Arizona dove hunting season opens, and not everyone's happy

Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona's popular and controversial dove hunting season, albeit short-lived, has begun and will continue till September 15.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has laid down the rules

Adult hunters need to have an Arizona Hunting License (or combination hunt and fish license) and migratory bird stamp.

Child hunters (age 10-17) need to have a youth combination hunt and fish license.

A daily limit of 15 total doves applies (no more than 10 can be white-winged). 

Why is dove hunting controversial?

According to Arizona's Family, state officials claim that the excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment, including 11% on ammunition, support the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funds. But those opposed to the tradition have a myriad of problems.

Animal rights advocates argue against dove hunting on ethical grounds, believing that it is inhumane to hunt these birds, particularly because doves are often seen as symbols of peace.

Some conservationists, meanwhile, are concerned about the impact of hunting on dove populations. While the mourning dove is one of the most abundant bird species in North America, concerns arise about overhunting, especially during drought years when populations might be lower. This something hunters dismiss claiming dove hunting is a regulated activity and that hunting fees actually contribute to conservation efforts.