FRIO COUNTY, Texas – For the first time in Texas history, dove season opened on the same day across the state on Sept. 1.
In previous years, dove season in Texas’ southern hunting zone opened two weeks after September started because of concerns that mourning doves could still be nesting or raising young in late summer and early fall. However, this year marked a significant change: the southern zone joined the rest of Texas for the state’s first-ever uniform dove season opener, a change expected to last for the next two years.
This decision was based on a comprehensive 20-year review of dove populations conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Olivia Kost, a wildlife biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, shared that the review’s findings indicated that breeding and hatch timings in South Texas were similar to those in other regions of the state and beyond.
“When there’s rain, we get vegetation growth, and when we get vegetation growth, we get good dove food,” Kost explained. This year’s spring and summer rainfall played a significant role in boosting food availability, contributing to an increase in dove populations.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, dove numbers have risen for the third consecutive year, with nearly 37 million doves now estimated in Texas. This includes around 13 million white-winged doves, which is the highest number recorded.
The new statewide opener is great news for local hunters, providing more opportunities to hunt closer to home rather than traveling to different zones. This change is expected to give a boost to South Texas’s economy, especially since it is the only location in the U.S. where hunters can pursue mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves all in the same season.
Carson Neal, a dove hunting guide, advises hunters to set up near bodies of water, particularly as the environment is drying out. “Since it’s dry, they have to find somewhere with water, and so we like to set up next to the water,” he said.
Thanks to the spring and summer rains, food supply is abundant, which could lead to doves being more spread out across the region. This might require hunters to explore various areas to find birds.
Safety is also a top priority for hunters. Neal emphasizes, “You want to make sure that you’re not sitting directly across the tank from somebody else so that if a bird flies between you, you won’t be shooting at it and be shooting at the other person at the same time by accident.”
Before heading into the field, hunters should ensure that their licenses and permits are current. Requirements include a hunting license, a migratory bird endorsement, and an annual public hunting permit if hunting on public land.
Daily bag limits can vary among the northern, central, and southern hunting zones, as well as between counties. Hunters are encouraged to check the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Outdoor Annual app for the latest dove and hunting regulations.
Hunters are also invited to participate in the Texas Parks and Wildlife harvest survey. The data collected helps wildlife officials monitor dove populations and make informed decisions about future hunting seasons.
For those interested in white-winged dove hunting, there are two public-access hunting units available in southern Bexar County.
