YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — Dove hunting season has officially drawn to a close in Yuma County, and while the birds may have had a rough run, local businesses in southwestern Arizona say visiting hunters gave them a much-needed financial lift.
Downtown shop and restaurant owners reported a surge of out-of-town visitors, particularly over the three-day Labor Day weekend and the week that followed. The annual September hunt drew thousands of sports enthusiasts from across the region, including neighboring California, packing dining rooms and driving up hotel reservations.
Tracy Escamilla, who has worked at Holy Smokes since 2019, said the influx brought a noticeable spike in foot traffic and sales.
“I can’t give you an exact number, but we did see groups, like large groups coming in, filling up the truck beds, putting tables together, so we saw an increase with that,” Escamilla said. “We got to see a lot of out-of-town hunters, and it was really cool to see father and son — like the younger generation hanging out with the older generation.”
The seasonal boost extended beyond restaurants to the local lodging industry.
Marcus Carney, executive director of Visit Yuma, said area hotels typically see their largest crowds in late fall and winter, but the dove season provides an early jump-start to the tourism calendar.
While final data has not yet been released, Carney said bookings are outpacing last year’s numbers.
“Our hotels sit around 50% occupancy through this summer, and so obviously when you can get to 90 to 95%, it’s pretty exciting and it’s a great thing,” Carney said.
Business owners say the strong turnout provides welcome momentum heading into the fall, as cooler weather and the return of winter visitors are expected to bring the region’s primary economic surge following the slow summer months.
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