MOURNING DOVE
Sept. 1--Oct. 4, 2025
Nov. 15--Nov. 29, 2025
Dec. 22, 2025--Jan. 31, 2026
1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset
Chris Hill, Ph.D.
Professor
Biology Department
Coastal Carolina University
Office: Douglas 207H
(843) 349-2567
email: <chill...>
> On Aug 25, 2025, at 9:14 PM, Sophia Cox <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> External sender <carolinabirds...>
> Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions.
> That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens, SC, which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding spots as well where this is a concern.
>
> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM scompton1251 <scompton1251...> <mailto:<scompton1251...>> wrote:
>> Steve,
>>
>> Thanks. Can someone reply with dates for hunting seasons here in South Carolina?
>>
>> Steve Compton
>> Dorchester, SC
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Galaxy
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Steve <sshultz...> <mailto:<sshultz...>> >> Date: 8/25/25 2:30 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> >> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start
>>
>>
>>> Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet, but they are at least oozing.
>>>
>>>
>>> Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting season for doves begins September 1.
>>>
>>>
>>> It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other outdoors people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get that reminder out.**
>>>
>>>
>>> And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting on the first you may encounter hunters in the field.
>>>
>>>
>>> Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why risk it?
>>>
>>>
>>> This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp in Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately due to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a *very* popular dove hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other behavior that could lead to confrontation.
>>>
>>>
>>> Good luck and good birding!
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve Shultz
>>>
>>> Apex NC
>>>
>>>
>>> **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has not been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons earlier in the year.
>>>
