Dove Numbers Increase, Point to Positive Hunting Season

Dove numbers are looking good for this year’s hunting season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) reports an abundance in both white-winged and mourning doves across the state.

“This year, we’re looking at a very promising forecast, probably a better than average season,” Owen Fitzsimmons, TPWD webless migratory game bird program leader, said. “Dove numbers are up this year compared to what we’ve seen the past few years. We’re looking at numbers overall that are kind of on par with what we saw back in 2014 to 2016, which were some of the better years that we’ve had in the past couple of decades.”

There was a 21% increase in mourning dove numbers statewide and a 4% increase in white-winged dove numbers.

“As long as the weather holds out, I think we’re looking really good this year. Populations are looking really strong,” Fitzsimmons said.

He noted the areas that suffered drought and storms were hit earlier this year, but they have seen a high hatch population.

“The Edwards Plateau and Trans Pecos had some pretty dry areas until some recent rains in July, and so some of those areas might’ve been hit a little bit hard with drought,” Fitzsimmons said. “There were a few localized areas that we heard of where some severe storms came through in the spring, and sometimes those severe storms can knock nests out of trees. But I think in June and July, we’ve seen a lot of hatch year production overall. We’re looking pretty strong just about everywhere.”

There are an estimated 34.3 million mourning doves in Texas this year, which is 24% above the long-term average and the third highest since TPWD began surveying in 2008.

TPWD estimates there are 12.8 million white-winged doves in Texas, which is the highest on record and up 17% from the long-term average.

“This year, there’s a lot of doves, so hunting season is going to be good,” Fitzsimmons said.

Eurasian collared-doves are invasive and can be hunted year-round in Texas and do not have any bag limits.

“The only thing that we advise is if you do shoot collared doves as part of your bag is to keep some kind of identifiable plumage, like a wing or something on those birds, so that the game wardens can tell that those are not part of your bag limit for native doves,” Fitzsimmons said.

There were no regulation changes for dove hunting this year.

The regular season for the north zone is Sept. 1-Nov. 12 and Dec. 15-31.

The regular season for the central zone is Sept. 1-Oct. 29 and Dec. 15-Jan. 14.

The south zone season dates are Sept. 14-Oct. 29 and Dec. 15-Jan. 21.

The special white-winged dove days are Sept. 1-3 and Sept. 8-10.

Hunters in Texas must have a valid Texas hunting license, a state migratory game bird endorsement (stamp) and must be Harvest Information Program (HIP) certified.

Hunting and fishing licenses are now on sale.

The bag limit remains 15 doves per day with no more than two white-tipped. The possession limit is three times the daily bag.