California’s dove hunting season is rapidly approaching, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for dove hunts throughout the state on both public land and private ranches.

Hunters are reminded that nonlead ammunition is now required for hunting doves and taking wildlife anywhere in California with a firearm.

The first half of the split dove season will be open statewide from Sept. 1 through Sept. 15, 2019. The second half will be open statewide from Nov. 9 through Dec. 23, 2019. Hunters can apply for these opportunities online, at CDFW license sales offices, through retail license agents or by calling (800) 565-1458.

For mourning dove and white-winged dove, the daily bag limit is 15, up to 10 of which may be white-winged doves. The possession limit is triple the daily bag limit. There is no limit for spotted dove or ringed dove, but the season dates are the same as for mourning dove and white-winged dove. Eurasian collared-dove is the only dove species that can be hunted year-round, with no bag or possession limit.

Several dove hunting opportunities are available by drawing only throughout California for the upcoming dove season as part of CDFW’s Upland Game and SHARE programs.

Special drawings for public land dove hunting opportunities through the Upland Game Bird Hunting program will be available at the following locations:

• Merced and Stanislaus counties: North Grasslands Wildlife Area (China Island and Salt Slough units), Los Banos Wildlife Area;

• Sacramento County: Cosumnes River Preserve;

• Fresno County: Pilibos Unit of the Mendota Wildlife Area;

• San Diego County: San Felipe Wildlife Area;

• San Luis Obispo County: North Chimineas Ranch, Carrizo Plains Ecological Reserve.

Drawings for limited public access to private lands through the SHARE Program will be available at the following locations:

• Santa Barbara County: Harrington Farms, Jones Ranch and Sleepy Creek Ranch;

• Tulare County: Hart Ranch.

Additional information can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds/hunts and www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.