Some locales are famous for the pursuit of animals uniquely indigenous to one area. Western states, like Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Idaho, are amazing places for scouting, locating, tracking, and hunting big game such as elk and mule deer. Alaska and Canada are famous for sheep, bears, moose, and caribou.
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Texas is known around the world for its huge ranches where you can hunt everything from American game to imported animals known as exotics. It’s also home to huge numbers of migratory birds, making it a top state to hunt America’s most common game bird: dove.
Texas’ size and geography contribute to making it a destination for the sport of dove hunting. The state is situated in the Central Flyway, one of the largest bird migration routes in North America, and acts as a funnel for doves heading to warmer climates in Central America. Because many migrate south of the border for the winter, nearly all doves inevitably fly through Texas before they cross into Mexico and parts south.
Texas also offers the most habitable land to support doves and their breeding habits thanks to its sheer size and desirable climate conditions. Another reason Texas is home to some of the best dove hunting in the country is that Texas has some of the most generous season dates, allowing more hunters more chances to hunt in some of the best conditions. Texas gun laws also make hunting games, including doves, easier than in some other states. For all of these reasons, Texas provides a significant opportunity for hunting a variety of dove species.
North American Central Flyway Map
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), hunting mourning doves—by far the most plentiful species—dates back 9,000 years ago in Texas, based on art and archeological evidence found in caves in Val Verde County in southwest Texas. Another document from TPWD includes accounts of explorers’ dove hunting in Texas during the Spanish colonial period between the 17th and 18th centuries.
The first detailed, written account of dove hunting in the Lone Star State is from October of 1895 when the San Antonio Light reprinted a story titled “Tales of the Hunt,” which was taken from an even older German-language magazine. Since that time, the pastime of hunting and harvesting doves has only grown and solidified as part of Texas’ culture. With tens of millions of doves flying over Texas in the later months of the year, it’s no surprise that hunting them is an annual rite of passage for hundreds of thousands of hunters.
To ensure dove hunting remains sustainable and the ecosystem they are a part of stays balanced, policies were instituted that support growing the sport while sustaining Texas’ dove population. Between a federal statute limiting the number of shells that can be loaded in a shotgun, finalizing shooting hours for doves, and introducing a daily bag limit of 15 birds, many rules to promote dove populations were adopted.
Every year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) publishes a report titled “Mourning Dove Population Status Report.” Per the most recent report, Texas has 237 routes through which doves fly. The newest population report from TPWD in 2024 says the mourning dove population is estimated to be 34.3 million doves; this is the third-highest population year on record. Comparatively, white-winged dove populations are estimated to be 12.8 million, making it the most populated year on record yet.
So, what do the actual harvest totals look like with all those dove routes going through Texas? Texas’ annual harvest totals more than six million doves. Furthermore, based on the “Dove Population Status – 2024” report from TPWD, Texas makes up a third (30%) of the national mourning dove harvest and 87% of the total white-winged dove harvest every year.
Texas Dove Zone Map
While those figures are telling, many may wonder why anyone should consider dove hunting. From a meat harvesting perspective, it seems like a small reward for one’s investment. Regardless of what the stats look like, the nice thing about dove hunting, especially in Texas, is the fact that dove is one of if not the most accessible types of hunting available to anyone in the country. It’s simple, and the level of fitness and firearm proficiency only needs to meet some basics, along with following firearm safety requirements.
With a dog to retrieve downed birds, it gets even easier, though it’s not a long walk to get most birds. And, because so many hunters can easily get into dove hunting, it significantly helps conservation efforts, too, such as the TPFW’s Stewards of the Wild program. According to a TPWD publication, dove hunting makes up a third of the hunting dollars spent annually by resident Texans. Most of that is spent on shells. One source from TPWD claimed dove hunters account for 74 percent of shotgun shells sold in the United States. Let that one sink in the practice to get ready for – and the execution of hunting doves – means three out of every four shotgun shells go into dove hunting.
If the above information puts dove hunting on your list of must-dos this year, it’s one of the easiest hunts to get into, since the required fitness, gear, and experience levels are relatively low compared to other hunting.
Statistics show that doves are plentiful and widespread, making successful hunting more likely. Season dates are months-long, providing many opportunities for multiple hunts versus other game animal opportunities. Adding to the ease of getting into the sport of dove hunting, part of the draw is also location.
Because there are so many flyways in and out of the state of Texas, there are likely thousands of suitable locations to hunt across the state. The abundance of open fields, available water sources, gravel roads, and crop lines all add up to it being hard to find a place that isn’t good for dove hunting in Texas, as long as one is away from the urban centers. If one wanted to foster environments for dove habitat, that’s not too difficult to do, either. It’s very possible to create a small, private dove paradise if you have enough land to discharge a firearm (here’s a hint: sunflowers and wheat are some of the best food-plot draw for doves).
A typical dove hunt for most species in Texas starts a half hour before sunrise and shooting hours end at sunset; both times correspond to when the birds are most active. Generally, later in the morning after the sun is up and running until just before dusk is when the birds roost or are on the ground, so the flying action drops off significantly unless the weather passes through.
Setting up static and moving decoys provides a visual cue that can attract inbound birds, signaling to those flying above that others have landed and are actively feeding. Outside of the decoys – which aren’t always necessary, but can improve the concentration of birds to a geographic point in front of the hunter – all that’s needed is a shotgun, some shells, and a seat (or a blind if you want to get fancy). This makes dove hunting extremely inexpensive compared to other animals.
Similar to duck hunting, dove hunting is a social affair, so going out with family and friends is encouraged to say the least – it’s also why it makes for a first great hunt due to ample targets of opportunity. But new hunters beware: doves fly fast, like 55 miles an hour, making them one of the toughest targets to hit (it’s also why many long-time dove hunters recommend spending some time clay shooting as pre-season prep); for this reason, second shots are not uncommon.
Optimizing hit percentages, most hunters stick with 12- or 20-gauge guns loaded with shot sizes from #7 to #9 shot. Some hunters who want a bit more of a challenge opt for a .410 instead, which can make for a difficult – though still incredibly fun – dove hunt. And for fans of watching dogs work, or if a hunter just wants to relax as much as possible, dove hunts can certainly include man’s best friend. Having a dog along almost always makes everything a little better, and dove hunting is no exception.
Perhaps most importantly, because Texas has so many doves flying through the state at any given time during the season, the time allocation necessary to have a successful dove hunt is relatively short, as some hunters can fill their daily limit in as little as 15 minutes if the birds are flying well; many accomplish this feat before the workday even starts.
When it comes time for the hunt to end – whether when the daily bag limit is reached or because it’s time to head to work – field dressing any dive shot is very easy, with minimal tools such as game shears being required, so the bird is just as quick to clean as they were to shoot. While the amount of meat won’t be plentiful, dove adds something special to poultry recipes, giving the tastebuds–and the hunter’s pride—quite the experience. Between poppers, beer-battered recipes, stews and soups, and a plethora of other options, dove meat is some of the most versatile game meat available.
The average dove hunt offers a lot of opportunities for minimal cost. And for Texas hunters – as easy as it is in the Lone Star State to find them–there’s no reason to not be in the field as soon as you can get out of the office.
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