LONGER DOVE SEASON OPENS TODAY

  

Texas hunters are kicking-off of dove season today (Thursday).

Dove populations are soaring and the season has been extended for the first time in 80 years, giving hunters an extra 20 days.

Roughly 10 percent of the nation’s 350 million mourning dove make their way across Texas during the winter. Because they are a migrant bird species, dove populations and hunting are managed jointly between federal government agencies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Local Game Warden Mark Frayser says the doves are still coming into the area…

This season, Texas hunters will see the longest dove season in 80 years; which coincides an increased dove population.   The new 90-day season this fall means hunters will have 20 more days compared with previous years.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is integrating those additional days early in the season to take advantage of birds migrating into the state.

Frayser says other than the longer season, not much else has changed…

Texas is home to several subspecies of dove.  More information about these different dove, including images, can be found online at tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/know-your-doves.