Yuma ready for dove hunt this season

Birds are plentiful here for hunters of all ages

Dove hunters, welcome to Yuma! We’re glad you are here! Dove hunting season officially begins this morning, 30 minutes before sunrise, and lasts until Sept. 15 at sunset. Hunters are on the prowl for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves.

Hunting is an economic boost for our region, as every visitor who comes to hunt stays in our hotels, purchases gas, buys supplies or eats meals. Every one of those actions contributes to the Yuma economy.

In fact, Arizona Game and Fish notes that Yuma County accounts for 40 percent of the doves harvested in the state each year, which is likely due to the sheer volume of hunters here, both local and visiting.

Hunting also helps build connections and family ties, and generations gather to participate in the hunt. Yuma offers terrific dove opportunities. Arizona Game and Fish reports that because the first half of 2018 was dry statewide, mourning doves may not have had as many nests as usual — maybe 3-4 nests as opposed to the usual 5-6.

However, there is unlikely to be a shortage of birds. Game and Fish says that hunters can still expect to find somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 million mourning doves out there today, as opposed to the normal 30 million. Shortage? We think not. And in Yuma, the impact is not likely to be noticed at all, since this region doesn’t get much rain anyway.

White-winged dove counts are also abundant, and as long as monsoons stay away, that will likely to remain the case, Game and Fish reports.

To find out the best places to hunt, visit www. YumaDoveHunting.com, which also has a list of rules, regulations and dove-related events.

Or visit www.yumasun.com/special_sections, and check out our Dove Hunting 2018 special section.

And to all those dove enthusiasts out there, we wish you a safe, fun hunting weekend!

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Kudos to the staff at Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma Rehab Hospital and Rural Metro Ambulance Corporation.

Recently I was a patient in YRMC and then transferred to Yuma Rehab Hospital. The entire staff was caring and considerate and the food was excellent. I wish to extend my thanks to all of the above so everyone in Yuma knows what great facilities we have in Yuma. Since I have been there several times, I can vouch for the care I received.

I am home and doing well, followed by Caring Touch Home care which I also a great service.

Thank you, one and all for outstanding care.