The dove species most often hunted in the USA is the White Winged Dove.
In Alberta there are three Dove species.
Rock Dove, IE Pigeons
Morning Dove, and
Eurasian Collared Dove.
Eurasian Collared Dove were first reported in Alberta in 2003.
It could be that the government hasn't figured out yet what to do about them.
I do expect they will be declared fair game soon, but as of now they are protected.
The hunting regulations say this;
Quote:
All birds are protected except the following: Starlings, Crows, Pigeons,
House (English) Sparrows, Magpies, Blackbirds, Common Grackles,
Brown-headed Cowbirds, Ravens (hunted on private land by residents
and public land under an agricultural disposition) and any other birds for
which an open season has been declared by the regulations as indicated in
this summary.
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Note Doves are not mentioned.
The Agricultural Pests Act lists only lists;
English sparrow
Rock dove = Pigeon
European starling
and Magpie
As birds classified as pest species.
I could find nothing that indicates they may be killed, therefore I would not shoot one.
BTW Eurasian Collared Doves showed up in Manning four years ago.
They seem to be surviving well here.