Dove season specifics

It’s that time of year again in Gonzales County: hunting season!

The year kicks off with the dove opener north of I-10 in the Central Zone on Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 6. South of I-10, the Dove South Zone opens on Sept. 23 and runs through Nov. 13. As you can see, this is the longest dove season in many years and affords the opportunity for folks who love hunting doves to remain afield well into deer hunting season. 

Lawful hunting hours for doves in the Central and South Zones are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Remember to check your almanac for sunrise and sunset times or go to www.sunrisesunset.com to check local times. This is especially important on days when these solar events are obscured by cloud cover. Game wardens monitor legal hunting hours closely and so should you!

Bag and possession limits for doves this year remain the same. The daily bag limit is 15 doves, including white-winged, mourning and white-tipped doves in the aggregate. However, no more than two may be white-tipped doves. 

Remember, Eurasian collared (ring-necked) doves are not game birds. They are not protected and may be hunted. However, they do not count toward the bag limit, which means if you kill these birds you are able to retain them in addition to your bag limit of 15. 

The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit (45) and applies after the first day of the season. The possession and daily bag limits on opening day are the same (15 doves). On the second day, the possession limit is 30. After the third day of the season, the possession limit is 45.

Don’t let this confuse you. It is simple, you cannot kill more than 15 doves per day. If you “limit out” on opening morning, you are done hunting for the day. By law you cannot legally hunt the evening flight if you get your bag limit in the morning. If you kill seven in the morning, you can hunt the evening, but are limited to killing eight birds. 

Invariably I am asked two questions: “If I ‘limit out’ in the morning can I help my buddies limit out after I’m done, or can I hunt with them in the evening to fill their bag?”

The answer is no. Dove hunting is not a team sport. You are not allowed to kill more than 15 doves in any one day. 

Question 2: “If I ‘limit-out’ in the morning, can I hunt ring-necks (Eurasian collared) doves in the afternoon?” The answer is yes. If you are confident in your ability to make a species identification “on-the-wing”, go for it! But beware, if you misjudge and kill a game bird, you are in violation.

Before taking to the field, remember to check the plugs in your auto-loaders and pump shotguns. The law states that a lawful shotgun for taking any migratory game birds must be no larger than 10 gauge, fired from the shoulder, and incapable of holding more than three shells, including the one in the chamber.

Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells must be plugged with a one-piece filler which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun. It matters not that you only insert three shells while hunting. What satisfies the legal requirement is that your shotgun is physically incapable of holding more than three shells.

Be careful where you hunt doves. Hunting doves over bait is not lawful! Hunters are responsible for knowing whether an area is baited. Do not hunt over or near deer feeders or other wildlife feeders. It is lawful to hunt doves over crops, such as sunflowers, corn or milo, whether or not they have been harvested. However, if bait has been purposely placed to attract doves by hunters or anyone else, it is unlawful. 

Remember, the hunter is responsible for knowing whether an area is baited. If you are unsure or have questions regarding this law, call your local game warden or do not hunt there.

If you are hunting near homes or populated areas, be aware of the direction of your shot. If your shot lands on someone’s home or across a property boundary, you are in violation of state law and are responsible for any property damage or personal injuries. 

There are many more regulations of which hunters should be aware. Be sure to grab a copy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual for the regulations — and don’t forget — if you have a smartphone, download the free Outdoor Annual app.

Lastly, don’t forget the hunter education requirements. Hunters born on or after Sept. 1, 1971 are required to take a course before taking to the field. There are several options, including online courses and one-time deferrals. For more information go to www.tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education. 

Be safe out there, know the law, and I look forward to meeting you this hunting season as I make my rounds.