NASHVILLE – Labor Day, the last big weekend of the 2024 summer boating season, is Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reminding people to wear life jackets and be safe and responsible while boating.

TWRA wants all visitors to the waterways to have a great time. However, TWRA officers will be on the waterways looking for dangerous boating behavior, such as driving under the influence (BUI) and other reckless behavior.

“If you head out to one of our beautiful lakes or rivers this Labor Day weekend, please remember your common sense and safety,” said TWRA Lt. Col. Matt Majors. “Our waterways are some of the best in the country and it is our responsibility to keep them safe and enjoyable for everyone.”

Life jackets are compulsory for children under 12 years of age. In addition, a life jacket must be present on board for each person.

Labor Day is considered the third major holiday weekend of the summer boating season. There was one death over Memorial Day weekend and two on July 4.th Holiday season. There were 16 boating-related deaths, compared to 20 at the same time in 2023.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s dove hunting season begins at noon Sept. 1 and is one of the state’s oldest outdoor sporting traditions. Opening day this year falls on a Sunday during Labor Day weekend.

The Tennessee dove hunting season is again divided into three periods: September 1-28, October 12-November 3, and December 8-January 15, 2025. Hunting hours, except for opening day, are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Doves are found throughout the state, but the highest concentration is found in agricultural areas. The hunter must have a valid state hunting license and a Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit at all times while hunting. Hunters must have permission from the landowner to hunt on private land.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages dove hunting areas in each of the four regions. For more information and area locations, visit https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/hunting/migratory-birds/dove.html#fields.

The daily kill for mourning doves is 15. There is no kill for collared doves. Doves that are not immediately recognizable as collared doves are considered mourning doves and are counted towards the daily kill for mourning doves. No one is allowed to catch migratory birds using bait or in bait areas. Self-loading or repeating shotguns must not hold more than three cartridges when hunting pigeons.

In addition to the start of dove season, the early season for Canada geese, brent geese, blue geese, snow geese and Ross’s geese (white-fronted geese) also begins on September 1 and runs through September 22. For daily catch quotas, see the 2024–25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Other hunting seasons that begin September 1 include moorhens, moorhens, and great and little rails, with the season ending November 9. A Tennessee State Migratory Bird Permit is also required to hunt these species.

A short crow hunting season overlaps with the opening week of the dove hunting season, September 1-5. It continues from September 13 to December 20, and hunting is permitted in this section only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information on the Tennessee Pigeon and other migratory birds, visit the TWRA website (www.tnwildlife.org) in the Hunting section. The 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Guide can also be viewed on the website or in the TWRA app. Alternatively, a copy can be obtained from any TWRA regional office or license dealer.

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