| Window | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 01 SEP – 30 OCT 2026 | 60d |
As publishedSept 1, 2026 - Oct 30, 2026 (regular firearm season)
Regular firearm season shown here; a separate Extended Falconry Season runs Jan 23-Mar 10, 2027 (bag 3 daily/9 possession), not included in the seasons array above. White-winged dove shares this same season/bag. Eurasian-collared dove does not count toward the aggregate dove bag if identifiable by wing/head (may be taken year-round in any amount). Federal Migratory Bird (Duck) Stamp NOT required for dove; shotgun capacity capped at 3 shells; shot no larger than size T (0.2in).
Idaho does not zone mourning dove hunting — the entire state shares one statewide season, bag limit, and rule set. Given that, the real sub-state signal is an access/habitat one rather than a density claim: IDFG's own press coverage of dove season names specific Southwest Region WMAs as prime public-land opportunities, describing the species' preferred habitat as "the interface of upland habitats, sources of water and agricultural lands." Southwestern Idaho's Treasure Valley and the broader Magic Valley's irrigated agriculture (grain, sugar beet, and hay fields) are independently corroborated as the state's strongest dove country, with eastern Idaho's Upper Snake River Plain (Idaho Falls/Pocatello/Twin Falls corridor) offering real but comparatively lighter opportunity.
Idaho dove numbers are up sharply over the last decade, at +5.33% per year from 2016 to 2025 on the federal survey. That is the largest recent gain of any state in the Western Management Unit, where most states show no clear direction. The full 59-year record is flat, at -0.60% per year with a range that crosses zero, so this is a recent gain rather than a long climb. These figures run through 2025, one season behind this fall.
Recent decade up 5.33% per year, the largest gain in the Western Management Unit.
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