Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Des Moines, IA, United States (AHN Sports) – After a 93 years following the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with Canada and Mexico, dove hunters unpacked their hunting gear last Thursday for the opening day of Iowa’s first mourning dove season.

For 70 days, starting Sept. 1 to Nov. 9, dove hunters will be training their sights on the small but swift targets which are now legal prey in the state for the first time since 1918.

The law legalizing the hunt of this bird, also called the Turtle Dove or the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, was signed this year. It made Iowa the 41st state with legal dove hunting.

Shooting hours open a half hour before dawn each morning up to sunset and covers the entire state.

Though dove hunters are not required to pay the state or federal migratory bird fee, they must still register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) like other hunters of other migratory birds in Iowa, as required under federal regulations.

Small game license and habitat fee is also required in dove hunting but landowners who are only going to hunt on their on land or hunters who belong to the category of 16 and under who do not need a license do not need to register for HIP.

Although there is still no way to ascertain the exact total number of Iowa dove hunters this season, an Iowa Department of Natural Resources analysis anticipates 20,000 dove hunters this season.

Since mid-August this year, the DNR has made tabs on 3,496 licensed hunters who have registered to hunt doves.

According to the DNR analysis, the expected 20,000 dove hunters would result in $6.9 million in spending. It would also generate an additional $462,000 in state and local sales tax, as well as 90 more jobs.

Meanwhile, hunters will have a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 30.

Click here for full article...