This is an opinion piece.

About 20 years ago, Alabama saw its hottest day of hunting ever. I went dove hunting in Cullman that day and it was 97 degrees. My fingers are crossed as I hope we aren’t about to see that record broken.

The upcoming dove season in the North Zone will actually fall a few days earlier in September than that record-breaking day two decades ago. We can only hope that the weather forecasters aren’t thinking, “Hold my beer.”

With the start of the 2023-2024 dove season now just two weeks away, it’s a good time to review the basics. Below, you will find just about everything you will need to know. I have also thrown in a great dove recipe for good measure.

The seasons

NORTH ZONE: (All counties except those listed below in south zone.)