TWRA Seeking Dove Fields for Lease Ahead of 2025 Hunting Season

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is inviting landowners across the state to lease their fields for the 2025 dove hunting season, offering payments of up to $4,000 for those who provide suitable land for public hunts.

To qualify, fields must be available for at least three priority hunting dates during the first segment of dove season, which opens at noon on Labor Day, September 1. TWRA is particularly interested in harvested grain fields and will lease hunting rights for up to 40 acres per field. Landowners can earn $75 per acre, with an additional $25 per acre for fields top-sown with wheat.

All interested landowners must register their fields by the end of August. Participation helps provide safe and accessible hunting opportunities throughout Tennessee, where mourning doves remain a favorite among hunters. The state sees around 24,000 dove hunters each year, harvesting an estimated 320,000 birds annually.

TWRA launched the leased dove field program in the late 1980s, and it continues to be a key component in expanding public access to quality hunting grounds. In addition to leased lands, TWRA also manages public dove fields on wildlife management areas across all four regions of the state.

Landowners interested in leasing fields should contact their local TWRA regional office:

• Region I (West Tennessee): 731-423-5725 or 800-372-3928

• Region II (Middle Tennessee): 615-781-6622 or 800-624-7406

• Region III (Upper Cumberland): 931-484-9571 or 833-402-4698

• Region IV (East Tennessee): 423-587-7037 or 800-332-0900

Regional offices are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.