After stellar fall, second half of dove season is underway
With habitat ideal for migrating fowl, hunters in South Texas should have more ‘good opportunities’
A hunting hiatus ended last week with the second half of dove season opening in all three zones, and hunters hope it will go as well as the first half.
“Generally, I heard mostly good reports all around the state. There were a few areas that weren’t quite as good as they have been in years past, but overall I think everything went really well,” said Owen Fitzsimmons, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s dove program leader.
“September was nothing but good things from what I heard.”
Winter weather will continue to spur migration of doves across the state, pushing birds to more temperate climes and forage.
“The further south you go, the better opportunities youhave. Especially as it gets later in the winter, starts getting colder,” Fitzsimmons said.
“In South Texas, you might have really good opportunities all the way through the rest of the season.”
Tropical storms and late summer rains have kept South Texas from experiencing as much drought as other regions of the state. The habitat is ideal for migrating fowl, with plenty of lategrowth forbs and grasses available.
“We definitely have a lot of greenery; it’s definitely quite lush. There is a lot of natural food for those birds to hang onto and really have no reason to leave the Valley,” TPWD wildlife biologist Tony Henehan said.
Henehan said so far things are relatively slow and the birds are spread out with the bevy of food sources. A few more sustained cold fronts should pick up activity.
For most public hunting areas in South Texas, dove access closed at the end of the first half, but plenty of options are still available.
Doves can be taken all season long at Guadalupe Delta and James Daughtrey WMAS. The 671acre Pearl City Unit No. 2542 is open for doves in the second half, too.
Traditionally, Las Palomas WMA is the best public hunting destination for dove hunters. Visitors have over 2,100 acres at their disposal on nine different units in Cameron and Hidalgo counties.
“That’s always a good spot,” Fitzsimmons said, adding, “There’s several other bird species that you might run across out there.”
Besides mourning, whitewinged and white-tipped doves, hunters at Las Palomas also can bag bobwhite quail and the rare chachalaca for a one-of-a-kind mixed bag.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley is the only place where chachalacas can be found in the U.S. Chachalaca season runs through Feb. 28 with a bag limit of five birds.
“It’s been a really good year in terms of rain, so I expect there to be some decent chachalaca numbers around, and folks should definitely keep their eyes and ears open,” Henehan said.
Rabbits and hares are also a possible bonus for Las Palomas hunters looking for an all-around hunting experience.
Shotguns are the only legal firearms allowed at Las Palomas. Be sure to check the TPWD public hunting map to find out what days certain units are closed. The department advises hunters to bring their own drinking water.
Doves become more gregarious during the winter and are more gun-shy. Cold fronts will make birds more difficult to pattern. Fitzsimmons encourages hunters to use camouflage and to put in the legwork scouting during the winter season.
“Be ready to be mobile,” Fitzsimmons said. “Winter doves tend to be in big groups, tend to hit spots, feed heavy, and then move on to a different area.”
Dove season runs through Jan. 3 in the North Zone, Jan. 14 in the Central Zone and Jan. 23 in the South Zone. The bag limit is 15 birds, which includes amaximum of two white-tipped doves. Legal shooting hours are from a half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Eurasian collared doves do not have a closed season. The exotic birds can be harvested throughout the year without a bag limit.
The winter season is an ideal way to wrap up 2020.
“There’s always opportunities, and it’s a good year for it,” Fitzsimmons said.