When does dove season open in texas

By Daniel Clifton. Despite February's brutal freeze, the dove population remains strong and resilient, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Good news for hunters as dove season in the Central Zone began Sept.

The season runs through Oct. The biggest storm impact on dove numbers was in the North Zone, which stretches from Texarkana in the East to Fort Hancock in the west. The good rainfall this spring and summer has resulted in good production, which will help offset any losses and allow a quick recovery.

Fitzsimmons said statewide breeding populations are about average this year with 25 million mourning doves and 12 million white-winged doves. He anticipates an excellent year for dove hunters in the South Zone, which is basically everything south of Interstate 10 from Orange in the east to San Antonio before taking U. The wet spring and somewhat mild summer have boosted dove habitat and food sources, TPWD officials said. The season begins Wednesday in the north zone — divided from the central zone by Interstate 10 between Fort Hancock and Reeves County, then Interstate 20 east through Abilene and to Fort Worth, and then along Interstate 30 through Texarkana.

Dove season in the central zone also begins Wednesday, but breaks after Oct. In the south zone — generally south of San Antonio, running along Highway 90 to the west and along Interstate 10 through Houston to the east — dove season starts two weeks later, on Sept. South zone hunters also can take advantage of two weekends of special white-wing dove days, Sept.

Nathaniel Ellsworth is a general assignments reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews. The community of Winters will continue its year-long tradition with its annual Dove Fest on Saturday , with vendors, activities and live music by The Self Family from 10 a.

I'm sure everyone is going to get a bunch of doves in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Dove Program Leader Owen Fitzsimmons said statewide breeding populations are about average this year with 25 million mourning doves and 12 million white-winged doves. There will be six special white-winged dove days instead four like previous years, the TPWD said. This is the only regulatory change for the season. The special white-winged dove days will be available to shooters only in the south zone from Sept.

More than , hunters are expected to hunt this season.