By Staff
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced that the final framework for the 2008 dove season has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This year the north and south zones in Alabama will hunt under a 70-day season with a 15-a-day bag limit.
This change was finalized in late June and represents an increase in the bag limit for the south zone and an increase of the number of hunting days for the north zone.
The south zone includes Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Mobile counties.
The remaining counties are in the north zone.
The season dates are:
SOUTH ZONE:  15-a-day - 15 in Possession
12 O'clock noon until Sunset (Afternoon Shooting Only) October 4
One-half hour before Sunrise until Sunset (All Day) October 5 - November 2     
One-half hour before Sunrise until Sunset (All Day) November 27 - November 30
One-half hour before Sunrise until Sunset (All Day) December 6 - January 10, 2009
NORTH ZONE: 15-a-day - 15 in Possession
12 O'clock noon until Sunset (Afternoon Shooting Only) September 6
One-half hour before Sunrise until Sunset (All Day) September 7 - October 5     
One-half hour before Sunrise until Sunset (All Day) October 25- November 15  
One-half hour before Sunrise until Sunset (All Day) December 13 - December 30
The mourning dove is the most abundant game bird in Alabama.
More than 62,000 licensed hunters enjoy dove hunting. For further information, go to www.outdooralabama.com.