NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is seeking fields to lease for the upcoming 2026 dove hunting season. The first segment of dove season opens at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Landowners can earn up to $4,200 for providing a dove field for public hunting. These fields must be available for a minimum of three priority hunt dates in September.
Mourning doves are a popular game bird and one of the most widely distributed and abundant birds in North America. More mourning doves are harvested than all other migratory bird species combined in 39 of the continental states. In Tennessee, an estimated 28,000 hunters harvest approximately 399,000 mourning doves each year.
TWRA began its leased dove field program in the late 1980s, and the program has been very successful in providing quality hunting opportunities for hunters. In addition to leased fields, many public dove fields are provided on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in each TWRA region.
The standard fall leased field is a harvested grain field to which TWRA leases the hunting rights for three priority dates. The hunting access rate paid to landowners for fall leased fields may be up to $75 per acre for a maximum of 40 acres. Fields that are top-sown with wheat are eligible for an additional $30 per acre. Interested landowners must register their fields in August.
Anyone interested in leasing a dove field to TWRA should contact their regional office. TWRA offices can be reached between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (local time) using the following contact information:
Region I (West Tennessee) 731-423-5725 or toll-free 800-372-3928
Region II (Middle Tennessee) 615-781-6622 or toll-free 800-624-7406
Region III (Upper Cumberland) 931-484-9571 or toll-free 833-402-4698
Region IV (East Tennessee) 423-587-7037 or toll-free 800-332-0900
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.