Tag: dove hunting

Central Texas Dove Hunting Reports

September always starts with a bang—if you are a dove hunter! With the first of the month past and dove season well underway, many dove hunting reports have been filed. It was reported at the Gerbert and Plum dove leases in Fayette County that 4 hunters managed to harvested 12 mourning doves. Not limits at that public hunting unit, but the hunters did enjoy the hunting experience. At Plum, 5 hunters harvested 1 bird.

Having checked out the Plum lease before, it looks like it should be good at some point because it is a recently harvested corn field with second growth milo located just across the road. Looks to be good dove habitat. Dove hunting reports from Limestone County fields showed a good number of hunters hit the ground on opening day and that there were quite a few whitewing doves flying and lots of shooting. Observers reported that fields sounded like battlefields! Harvest per hunter average 3 to 5 doves with some hunters getting limits.

One hunter at a public dove field in Limestone County (Unit #2400) reported harvesting 14 doves by mid-morning. He also said there were 4 other vehicles parked in the lot and that 35 to 40 hunters were using the public dove lease units that comprise the Limestone County Complex. Continue reading Central Texas Dove Hunting Reports

All About White-winged Doves

White-winged doves get their name from the white wing bars along their wings, which are easily visible while the doves are in flight. No other dove species in the United States possesses this unique trait. Adult white-winged doves are physically stunning. Adult doves have blue eye-rings that develop during their first 5 months. Adult plumage consists of brownish feathers while juveniles are typically gray-brown. There are about 12 subspecies of the white-winged dove, of which four breed in the southern United States.

The western white-winged dove and the eastern white-winged dove are two subspecies that have been studied the most in Texas. The eastern whitewinged dove is the most common subspecies found in South Texas. Both of these subspecies have “invaded” further north into Texas in recent years, moving north out of Mexico and the Rio Grande valley. The eastern white-winged dove’s population status within its historical range of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas has been transformed over the past century from an over abundant rural species to one of lower numbers because of habitat loss. Continue reading All About White-winged Doves

Texas Dove Hunting Reports Sound Promising

Mourning Dove 

Dove season has kicked off in Texas and reports, like the doves, have been scattered between fair and exceptional. Find out more about Texas’ north, central, and south zone dove hunting reports below:

North Zone Dove: Best hunts have been had over plowed sunflowers and cut milo fields. Hunts near Amarillo and counties north have taken good numbers of dove over watering holes in the afternoon. The region received enough rains in August to fill some dry playas. Areas north of Abilene have been solid over row crops and water in the afternoon. Fields north of Fort Worth have seen scattered birds since the opener. A few new birds arrived with the north winds last week. Lamar County saw better shoots in soy beans. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: The northern region of the zone is still holding huntable numbers of mourners. The front last week deposited new birds to the area. Harrison, Gregg and Marion county fields have seen best shoots around water in the afternoon. Comanche County and Brown County fields of sunflowers have been best in the afternoon around water. Best flights of whitewings remain in the San Antonio corridor around Castroville and Hondo. Uvalde hunts have been steady as well. Outfitters have reported better flights in the afternoon. Doves are scattered along the southern end of the zone. Good hunts have been posted near Dayton, Liberty, China and Devers, but since the opener, dove hunting has been fair to good. Outfitters said they lost most of their birds with the rains in late August. Prospects are fair to good.

Special White-Winged Dove Area: Last weekend saw good shoots in corn, milo, sunflowers and plowed fields. Those able to hunt water saw great afternoon shoots. Saturday and Sunday are the last days of the special season. As a reminder: afternoon-only hunting is permitted. Rains and winds associated with Hurricane Ike could put a damper on the flight, especially if South Texas receives a direct hit.