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Dove Season Texas 2024-2025: New Dates, Bags & Hunting Zones!

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.

Texas Dove Season

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

GamesStart DatesEnd DatesZones/Location
Regular – NorthSeptember 01November 10North Zone
December 20January 7
Regular – CentralSeptember 01,October 27Central Zone
December 13January 14
Regular – SouthSeptember 14October 27South Zone
December 13January 21

Special White-winged


Start Dates
End DatesZones/Location
Special White-winged Dove Days – SouthSeptember 01September 02South Zone
September 06September 8 & Sep. 13, 2024

Falconry


Start Dates
End Dates
Dove Falconry SeasonNovember 17December 03

Bag Limit

Dove SeasonDaily Bag LimitPossession Limit
Regular Season15 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves (aggregate), no more than 2 white-tipped3 times the daily bag limit
Special White-winged Dove Days15 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves (aggregate), no more than 2 mourning and 2 white-tipped3 times the daily bag limit
Falconry Season3 in the aggregate3 times the daily bag limit

Texas Legal & Protected hunting bird types

legal and protected game bird species in Texas
Legal and protected game bird species/Image Credit: pwd.texas.gov
SpeciesDescriptionHunting Status
Mourning DoveBrown with black spots on wing, pointed tailLegal throughout Texas
White-winged DoveWhite bar on wing, rounded tailLegal in South Texas, increasing statewide
White-tipped DoveRust-colored wing linings, rounded tailLegal in South Texas
Eurasian Collared-DovePale gray body, black bill, narrow black collar on nape of neckUnprotected
Rock DoveGray, brown or white, plump body, small headUnprotected
Band-tailed PigeonYellow bill, white band on neckProtected - Do Not Hunt
Inca DoveScaly-looking, small, brown bodyProtected - Do Not Hunt
Common Ground DoveSandy brown color, dark spots on wings, short round tail, short thin billProtected - Do Not Hunt

Dove Regulations

  • 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.

Dove Licenses

License TypeCost (Resident)Cost (Non-Resident)
Annual License$47 $315
One-Day License$7 $47

Other related license

License/PermitResident FeeNon-Resident Fee
Resident Hunting License (Type 101)$25 -
Resident Migratory Game Bird Endorsement$7 $25
Youth Hunting License (ages 17 and under)$7 $25
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 map
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 pointInternational Bridge south of Fort Hancock
North boundaryFM 1088
West boundaryState Highway 20
North boundaryState Highway 148
North boundaryInterstate Highway 10 at Fort Hancock
East boundaryInterstate Highway 10
Northeast boundaryInterstate Highway 20
Northeast boundaryInterstate Highway 30 at Fort Worth
Ending pointTexas-Arkansas state line

South Zone

Starting PointEnd Point
International Toll Bridge in Del RioU.S. Highway 277 Spur in Del Rio
U.S. Highway 277 Spur in Del RioU.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio
U.S. Highway 90 in Del RioState Loop 1604
State Loop 1604Interstate Highway 10
Interstate Highway 10Texas-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 01–13, 2024. 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.

John Lewis
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