The opening of Dove Season is like a cultural event in the American South. In Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and other surrounding states, the opening of the season marks the coming of autumn—and more hunting seasons to follow. This season, thousands of hunters, their families and their hunting dogs gather to set out in pursuit of mourning doves, white-winged doves and collared doves. Some locations are so popular that state wildlife management offices will set quotas and hold a lottery for first-day access.

It’s a challenging task because doves are small and nimble, flying up to 55 miles an hour with sharp dives and quick changes in direction. It takes quick reflexes and a keen eye to bag these birds. The hunt usually begins at noon, but among many groups, the season “officially” kicks off when the first hunter fires.

Dove hunting season begins on Sept. 1, 2018 in most states, though there are some exceptions.

Check out this post to discover some of the best dove hunting locations in the Southern states “Dove Hunting Season: Everything You Need to Know“.