Dove Opener

August 26, 2021

Question: I am planning to hunt the dove opener in Imperial County on September 1. I understand that CDFW produces maps that show the fields that were planted. Where would I find those? And do you have any forecast for how the season might look this year?

Answer: Yes! CDFW posts maps of the planted fields in Imperial County (PDF)(opens in new tab) on its website. Wheat and sunflower were the primary crops planted, and some fields have additional Sudan, Bermuda and alfalfa. It has been a hot, dry year and the drought has certainly affected agriculture, which in turn affects dove presence and movement. We have had mixed reports across the state, with some areas experiencing high numbers of first year birds and some with very few. As always, we hope for an exceptional hunting season and wish our hunters the best of luck in the field this year.