Dove hunting season opens September 23 in the Coastal Bend. It continues through November 13. The second half of the season begins on December 17 and continues through January 23, 2017.
Dove populations are soaring, says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which recently set the calendar for the longest hunting season in 80 years. A 90-day dove hunting season begins September 1 in certain parts of the state with 20 additional days.
“Hunters will now be able to take advantage of those northern birds riding early November cool fronts into Texas, without sacrificing days of opportunity early in the season,” said Dave Morrison, TPWD Small Game Program Director. “We’ve also tacked on extra days to the back end of the season in late January when South Texas prospects are still pretty solid. It’s a win-win for dove hunters.”
About 415,000 Texas dove hunters can be expected in the fields each fall, aiming for both mourning and white-winged dove. Based on TPWD survey results during the spring breeding season, mourning dove numbers could be some of the highest in more than a decade. Although white-winged dove growth is a bit slower, it, too, is showing an increase.
Dove season in the North Zone runs Sept. 1 – Nov. 13 and Dec. 17 – Jan. 1, 2017; in the Central Zone from Sept. 1 – Nov. 6 and Dec. 17 – Jan. 8, 2017; and in the South Zone from Sept. 23 – Nov. 13 and Dec. 17 – Jan. 23, 2017. The daily bag limit for doves statewide is 15 and the possession limit 45.
In the Special White-winged Dove Area, which includes the Coastal Bend, the season runs Sept. 3-4, 10-11, Sept. 23 – Nov. 9, Dec. 17 – Jan. 23, 2017. Coastal Bend counties, including Nueces, are in the South Zone.
During the early two weekends in the Special White-winged Dove Area, hunting is allowed only in the afternoon and the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than two mourning doves and two white-tipped doves. During the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit is 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves.
RENEW HUNTING LICENSE NOW
All current hunting licenses expire August 31, but new ones went on sale August 15. Anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971 must successfully complete a hunter education training course to buy a license. TPWD offers Hunting 101 workshops. For class schedules, visit the website or call (512) 389-4999.
