Business owners say dove hunters bring economic boost

Visit Yuma says hotels see a 20% occupancy boost the night before opening day - FOX 9's Adam Klepp reports

YUMA, AZ (KECY, KYMA) - Dove hunting season brings in many hunters from out of town to Yuma and Imperial county, pumping money into our local economy.

In 2021 Visit Yuma said over 10,000 hunters came to Yuma.

Many hunters start the dove hunt at Sprague's Sports.

Owner Richard Sprague says they come to get licenses and ammunition.

“We see multiple generations here at the same time, families and friends come from all over the country to the dove opener in Yuma, it’s been a great success for everybody all these years,” Sprague said.

Over at Chretin’s Restaurant & Cantina, manager Robby Rodriguez says they cooked over 500 doves in their opening weekend cookout event.

“A lot of people from California, Texas, New Mexico, the servers ask people where they are from. Chretin's has been doing this for many years, since Joe Chretin owned it we’ve been doing something with the dove hunting,” Rodriguez said.

Hotels are also getting a bump in occupancy.

As Visit Yuma says the night before opening day hotels have 20% or more rooms filled than average.

This year's dove season runs through September 15.

Then another season will open up in November.