Working...

Your Cart

  • Your cart is empty

Back


Dove Season Opens September 1st in Hunt County

07/27/2022

County Armory Texas Dove Hunting Season

 

Are you ready for the 2022-2023 hunting season? As you're probably aware, most hunting and fishing licenses in Texas expire on August 31st, which is just around the corner now. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will open up 2022-23 license sales on August 15th, just a couple short weeks away.

With the Texas heat soon to be dissipating as we move into fall, many of us are looking forward to the cooler weather as hunting season descends upon us. Dove season in Hunt County opens up on September 1st, and does as well for most of Texas.

TPWD Dove Season Regulations in Hunt County*

The 2022-2023 Hunt County dove hunting season varies from north to south, with the dividing line being Interstate 30. North of I-30, the regular dove season opens from Sept. 1 through Nov. 13, and again Dec. 17 through Jan. 1, 2023. South of I-30, the season ranges from Sept. 1 through October 30, and again Dec. 17 through Jan. 15, 2023.

Daily dove bag limits for all of Hunt County are 15 birds, no more than two of which may be white-tipped doves. Possession limit is up to three times the daily bag limit.

Hunting licenses are required for hunters of any age, with discounts for youth and senior licenses. Dove hunters must also acquire a Migratory Game Bird endorsement on their license, as well as a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. The Migratory Game Bird endorsement and HIP certification are included in Texas' Super Combo license package.

In addition to a hunting license, every hunter in Texas (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete hunter education. Minimum age for certification is 9 years and cost is $15. More information about Hunter Education Courses can be found here.

If you were born on or after September 2, 1971 and you are:

  • • Under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied.
  • • Age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete hunter education, OR you must be accompanied.
  • • Age 17 and over, you must successfully complete hunter education; OR purchase a “Hunter Education Deferral,” and you must be accompanied.


The Greenville Police Department offers a 2-day Hunter Education course for youth age 9-16, with the first class starting on August 4, 2022. These classes fill up quickly, but are offered several times throughout the year. Check the Greenville Police Department's website for more information.

Texas Dove Identification

Three species of dove are legal game birds in Texas. These include the Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, and White-tipped (White-fronted) dove. Daily bag limits of 15 doves may include only two white-tipped doves, though these are indigenous to South Texas and not likely to be found in Hunt County.

Mourning Dove

Texas Game Hunting Mourning Dove

  • • Brown in color with black spots on wings
  • • Long, pointed tail
  • • Most commonly hunted dove in Hunt County
  • • Excellent flavor when wrapped in bacon and cooked on the grill
  • • Found in all parts of Texas
  • • May count toward any portion of 15 daily bag limit


White-winged Dove

Texas Game Hunting White Winged Dove

  • • Brown color with reddish hues
  • • Distinctive white-lined tips across front of wings
  • • Long, rounded tail
  • • Found mostly in South Texas, but found increasingly statewide
  • • May count toward any portion of 15 daily bag limit


White-tipped (White-fronted) Dove

Texas Game Hunting White Tipped Dove

  • • Darker-colored back with lighter chest and underbelly
  • • Rust-colored wing linings
  • • Large, rounded tail
  • • Found in South Texas
  • • Only two birds may be harvested of the 15 daily bag limit


Non-game Dove Species

Eurasian-Collared Dove

Texas Eurasian Collared Dove

As the name implies, the Eurasian-collared dove is an invasive species in Texas and as such, there is no closed season or bag limit restriction on this species. If you do hunt collared dove, be sure to leave the head and wing on them for identification purposes. You can have as many collared dove as you can shoot, provided you can identify that bird with its plumage.

  • • Narrow black collar on nape of neck
  • • White, squared tail underside
  • • Pale gray body, black bill, red irises
  • • Stronger flavor than Texas game doves
  • • Makes good catfish bait
  • • Open season year-round, no bag limit


Rock Dove (It's actually a pigeon)

Texas Rock Dove Rock Pigeon

There is no closed season or bag limit restrictions for common pigeons (rock doves), but again it is recommended that plumage be left on these birds for identification purposes. More common in urban areas and parking lots of your local Walmart, though it is not recommended to hunt them there. Or really anywhere, at all. Ever.

  • • Large plump body, small head
  • • Gray, brown or white
  • • Common in cities and ranches
  • • Is basically the bottom-feeder of the avian world
  • • Only recommended to eat after a post-apocalyptic catastrophe
  • • Open season year-round, no bag limit


Protected Dove Species (No Hunting!)

As the name implies, these doves cannot be harvested under any circumstances in Texas, lest you be subject to a starring role in an episode of Lone Star Law.


Band-tailed Pigeon
Do Not Hunt

Texas Band Tailed Pigeon

  • • Yellow bill
  • • White band on neck
  • • Wooded mountain areas


Inca Dove
Do Not Hunt

Texas Inca Dove

  • • Scaly looking
  • • Small, brown body
  • • Urban and suburban areas, woodland edges, savannahs, thickets


Common Ground Dove
Do Not Hunt

Texas Common Ground Dove

  • • Sandy brown color
  • • Dark spots on wings
  • • Short, round tail
  • • Small body, short thin bill


Dove season is the exciting start to Texas' fall and winter hunting activities. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all local and state laws that affect the location of your hunt. Only hunt on your own property, with the owner of a property, or carry written permission from a land owner if you are hunting on someone else's property. Hunting on public property is also allowed in Texas, but requires an additional Annual Public Hunting Permit, available wherever hunting licenses are sold.

County Armory wishes you a safe and fun 2022-2023 hunting season. If you're in the market for a new or affordable preowned shotgun or rifle, be sure to check out County Armory's website or stop in our store in Downtown Greenville at 2510 Hemphill St., Greenville 75401 or give us a call at (903) 259-6600.

For more information, visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's website at https://tpwd.texas.gov/.


*The information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered legal advice. Every effort has been made to ensure that all of the information in this article is accurate; we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies that may be present on the TPWD website or any changes or alterations that may occur after the publishing of this article. Please verify any information here with TPWD or other appropriate law enforcement agencies before you hunt.