctions, loss of privileges to obtain hunting and/or fishing licenses, and/or civil sanctions for any wildlife taken with an invalid license.

If you have any questions about your residency status please contact a Department law enforcement officer prior to obtaining a license.

Need a License?

A valid Arizona Hunting License with a 2018-2019 Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp is required for hunting dove in the state of Arizona.

Apply online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Website HERE.

Or visit an authorized license dealer in Yuma (listed in alphabetical order):

Arizona Game and Fish Dept. Region IV offices
9140 E. 28th Street
928-342-0091

Big 5 Sporting Goods
505 W. Catalina Drive
928-726-2884

Sportsman's Warehouse
1000 S. Castle Dome Ave (Mall)
928-615-3200

Sprague's Sports
345 W. 32nd Street
928-726-0022

Walmart (Central Yuma)
2900 S. Pacific Ave.
928-344-0992

Walmart (West Yuma)
2501 S Avenue B
928-317-2776

Walmart (Foothills)
8151 E. 32nd Street
928-344-5974

What about hunting on the Tribal land?

Tribal lands in the Yuma area require separate permits for hunting dove.

Permits for hunting on the Cocopah Reservation cost $60 and go on sale at the Cocopah Gift Shop located at the Cocopah Hotel and Casino and also at Sprague's Sports.

For more information please contact the Cocopah Adminstrative office at (928) 627-2102 and visit their website www.cocopah.com.

The Quechan Tribal Fish and Game Office can be reached at (760) 572-0544.

Littering!

Shotgun shells are litter! Farmers in the Yuma area play host to 1000's of hunters every year, be respectful of their property and pick up your shells.

Plus, littering while hunting is a revocable violation and a conviction can result in the loss of hunting privileges for up to five years.

ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

To conserve, enhance, and restore Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs, and to provide wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment, appreciation, and use by present and future generations.