Texas Dove season includes Regular and Youth-Only. The Regular period runs September–November with a December extension. It lasts throughout January in the South. In September, Central and South Zones celebrate six Special White-Winged Dove Days. Youth-Only occurs in late October in North and South Zones.
This page covers Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s dove hunting rules and laws, including details on permissible shooting birds in the state.
Latest pigeon game provides distinctive schedules for North, Central, and South shooting zones, according to TPWD. Hunters must register, obtain a migratory bird certification, and follow daily load limitations.
Regular
Games
Start Dates
End Dates
Zones/Location
Regular - North
September 01
November 12
North Zone
December 15
December 31
Regular - Central
September 01,
October 29
Central Zone
December 15
January 14
Regular - South
September 14
October 29
South Zone
December 15
January 21
Special White-winged
Start Dates
End Dates
Zones/Location
Special White-winged Dove Days - South
September 01
September 03
South Zone
September 08
September 10
Falconry
Start Dates
End Dates
Dove Falconry Season
November 17
December 03
Bag Limit
Dove Season
Daily Bag Limit
Possession Limit
Regular Season
15 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves (aggregate), no more than 2 white-tipped
3 times the daily bag limit
Special White-winged Dove Days
15 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves (aggregate), no more than 2 mourning and 2 white-tipped
3 times the daily bag limit
Falconry Season
3 in the aggregate
3 times the daily bag limit
Texas Legal & Protected hunting bird types
Legal and protected game bird species/Image Credit: pwd.texas.gov
Species
Description
Hunting Status
Mourning Dove
Brown with black spots on wing, pointed tail
Legal throughout Texas
White-winged Dove
White bar on wing, rounded tail
Legal in South Texas, increasing statewide
White-tipped Dove
Rust-colored wing linings, rounded tail
Legal in South Texas
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Pale gray body, black bill, narrow black collar on nape of neck
Unprotected
Rock Dove
Gray, brown or white, plump body, small head
Unprotected
Band-tailed Pigeon
Yellow bill, white band on neck
Protected - Do Not Hunt
Inca Dove
Scaly-looking, small, brown body
Protected - Do Not Hunt
Common Ground Dove
Sandy brown color, dark spots on wings, short round tail, short thin bill
Hunting license purchases require hunters to declare their purpose for migrating game birds and provide basic information to become HIP certified and qualified to hunt such birds.
Hunters in Texas must possess a migrating Game Bird Stamp Endorsement to pursue migrating game birds like doves legally.
A shooter should notify birds with leg bands by going to the website reportband.gov.
Senior Resident Hunting License (ages 65 and over)
$15
$50
Non-Resident Hunting License (Type 100)
-
$100
Resident Combo License
$40
$150
Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit
$48
-
Federal Duck Stamp
-
$25
Upland Game Bird Endorsement
$5
-
Locations & Dove Zones
The state has three dove hunting zones: North, Middle, and South. Each zone, covering different regions, has varying dates and weight restrictions for the season. The South Zone is widely considered the best for dove. Hunters can use the TPWD shooting zones chart to determine their zone and plan accordingly. The Texas Public Hunting Map helps locate public shooting areas.
Texas Dove hunting locations/Map Credit: pwd.texas.gov
Central Zone
The region of the state that lies between the North and South Zones
North Zone
Starting point
International Bridge south of Fort Hancock
North boundary
FM 1088
West boundary
State Highway 20
North boundary
State Highway 148
North boundary
Interstate Highway 10 at Fort Hancock
East boundary
Interstate Highway 10
Northeast boundary
Interstate Highway 20
Northeast boundary
Interstate Highway 30 at Fort Worth
Ending point
Texas-Arkansas state line
South Zone
Starting Point
End Point
International Toll Bridge in Del Rio
U.S. Highway 277 Spur in Del Rio
U.S. Highway 277 Spur in Del Rio
U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio
U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio
State Loop 1604
State Loop 1604
Interstate Highway 10
Interstate Highway 10
Texas-Louisiana Line
FAQ
When is the regular dove season in Texas?
It continues in the North Zone from September 1 to November 13 and then restarts on December 17 until January 1, 2023. It continues in the Central Zone from September 1 to October 30 and then restarts on December 17 until January 15, 2023. It continues in the South Zone from September 14 to October 30 and then returns on December 17 until January 22, 2023.
What are the bag limits for dove hunting in Texas?
A daily bag restriction in Texas of 15 birds per day, of which no more than two may be white-tipped, white-winged, or mourning doves.
Are there any special dove hunting days in Texas?
Yes, Texas will have six Special White-Winged Days from September 2-4 and September 9–11, 2023. Only white-winged doves may be taken during these times, and a daily weight restriction of 15 birds is imposed.
What is the bag limit for common pigeons (rock doves) in Texas?
Texas has no weight limits or restricted seasons for shooting common pigeons (also known as rock doves). To help identify, it is advised to leave the birds’ feathers intact.
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