Dove such as this leg-banded bird provide Texas Parks and Wildlife with important information such as harvest rates, movement and longevity. Hunters convened upon the area for the Sept. 1 opening day of dove season. (Courtesy Photo)
By Shauna Salinas/The Red River Sun—
WELLINGTON — With the kickoff of dove season, Sept. 1 kicked, hunters are reminded to renew or purchase a new hunting license to start the hunting season off right, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
The wildlife officials said to make sure to have any migratory stamps needed and the required HIP certification. HIP, which stands for, Harvest Information Program, is a federally mandated part of the license sale. All licensing fees are used for conservation efforts and to keep hunting and fishing great in Texas, according to the TPW website.
Dove season in the North Zone runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 12 and Dec. 18 to Jan. 3 with the Central Zone season running Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 and Dec. 18 to Jan. 14, and the South Zone season spans Sept. 14 to Nov. 1 and Dec. 18 to Jan. 23.
The guideline is a daily bag limit of 15 dove but not more than two white-winged and a possession limit of 30, wildlife officials said.
“Since it’s been dry, dove have been coming into water making the hunting pretty good,” said a Collingsworth County rancher.
More than 27,000 mourning and white-winged dove in Texas have been banded over the last five years. Reported leg bands provide Texas Parks and Wildlife with important information on dove harvest rates, movement and longevity. Band are reported at reportband.gov.
For 2020, the Outdoor Annual, which contains pertinent information about hunting and fishing, is online as well as available in a phone app.
For more information on dates, laws and regulations, visit tpwd.texas.gov.
