With the start of dove and early waterfowl hunting seasons in Arkansas, officials are reminding hunters to ensure their Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration is completed before heading afield. The first segment of dove season begins Saturday, Sept. 5, and runs through Oct. 25. A second segment will follow from Dec. 8 to Jan. 15, offering hunters additional opportunities to pursue migratory game birds.
The HIP program, established in 1999 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, collects vital data on the number of hunters participating and the number of migratory birds harvested each season. According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), this information helps manage bird populations and determine hunting season structures and bag limits. Registration is a requirement for anyone planning to hunt migratory birds such as doves, teal, or geese.
Brett Leach, Waterfowl Program Coordinator for the AGFC, emphasized the importance of accurate and honest reporting during HIP registration. “The questions you get at the time of your registration are just the beginning of the process,” Leach said. “Once all the final surveys are complete, we have a good estimate of harvest that we can compare with many other tools coordinated by each state and compiled at the federal level to ensure harvests are in line with population estimates and trends.”
HIP registration, which is free, involves responding to a short series of questions about prior hunting activity and anticipated participation in migratory bird hunting for the upcoming season. After registration, a random selection of hunters may be invited to provide detailed daily diaries of their hunting activities or even participate in wing surveys to further refine harvest data. The submitted data contribute to long-term conservation and population management efforts.
Leach noted that some hunters who do not plan to hunt migratory birds register “just in case.” He urged these individuals to refrain from unnecessary registrations, as inflated data can complicate harvest monitoring. “That data is very important in harvest management, which includes determining season structures and limits. Without good data, our season structures aren’t giving the best fit for both the birds and the hunters,” Leach explained.
Arkansas hunters should also be aware of daily bag limits for mourning and white-winged doves, which total 15 combined. The federal possession limit is 45, while Eurasian collared doves have no limits. Hunters are reminded that federal law requires shotguns to be limited to three shells when used for migratory game birds. Licensing and HIP registration can be completed online through the AGFC website at www.agfc.com/licenses or at AGFC regional offices and nature centers.
Additional information regarding dove season, as well as early Canada goose and teal hunting seasons, is available at www.agfc.com.