The first split of dove hunting season opened Sept. 1 in the North and Central Zones. Sept. 14 marks the season opener in the South Zone.
Every dove season is a good one in Texas, but this year’s forecast is more promising the most. That’s the word from Owen Fitzsimmons, webless migratory game bird program leader with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The reason? Mega doves. Fitzsimmons says resident mourning dove population surveys conducted earlier this year found an estimated 34.3 million mourning doves in Texas. The number is about equal to 2014-17 estimates and the third highest recorded in Texas history, he said.
Factor in the 20-30 million mourning doves from northern states that pass through Texas en route to Mexico and Central America each fall and the number swells even higher. Whitewinged dove populations also are at near record levels — about 12.8 million.
Fitzsimmons credits the bright outlook and bounty of birds with timely rainfall that set the stage for banner a nesting season.
“We saw more rain from January to July this year than we get in most 12-month periods,” he said. “Conditions have been great overall, with the exceptions of some very dry areas in the Hill Country and Trans-Pecos, but some July rain may have helped there.”
No worries for hunters who didn’t make it to the field over the Labor Day weekend. The first split runs through Nov. 10 and resumes Dec. 20. Some of the best hunting often happens after the onslaught of pressure subsides.