Dove season starts Sept. 1 with growing bird populations
JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Dove populations in Texas are growing, and early dove season hunters should expect higher-than-average numbers.
However, late season hunters might see fewer doves than in the past as the birds migrate out of the area, according to Rufus Stephens, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department District 4 leader.
“From a population standpoint, we seem to be producing more mourning doves; the rest of the country is not,” Stephens said. “White wings — we’ve got lots, and the population continues to grow.”
Dove season opens in the North and Central zones Sept. 1. The South Zone opens Sept. 19. The season ends Oct. 20 for all zones. A late season is Dec. 19 to Jan. 7 for North and Central zones. The South Zone last season begins the same date but ends Jan. 25.
Stephens said this season’s expectations are the result of a mixture of habitat conditions.
“Some rains at the right time created good habitat conditions for doves,” he said. “Drought, followed by some rains means more broadleaf plants and more food for doves.”
According to TPWD, about 250,000 dove hunters harvest 5 million mourning doves each year.
Dove populations for years have been counted by TPWD biologists driving specific routes each year and counting the doves they see. This year was the last year.
“It’s all going to be based on banding data,” Stephens said. “Getting the band from hunters is even more important than in the past. It’s how we make an estimation of the population in the future.”
Last year, 1,462 mourning doves and 2,912 white wind doves were banded by TPWD. Others states do the same thing. This year, TPWD has banded 1,948 mourning doves and 2,886 white wings so far.
The white band is on a dove’s leg and has a toll-free phone number and a website for hunters to visit to enter information about the bird. Other information about the bird, such as where it was banded, will be available.
For more on dove season, hunting licenses or the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
jared@thepicayune.com