Migratory Bird Hunting History

Arizona’s Migratory Bird Hunt Information

Find the information you need.

band-tailed pigeon

Band-tailed pigeon hunting has an erratic history in Arizona. After the season was closed in 1951 for a perceived lack of birds, interest in band-tailed pigeons waned until the 1960s, when a series of studies were initiated in the “four-corner” states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. These studies included an experimental season, which opened in 1968, and continued through 1972. Hunt information showed a limited but dedicated interest in the band-tailed pigeon as a game bird with the maximum number of hunters and birds harvested being 1,067 hunters and 3,545 pigeons in 1970. The numbers of both pigeons and pigeon hunters has since fallen off with only 146 band-tailed pigeons reportedly taken in 1996.

Visit the band-tailed pigeon species profile to learn more about these birds.

Attention Band-tailed Pigeon Hunters! To improve harvest estimates, band-tailed pigeon hunters age 16 and older are asked to submit their name and contact information via email to smallgame@azgfd.gov so that the Small Game Program can correspond with hunters about harvest efforts and success.

pheasant

If you want to hunt pheasants in Arizona with a shotgun you may only hunt in game management unit 40B near Yuma. A limited number of permits are available and are issued through the draw. Consult the current Arizona hunting regulations for details. The archery or falconry pheasant season typically runs concurrent with the Gambel’s quail season and is open statewide. Once again consult the annual hunting regulations for specifics.

Visit the pheasant species profile to learn more about these birds.

dusky grouse

The first legal season on dusky grouse in Arizona did not take place until 1964 when 33 hunters spent 49 days to harvest 44 grouse. Since that time, a variety of grouse season dates have been authorized, but the number of grouse hunters has remained low due to the birds general scarcity and the steep terrain and high elevations of their habitat. Hunter numbers have never reached 800 in any given year, and the annual harvest since 1973 has been only 300 to 700 grouse.

Visit the dusky grouse species profile to learn more about these birds.

Attention Grouse Hunters: The Department would like to better survey dusky grouse hunter participation and success. To do this we are asking grouse hunters to provide an address or email to the Department’s small game biologist so that they can be surveyed directly after the end of the season. This may be done by sending an email to smallgame@azgfd.gov or through regular mail to the Department’s main office: Attention Terrestrial Wildlife Branch.

chukar

In spite of a five month season and a five bird bag limit few people hunt chukars in Arizona. This is due to the remote portion of the state in which they live as well as the steep, rough canyon country where they are found.

Visit the chukar species profile to learn more about these birds.

Attention Chukar Hunters: The Department would like to better survey chukar hunter participation and success. To do this we are asking chukar hunters to provide an address or email to the Department’s small game biologist so that they can be surveyed directly after the end of the season. This may be done by sending an email to smallgame@azgfd.gov or through regular mail to the Department’s main office: Attention Terrestrial Wildlife Branch.

dove

Mourning, white-winged and collared doves each have a rich hunting history in Arizona. Learn more
Visit the dove species profile to learn more about these birds.