Dove hunting season will open September 1–15, and the Buckeye area is once again a top destination for hunters across Arizona seeking access to mourning and white-winged doves.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has designated several wildlife areas in the Buckeye Valley region as open for dove hunting. The three sites along the Gila River corridor are carefully managed to support migratory birds and small game, according to the city of Buckeye.
Robbins Butte Wildlife Area spans more than 1,600 acres and is actively farmed to support doves, quail, javelina, and mule deer. Over 200 acres are planted with wheat, oats, barley, milo, and sunflowers, according to the city.
Powers Butte Wildlife Area features more than 100 acres of game bird forage and offers panoramic views from a volcanic rock knoll. It’s sustained by Gila River tributaries and effluent from the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant, creating an ideal habitat for wetlands.
The Arlington Wildlife Area is a quieter riparian zone located 15 miles southwest of Buckeye. With two ponds, four miles of river habitat, and a stand of salt cedar, the area provides excellent nesting conditions for doves and was initially established to support endangered species.
For complete dove hunting regulations and maps, visit the Game and Fish website.
To purchase a hunting license, visit the official licensing portal.
What Hunters Should Know
- Hunting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
- Daily bag limit: 15 doves, no more than 10 white-winged doves
- Hunters 16+ must have a valid Arizona hunting license and State Migratory Bird Stamp
- Youths under 10 may hunt without a license if accompanied by a licensed adult
- All hunters must clean up after themselves and respect property boundaries
Law enforcement officers will be monitoring local fields to ensure public safety and compliance with wildlife laws.
History
In 1857, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer W.H. Emory passed through what is now the Buckeye area and described the Gila River bottomlands as fertile, willow-filled, and teeming with wildlife. His journals noted the presence of abundant waterfowl, signs of deer and beaver, and thick vegetation along the riverbanks, according to the city.
The area's mesquite groves and willow stands once provided ideal nesting habitat for white-winged doves. After the Salt and Gila rivers were dammed and farmland expanded, dove numbers grew significantly. In the 1940s, researchers recorded more than 20,000 white-winged doves between Gillespie Dam and Yuma.
From the 1940s through the 1980s, crops such as barley, milo, wheat, and oats helped support large populations of game birds. Today, much of that farmland has transitioned to cotton and alfalfa, shifting the region's agricultural profile while still maintaining habitat for doves and other wildlife.
Dove hunting remains a longstanding family tradition in the West Valley. The city of Buckeye, along with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and conservation partners, continues to support and promote dove hunting. Together, they aim to preserve access, enhance habitat and celebrate Arizona’s hunting heritage—especially during the annual season opener each September.
