PointsAfieldSeason2026–27
Kentucky country
Kentucky countryMrSparkle17 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Kentucky dove season 2026

Opens in 11 days

55 named public dove fields, 3 split-season segments, and what KDFWR actually publishes about each one.

The season

Every Kentucky segment, and when you can shoot

  1. Window 101 SEP – 26 OCT 202656d
  2. Window 226 NOV – 06 DEC 202611d
  3. Window 319 DEC 2026 – 10 JAN 202723d

As publishedSept. 1 - Oct. 26, 2026; Nov. 26 - Dec. 6, 2026; Dec. 19, 2026 - Jan. 10, 2027

Daily bag
Daily 15 (incl. white-winged dove), possession 45
Shooting hours
On public land — WMAs and cooperative leased fields — shooting is 11 a.m. to sunset for the entire first segment, September 1 through October 26. Standard hours (half an hour before sunrise to sunset) resume with the second segment. Private land is restricted on September 1 only.
Restricted — these are not standard hours.
Season segments
3 split segments
HIP registration
Required
Public fields
55 named
Public fields

55 public dove fields

Cooperative Dove Field Program / Voluntary Public Access Dove Fields

KDFWR manages two complementary programs: the Cooperative Dove Field Program (private landowner cooperators) and the Voluntary Public Access Dove Fields program (public WMA lands). Both are open to all hunters with valid licenses and required permits. Fields open Sept. 1, then Sept. 5-Oct. 26, 2026; closed Sept. 2-4. Special quota hunts and mentor/youth hunts require advance registration. All fields require non-toxic shot. The comprehensive field list publishes annually on the KDFWR website with locations, acreages, and access information.

KDFWR publishes the current list here

Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Doug Travis WMABallardWalk-ingrains, grasses11

Boatwright Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Boatwright Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Boatwright WMABallardWalk-ingrains, grasses6

Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area · 3 fields

Dove fields on Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Big Rivers WMA — Layman HillHendersonWalk-inmixed crops22
Big Rivers WMA — Union FieldQuota draw only Sept. 1-5; closed to public Sept. 2-4; open Sept. 6+Quota hunt Sept. 1 & 5 only; open to all hunters Sept. 6+HendersonDrawsunflowers25
Big Rivers WMA — State Forest fieldsQuota draw only Sept. 1 & 5; closed Sept. 2-4Quota hunt Sept. 1 & 5 onlyHendersonDrawsunflowers29

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge · 1 field

Dove fields on Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Clarks River National Wildlife RefugeClosed Sept. 1-4; mentor/youth only Sept. 5; open to public Sept. 6+Mentor/Youth quota hunt Sept. 5 only; open to all Sept. 6+MarshallDrawgrains, grasses—

Livingston County Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Livingston County Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Livingston County WMALivingstonWalk-ingrains, grasses25

West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area · 3 fields

Dove fields on West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
West Kentucky WMA — Tract 4 (Bethel Church Road)HickmanWalk-inmixed crops16
West Kentucky WMA — Tract 5HickmanWalk-inmixed crops10
West Kentucky WMA — Tract 6HickmanWalk-inmixed crops6

Barren River Lake Wildlife Management Area · 2 fields

Dove fields on Barren River Lake Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Barren River Lake WMA — Goose Island UnitClosed Sept. 1-4; mentor/youth only Sept. 5; open to public Sept. 6+Mentor/Youth quota hunt Sept. 5 only; open to all Sept. 6+BarrenDrawmixed crops24
Barren River Lake WMA — Long Creek UnitBarrenWalk-inmixed crops50

Sloughs Wildlife Management Area · 3 fields

Dove fields on Sloughs Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Sloughs WMA — Grassy Pond 1UnionWalk-inmixed crops24
Sloughs WMA — CrenshawUnionWalk-inmixed crops30
Sloughs WMA — Crenshaw-DuncanUnionWalk-inmixed crops52

Peabody Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Peabody Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Peabody WMA — Sinclair UnitUser permit required; call (270) 476-1889 for detailsHopkinsPermitsunflowers21

Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Higginson-Henry WMA — Tina Waggener RoadWarrenWalk-insunflowers24

Rolling Fork Wildlife Management Area · 3 fields

Dove fields on Rolling Fork Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Rolling Fork WMA — Levelwood Road FieldTaylorWalk-insunflowers4.5
Rolling Fork WMA — 3 AcresTaylorWalk-inmixed crops3
Rolling Fork WMA — 4.5 AcresTaylorWalk-inmixed crops4.5

Yellowbank Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Yellowbank Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Yellowbank WMAMeadeWalk-insunflowers12

Kentucky River Wildlife Management Area · 4 fields

Dove fields on Kentucky River Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Kentucky River WMA — Roberts TractQuota draw only Sept. 1-5; closed to public Sept. 2-4; open Sept. 6+Quota hunt Sept. 1 & 5 only; open to all Sept. 6+FayetteDrawmixed crops5
Kentucky River WMA — Gilbert TractFayetteWalk-inmixed crops19
Kentucky River WMA — Chesney TractFayetteWalk-insunflowers3
Kentucky River WMA — Welch TractFayetteWalk-inmixed crops14

Miller Welch-Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Miller Welch-Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Miller Welch-Central Ky WMAMadisonWalk-inmixed crops26

Mullins Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Mullins Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Mullins WMAClosed Sept. 1-4; mentor/youth only Sept. 5; open to public Sept. 6+Mentor/Youth quota hunt Sept. 5 only; open to all Sept. 6+BathDrawmixed crops10

Cooperator Field · 10 fields

Dove fields on Cooperator Field, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Hawkins Lane (Cooperator Field)Closed Sept. 2-4; open Sept. 1 and Sept. 5+JeffersonWalk-inmixed crops12
Crews Street (Cooperator Field)Closed Sept. 2-4; open Sept. 1 and Sept. 5+JeffersonWalk-inmixed crops25
Harley Thompson Road (Cooperator Field)JeffersonWalk-inmixed crops37
Stanford Field (Cooperator Field)Closed Sept. 1-4; mentor/youth only Sept. 5; open to public Sept. 6+Mentor/Youth quota hunt Sept. 5 only; open to all Sept. 6+LincolnDrawmixed crops22
Hudgins Field (Cooperator Field)LaurelWalk-inmixed crops26
R.L. Gentry Road — North Field (Cooperator Field)LaurelWalk-inmixed crops15
R.L. Gentry Road — Garden Field (Cooperator Field)LaurelWalk-inmixed crops8
R.L. Gentry Road — Sullivan Road Field (Cooperator Field)LaurelWalk-inmixed crops14
R.L. Gentry Road — Mike Arnett Field (Cooperator Field)LaurelWalk-inmixed crops33
Rayburn Road Field (Cooperator Field)LaurelWalk-inmixed crops11

Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Taylorsville Lake WMASpencerWalk-inmixed crops13

T.N. Sullivan Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on T.N. Sullivan Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
T.N. Sullivan WMAWoodfordWalk-insunflowers2.2

Curtis Gates Lloyd Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Curtis Gates Lloyd Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Curtis Gates Lloyd WMAScottWalk-inmixed crops37

Griffith Woods Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Griffith Woods Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Griffith Woods WMABourbonWalk-inmixed crops54

Paintsville Lake Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Paintsville Lake Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Paintsville Lake WMAJohnsonWalk-ingrains, grasses7

Clay Wildlife Management Area · 3 fields

Dove fields on Clay Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Clay WMA — Marietta Booth TractClayWalk-inmixed crops10
Clay WMA — Justice FieldsClayWalk-inmixed crops10
Clay WMA — Indian CreekClayWalk-inmixed crops12

Yatesville Lake Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Yatesville Lake Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Yatesville Lake WMALawrenceWalk-ingrains, grasses9

South Shore Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on South Shore Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
South Shore WMAGreenupWalk-inmixed crops10

Green River Lake Wildlife Management Area · 3 fields

Dove fields on Green River Lake Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Green River Lake WMA — Snake CreekAdairWalk-ingrains, grasses12
Green River Lake WMA — ElkhornAdairWalk-inmixed crops16
Green River Lake WMA — Robinson CreekAdairWalk-ingrains, grasses6

R.F. Tarter Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on R.F. Tarter Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
R.F. Tarter WMAPulaskiWalk-insunflowers8

Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Beaver Creek WMAMcCrearyWalk-inmixed crops9

Lake Cumberland Wildlife Management Area · 1 field

Dove fields on Lake Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Lake Cumberland WMAPulaskiWalk-insunflowers8

Rockcastle River Wildlife Management Area · 2 fields

Dove fields on Rockcastle River Wildlife Management Area, as published by KDFWR
FieldCountyAccessPlantingAcres
Rockcastle River WMA — Variety FieldRockcastleWalk-inmixed crops11
Rockcastle River WMARockcastleWalk-inmixed crops7.5
Where in the state

Reading Kentucky at region scale

KDFWR runs a single statewide dove season with no zone system, but publishes a real access-geography signal through its managed public dove-field program (a Cooperative Dove Field Program plus a newer Voluntary Public Access Dove Fields program, both paying farmers to plant and manage fields for public dove hunting). The state's flagship managed WMA dove fields cluster heavily in far-western Kentucky -- Peabody WMA (Hopkins County), Sloughs WMA (Henderson/Union counties), Ballard WMA (Ballard County), and West Kentucky WMA -- the same West Kentucky region that KDFWR's own Rural Mail Carrier Survey independently identifies as the state's strongest bobwhite quail region, though the two programs are not formally linked. Additional cooperator dove fields are named in the Bluegrass region (Harley Thompson Road) and the southeastern part of the state (multiple fields along R.L. Gentry Road), giving public dove access a real presence outside the western cluster as well. This is an access/habitat-investment claim, not an agency-published density map -- KDFWR does not rank regions against each other for dove abundance specifically.

Far-western Kentucky WMA dove fields (Peabody, Sloughs, Ballard, West Kentucky WMAs)

KDFWR's flagship managed public dove fields, planted in sunflowers/millet/corn specifically to attract doves, cluster in this region -- the same West Kentucky region independently identified as the state's strongest bobwhite quail region by KDFWR's own Rural Mail Carrier Survey (not a formally linked claim, but a notable geographic overlap). An access claim, not a density claim.

Peabody Wildlife Management Area · Sloughs Wildlife Management Area · Ballard Wildlife Management Area · West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area

Bluegrass and southeastern Kentucky cooperator dove fields

KDFWR's Cooperative/Voluntary Public Access dove-field programs also name specific cooperator fields in the Bluegrass region (Harley Thompson Road) and southeastern Kentucky (multiple fields along R.L. Gentry Road), giving public dove access a real presence outside the main western cluster.

Issuing agencyKentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resourcesfw.ky.govRecord year 2026
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