Eurasian Collared Dove

[CP]

A flock of these has taken up residence in the woods next to my house.  They don’t appear to be nesting; they come and go in a large flock.  If I’m reading the regs correctly there is no closed season or bag limit on them.

Does anyone ever hunt them?   Are they any good to eat?

[seth30]

not sure but they are very docile and if you can net some they are good for keeping your dogs trained up.

[CP]

I’d love to net a couple but these aren’t docile, they are very spooky.  It would be a challenge to get a clear shot at one in the dense cover. 

[ing]

I would assume that they dont taste much different than a mourning dove.  Theres quite a few of them in the Yakima valley now and I've read that other states have put a bag limit on them or included them in the same limit as mourning doves.

[seth30]

my neighbor has a feeder that attracts them by the dozens, and my labs go crazy everytime they land in my yard.  They have caught a few this year, and its funney to see them at the patio window with a dove in there mouth.

[WABONEHNTR]

If you are from the westside, sounds to me more like band-tailed pidgeons.

[seth30]

These are what I see everyday at the feeder.

[CP]

If you are from the westside, sounds to me more like band-tailed pidgeons.

Maybe.  They have a band on their neck but I see both species have that marking.  They also hang in the holly grove and I read that band tails are supposed to like holly.

They do look alike:

[WABONEHNTR]

That looks like a collard dove.  There sure are a lot of them on the east side.

[1morebuck]

Seth, I am seeing those as well down here in Shelton. This year was the first time, I wonder if the WDFW has yet another great plan to release or re-release a species in Western Wa?

[Gringo31]

I started seeing a few show up around the calf hutches last year.  Never very many, but nice to see.

[carpsniperg2]

we have them here around a few places like the grain growers. i think you are right, if i remember right there is no limit and open year round because they are a invasive species. now why the hell fish and wildlife won't see wolves as the same "invasive species"

[JBar]

We've got the collared doves hanging around our place. Told the kid to have at em!

[runamuk]

the collared doves you can buy at many pet shops

the band tailed pigeons are really cool and making a comeback it seems... I saw a bunch in the last few weeks at the feeder down the road along with the mourning doves and a squirrel and some jays oh and a few chickens

[seth30]

are they protected?  If not i am going to buy a trap so i can have birds to train my dogs again.

[runamuk]

are they protected?  If not i am going to buy a trap so i can have birds to train my dogs again.

I dont think they are protected or regulated sort of like city/farm pigeons basically invasive pests ...... but I haven't read a recent copy of the bird regs so might check there first....I know the banded pigeon is protected and has a limited season.

[CP]

Band-tailed pigeons are considered a migratory game bird, Eurasian collared doves are not. 

[seth30]

cool, since my neighbor feeds these birds, and there always around maybe I can trap a few.

[seth30]

7. Depredating Wildlife:
Rock doves (pigeons), Eurasian collared doves,
starlings, and house sparrows may be taken
at any time. Crows may be taken during the
crow season or in the act of depredation. Crow
season: Statewide, no limit, October 1 - January
31. Magpies may be taken only in the act of
depredation (damaging crops or other property).

[DeerThug]

We have them to.  No limit or season.  BUT we are not shooting them yet.  I want them to get established so we have another hunting opportunity.  WDFW needs to take a lesson here.  A bird is a bird and we want to hunt birds.

[1bugman]

We have a small flock of them that come in to our feeder. It pretty cool. More cool when the Peregrine Falcon comes in and picks a Bird off. looks like he's gone come thru the front window

[carpsniperg2]

been seeing more and more around with harvest. them things are 2x the size of the mourning's a real meal right there

[WAcoueshunter]

I shot and ate a collared dove from the Yakima area over the fourth of July.  Pretty much the same thing as a mourning dove once you pluck em.  Never seen them there in years past, which tells me they're spreading like wildfire.  Same thing happened in AZ...they're REALLY invasive.  Shoot em all. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

They were first recorded in Wenatchee around 2002 I think, the first one i saw was 2006.  Started seeing them regularly in groups of 1-3 last two years, then saw a flock of around 30 a week ago.

No closed season or bag limit, a hunting license is needed to shoot them.

I'd check with WDFW before live-trapping them.  Just a CYA recommendation.

[WAcoueshunter]

If anyone is curious about shooting them, here's a quote from page 36 of the Migratory Bird Regs:

Eurasian collared doves have recently
spread across Washington, mainly
in urban/suburban environments.
Eurasian collared doves are much
larger than mourning doves (see
photo), and can be taken year-round
with a Washington hunting license.
Mourning doves can only be taken
during September seasons.