Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Sets Dove Quota Hunt Schedule
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will hold four dove quota hunts and four mentor‑youth dove quota hunts at the start of the 2026 dove season, which opens on September 1. Applications are accepted from 8 a.m. on August 3 until 4:30 p.m. on August 21, with drawing results posted by August 26. The quota hunts will take place at Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area in Union County and the Roberts Tract of Kentucky River WMA in Owen County on September 1 and September 5, after which the fields open to all hunters on September 6.
Each quota hunt at River WMA offers 30 hunter slots and requires non‑toxic shot; each at Big Rivers WMA offers 25 slots. Participants may bring one guest and are limited to 50 shotshells. A state‑approved Hunter Education certification is required for Kentucky hunters age 12 or older born in 1975 or later, with a free one‑year exemption permit available for those lacking certification, provided they are accompanied by a certified adult.
Entities
Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area · Hunter Education certification · Kentucky · Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources · River Wildlife Management Area
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Applications for the hunts are accepted from August 3 at 8 a.m. to August 21 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A state‑approved Hunter Education certification is required for Kentucky hunters age 12 or older born in 1975 or later; a free one‑year exemption permit is available for those without certification, ‑ theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Each quota hunt at River Wildlife Management Area has 30 hunter slots; each at Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area has 25 slots. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] All fields will open to all dove hunters starting September 6, 2026. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The quota hunts will be held at Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area in Union County and the Roberts Tract of River Wildlife Management Area in Owen County on September 1 and September 5. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will host four dove quota hunts and four mentor‑youth dove quota hunts during the early part of the 2026 dove season opening on September 1. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Dove quota hunters at River Wildlife Management Area must use non‑toxic shot. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Drawing results will be posted by August 26, 2026. theinteriorjournal.com · harlanenterprise.net · winchestersun.com