Dove season brings respite
More than 300,000 hunters set to go afield as regular season opens Tuesday
Texas hunters know what the end of August means.
It’s one last push of heat and the boiling point of pent up anticipation felt through the tired days of a huntless summer. September is near and with it comes a little thermostat relief and dove season, the de facto kickoff of Texas hunting season.
The state’s more than 300,000 dove hunters are set to go afield for the regular season openers Sept. 1 in the North and Central Zones and Sept. 14 in the South.
The year 2020, a year marred by a pandemic but highlighted by a renewed appreciation for outdoor spaces that allow for socially distant activities, creates a unique opportunity for those interested in dove hunting for the first time.
Doves are the perfect gateway to other forms of hunting and the outdoors. Texas is a stronghold for it, too, with the state home to a third of the nation’s dove hunters.
“A lot of people start with dove hunting because it’s affordable, it’s fairly simple to get into. It doesn’t take much; just a shotgun, some shells and a place to go. It’s pretty widespread; you can dove hunt just about anywhere in the state,” said Owen Fitzsimmons, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s webless migratory game bird program leader.
While many might be itching to get out of the house, it can be intimidating to try something new.
Bob Thornton, founder of Texas Dove Hunters Association, has a few tips for those venturing into dove hunting.
“First thing I would recommend for any first-time dove hunter is be sure, when you go out the first time, go with someone else, with an experienced hunter,” he said.
Thornton said a mentor who understands the nuances, like why a smaller shot size like 7½ is preferable for dove hunting, can be invaluable. An experienced hunting companion knows regulations and can help with species identification. The daily bag limit for doves is 15 and can contain no more than two white-tipped doves.
Dove hunters should dress comfortably, preferably camouflage, and should not wear open-toed shoes. A blaze orange hat or shirt is advised for children. Bring ear plugs, eye protection and lots of water. Be cognizant of snakes and mosquitoes.
Hunters can find success hunting doves all day but can key in on mornings and evenings when the birds are moving between roosting and feeding areas. Doves can be hunted over planted crops, but baiting birds is a federal offense.
Thornton likes decoys, such as those made by MOJO, especially for mourning doves. He said the decoys will help bring the birds in closer so that inexperienced hunters won’t have to take the long shots that result in sore shoulders, wasted shells and a bad time.
Thornton recommends 20gauge shotguns, lighter and with less firepower than 12 gauges, for the first-time hunter. He also encourages practice with clay targets before going afield.
When a bird is harvested, the hunter should remember in the excitement to mark the location of the downed bird so it’s not lost.
Gun safety is critical and is a focus of hunter education courses, which are required for all Texas hunters born after Sept. 2, 1971. The minimum age to get a hunter education permit is 9, and hunters younger than that age must be accompanied by someone at least 17 years old with a permit. The hunter education course is $15. All hunters must have licenses as well.
The anticipation of dove season unfortunately often coincides with the anxieties of hurricane season.
The weakening of Tropical Storm Marco is a blessing for the Gulf’s residents and dove hunters alike. However, Texas and Louisiana await Hurricane Laura.
On its current trajectory, Laura does not appear primed to significantly affect Texas dove season. A major rain event across a large portion of Texas would be the biggest threat.
“Rain tends to scatter birds. Heavy rains especially can saturate the ground, flood some areas and that’ll keep birds from coming into feed,” Fitzsimmons said.
Before the storms, the outlook for Texas dove season was optimistic. Fitzsimmons said field reports were especially good in The Panhandle, Central Texas and South Texas.
He said the springtime conditions were conducive to strong production.
“We had an average to wet spring across the state,” Fitzsimmons said. “Native pastures look really good, a lot of dove fields look really good. It’s been getting drier, but most of the state was pretty drought-free coming into June and early July.”
If a lot of water is dumped on the landscape by storms, birds won’t be as concentrated. However, Fitzsimmons said late summer rains could contribute to better conditions later in the season. He said South Texas especially could be a good place for late-season hunts.
Cold fronts triggering migration, too, will help dove hunters as the season progresses.
“Doves will concentrate in bigger fall flights ahead of the fronts, making for some excellent hunting opportunities,” Fitzsimmons said.
“These groups will often feed heavily in one area for a few days before moving on. Hunters should look to take advantage of any fronts during the season.”
For first-time hunters looking for a place to hunt, Fitzsimmons recommends Las Palomas WMA in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the 15,200acre Chaparral WMA. A Texas annual public hunting permit is $48.
Texas dove season dates are Sept. 1 to Nov. 12 and Dec. 18 to Jan. 3 in the North Zone, Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 and Dec. 18 to Jan. 14 in the Central Zone, Sept. 14 to Nov. 1 and Dec. 18 to Jan. 23 in the South Zone. Special whitewinged days in the South Zone are Sept. 5, 6, 12 and 13, and the 15-bird daily bag for those days cannot contain more than two white-tipped doves and two mourning doves.