TexasState Hunting Spots

Home › Texas › Species › Dove

Migratory birds in Texas

Dove Hunting in Texas

All three dove zones opened Sept. 1, 2026; the South Zone opening on Sept. 1 is new this year. 2026-27 dove dates, bag, zones, rules and public tracts.

When doves openBag limitsPublic land
Sep 1Opens
Jan 21Final day
254Counties open
179Public units

Photo: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Each dove zone splits its days into an early segment and a winter segment, plus a falconry segment Nov. 13 to 29. The daily dove bag is 15 mourning, white-winged and white-tipped doves combined, no more than two of them white-tipped. Special White-winged Dove Days are eliminated for 2026-27.

MapDove land map179 areas with dovesPermitsDove in the drawing1 categories

TPWD quick facts on doves

  • All open Sept. 1, 2026.
  • 15/day, max 2 white-tipped.
  • Special White-winged Dove Days eliminated for 2026-27.

When doves are in season

Each of the 10 lines below is a dove segment for one zone, with its length in days.

AreaSeasonFirst dayLast dayDaysToday
Central ZoneRegular SeasonSep 1, 2026Oct 25, 202655
Central ZoneRegular SeasonDec 11, 2026Jan 14, 202735
Central ZoneFalconryNov 13, 2026Nov 29, 202617
North ZoneRegular SeasonSep 1, 2026Nov 8, 202669
North ZoneRegular SeasonDec 18, 2026Jan 7, 202721
North ZoneFalconryNov 13, 2026Nov 29, 202617
South ZoneRegular SeasonSep 1, 2026Oct 25, 202655
South ZoneRegular SeasonDec 18, 2026Jan 21, 202735
South ZoneFalconryNov 13, 2026Nov 29, 202617
–Special White-winged Dove DaysSet by permit

Dates from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (species page), checked October 11, 2026.

Bag rules for doves

Dove limits come from the TPWD species page and the season notes for each zone.

15Doves a day
2White-tipped within that
45Possession
3Falconry, daily

Dove limit

TPWD

15/day white-winged, mourning and white-tipped in aggregate, no more than 2 white-tipped; possession 3x daily. Falconry 3/day. Eurasian collared-dove and rock pigeon no limit.

AreaTypeLimit
Central ZoneDaily Bag Limit3 in the aggregate
Central ZonePossession Limit3x the daily bag
North ZoneDaily Bag Limit15 white-winged, mourning and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 2 white-tipped
North ZoneDaily Bag Limit3 in the aggregate
North ZonePossession Limit3x the daily bag
South ZoneDaily Bag Limit15 white-winged, mourning and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 2 white-tipped
South ZoneDaily Bag Limit3 in the aggregate
South ZonePossession Limit3x the daily bag

County lists for doves

Pick a dove zone below to see its counties; where a highway splits a county, the side it covers is noted.

AreaEntire countiesPartial
Central Zone9642
North Zone7827
South Zone3915
Central Zone: 138 counties
North Zone, all 105 counties
South Zone: 54 counties

Legal requirements for doves

License items, hours, orange and the means and methods TPWD names for doves.

Paperwork

License costs that apply to doves in 2026-27.

$25Resident license
$7Migratory endorsement
FreeHIP certification
$48Nonresident 5-day
$7Youth license
$48APH permit

Shooting hours

Legal light for doves runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to official sunset, with no evening half hour.

Orange rule

Hunter orange is not required for doves, on public or private ground.

Hunter ed rule

For doves, TPWD requires hunter education of everyone born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, nonresidents included.

Dove fields and bait

Federal law prohibits hunting migratory birds over bait; an area stays baited until 10 days after all bait is removed and a game warden confirms removal. Doves may be hunted over manipulated planted crops; waterfowl and cranes may not.

Doves you may not shoot

Band-tailed pigeons, Inca doves and common ground doves are protected.

Collared-doves

Eurasian collared-doves and rock pigeons have no bag limit.

Dressing doves

Doves are the exception to the migratory bird rule that a wing or head stay on dressed birds until home.

From the TPWD Outdoor Annual general regulations, license and species pages (endorsements, hunting regulations), checked October 11, 2026. All Texas hunting laws · License guide.

Mapped public areas for doves

The map shows 179 areas that name doves, grouped below by TPWD region, the largest of them Sam Houston National Forest at 163,037 acres.

Panhandle (48)

Matador WMA (28,183 ac) · Teacup Mountain WMA (11,091 ac) · Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (7,664 ac) · Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge (6,449 ac) · Gene Howe WMA (5,394 ac) · Rio Farms (2,552 ac) · Texas Roberts (1,625 ac) · Margoso (1,568 ac) · La Playa (1,280 ac) · Morris (1,280 ac) · Porter (965 ac) · Big Timber (821 ac) · Bindweed (640 ac) · La Lanza (640 ac) · South Place (640 ac) · Temprano (640 ac) · Stovall (630 ac) · De Campo (626 ac) · West of Town (481 ac) · Wolf Creek (480 ac) · Horse Creek (402 ac) · Correll (384 ac) · Circle Tree (381 ac) · Pat's Place (350 ac) · Betty (326 ac) · FM 759 HQ (325 ac) · Brillhart (322 ac) · Goat Barn (321 ac) · 94 Trust (320 ac) · Askew CRP (320 ac) · Idalou (320 ac) · Pride Cemetery (320 ac) · Ramsey Place (320 ac) · Warrick (320 ac) · Noble Playa (308 ac) · Cobb Farms (250 ac) · Vara (200 ac) · Abernathy North (194 ac) · Della Plains (160 ac) · Francis-Dunlap (160 ac) · Margolies (160 ac) · Bluestem (80 ac) · Brushy Creek East · Brushy Creek West · Finnell · Lake Meredith National Recreation Area · Pat Murphy WMA · Playa Lakes WMA – Taylor Lakes Unit

Austin/Waco (32)

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (27,841 ac) · Whitney Lake (14,000 ac) · Granger Public Hunting Lands (10,888 ac) · Navarro Mills Lake (5,500 ac) · Stillhouse Hollow Lake (4,451 ac) · Aquilla Lake (4,000 ac) · Lake Georgetown (3,000 ac) · Waco Lake (3,000 ac) · Belton Lake (2,692 ac) · Luminant Texas Public Hunting Unit (1,071 ac) · Marlin Lake Park (903 ac) · Wild Wood Ranch (745 ac) · Mount Moriah (550 ac) · Farm Road 1445 North (523 ac) · Gerland (395 ac) · Mertens (378 ac) · FM 413 (310 ac) · FM 1771 (307 ac) · Rocky Creek (282 ac) · Bruceville-Eddy (262 ac) · Ben Arnold (227 ac) · Blue Ridge Cemetery (182 ac) · Carmine West (170 ac) · CR 229 (154 ac) · Holland Road (128 ac) · Beevill Branch (113 ac) · Carmine East (110 ac) · Trailer Park Road (88 ac) · Shotgun (71 ac) · FM 485 (68 ac) · Little Pond Creek · Somerville Public Hunting Lands

Dallas/Ft. Worth (31)

Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (41,303 ac) · Caddo National Grassland (17,727 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA (16,140 ac) · Cooper WMA (14,480 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Bois d'Arc Unit (13,360 ac) · Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (11,320 ac) · Lewisville Lake (9,138 ac) · Pat Mayse WMA (8,925 ac) · Lavon Lake (6,500 ac) · Roger R. Fawcett WMA (5,459 ac) · Bardwell Lake (2,528 ac) · Tawakoni WMA (2,335 ac) · Rattan Community (1,753 ac) · Benbrook Lake (1,400 ac) · Hagerman NWR – Nocona Unit (822 ac) · FM 902 Farm (480 ac) · Weets Farm North (415 ac) · Home Place (365 ac) · Thompson (315 ac) · South Muddig (293 ac) · East FM 1570 (230 ac) · Black Branch (200 ac) · North Royse City (180 ac) · Crossroads Farm (130 ac) · Three B's (111 ac) · FM 1530 (103 ac) · Rater/Crump (101 ac) · Farm Road 1138 (100 ac) · Farm Road 2755 (60 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Ladonia Unit · West Farm Road 1777

San Antonio/Corpus Christi (29)

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (101,700 ac) · Chaparral WMA (15,200 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA – Mission Lake Unit (4,448 ac) · Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR – La Casita East (1,400 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA – Guadalupe River Unit (1,138 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA – Hynes Bay Unit (1,008 ac) · Lakeside (714 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Taormina Unit (600 ac) · Lone Star Pass (540 ac) · Burns West (530 ac) · Somerset Road (520 ac) · Burns East (390 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Longoria Unit (374 ac) · Immenhauser (293 ac) · Hornsby East and West (287 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Ebony Unit (266 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Anacua Unit (220 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Chapote Unit (220 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Tucker Unit (175 ac) · South Alice (173 ac) · Catclaw Creek (150 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Baird Unit (122 ac) · Las Palomas WMA – Carricitos Unit (118 ac) · Guadalupe Delta WMA · James E. Daughtrey WMA · Las Palomas WMA · Las Palomas WMA – Arroyo Colorado Unit · Resaca de la Palma State Park · State Highway 85

Pineywoods (17)

Davy Crockett National Forest (161,100 ac) · Sabine National Forest (160,656 ac) · Angelina National Forest (153,179 ac) · Wright Patman Lake (54,358 ac) · Moore Plantation WMA (26,772 ac) · White Oak Creek WMA (25,777 ac) · Bannister WMA (25,695 ac) · Alabama Creek WMA (14,561 ac) · Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA (12,636 ac) · Gus Engeling WMA (11,095 ac) · Caddo Lake WMA (8,124 ac) · Sabine River Authority Unit 630 (7,484 ac) · North Toledo Bend WMA (3,650 ac) · Alazan Bayou WMA – Blount Tract (2,255 ac) · Lake Striker Public Hunting Lands (1,476 ac) · Town Bluff Dam and B.A. Steinhagen Lake (875 ac) · Alazan Bayou WMA – Old River Tract (485 ac)

Central Texas (10)

Twin Buttes Public Hunting Lands (12,858 ac) · Proctor Lake (2,500 ac) · McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse WMA (1,972 ac) · Huddleston (859 ac) · Stafford CRP (327 ac) · Sandy Half (320 ac) · Millhollon Trust (264 ac) · Lake Colorado City State Park · Mason Mountain WMA · San Angelo State Park

Houston/Beaumont (9)

Sam Houston National Forest (163,037 ac) · Sam Houston National Forest WMA (161,508 ac) · Mad Island WMA (7,714 ac) · Latta Road (1,641 ac) · Justin Hurst WMA – North Stringfellow Pasture (1,409 ac) · Bordages Road (1,272 ac) · South China Road (1,036 ac) · Justin Hurst WMA · Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMA

Trans-Pecos (3)

Black Gap WMA (103,000 ac) · Elephant Mountain WMA (23,147 ac) · Amistad National Recreation Area

TPWD lands require the $48 APH permit of dove hunters 17 and up, bought with a season hunting license. How the APH permit works.

TPWD APH data, WMA and drawn hunt lists and federal land managers, 2026-27, checked October 11, 2026. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.

Public draw hunts that include doves

For doves, the drawing has 1 matching category and Big Time Texas Hunts adds 1.

DrawingCategoryDue
Private LandsDoveAug 1, 2026

Big Time Texas Hunts

Big Time draws with doves: Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey).

Drawn dove hunt fees: $3 to apply, $80 or $130 if selected, nothing for hunters under 17. Big Time Texas Hunts entries for doves cost $9 online and close Oct. 15, 2026.

TPWD Public Hunt Drawing catalog, fees and deadlines (drawing) and Big Time Texas Hunts (BTTH), checked October 11, 2026. Texas drawn hunts.

Shopping list for Dove country

Click any item for current listings and prices.

Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Dove decoys

Clip-on decoys on a fence or dead tree draw birds in.

See Amazon prices

Shell bag

Dove shoots burn through boxes of shells.

See Amazon prices

Dove stool with storage

A bucket seat for long waits at a stock tank or field edge.

See Amazon prices

Shooting glasses

Eye protection for a crowded dove field.

See Amazon prices

Compare hunting gearHunting gear guide

Other game to pair with doves

Upland birdsQuailNov 1 to Feb 28 · 61 areasMigratory birdsTealSep 19 to Sep 27 · 156 areasSmall gameRabbit and HareYear-round · 156 areasYear-roundFeral HogYear-round · 180 areas

Dove questions and answers

Can I hunt doves over a planted field?

Yes, doves may be hunted over manipulated planted crops. Bait is another matter: an area stays baited until 10 days after all bait is removed.

Are Eurasian collared-doves counted in the bag?

No. Eurasian collared-doves and rock pigeons have no limit.

What happened to the white-winged dove days?

Special White-winged Dove Days are eliminated for 2026-27, and there is no Special White-winged Dove Area.

Where do dove hunters hunt without a lease?

179 tracts, among them Sam Houston National Forest, Sam Houston National Forest WMA and Davy Crockett National Forest. The APH permit for adult dove hunters is $48.

Do dove hunters need anything beyond a hunting license?

TPWD lists for doves: Resident license ($25); Migratory endorsement ($7); HIP certification (Free); Nonresident 5-day ($48).

Do doves fall under the orange rule?

Hunter orange is not required for doves, on public or private ground.

When can dove hunters start shooting?

Legal light for doves runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to official sunset, with no evening half hour.

Are doves open in every county?

TPWD county pages show doves in 254 counties.

Can I apply for a public dove hunt?

TPWD drawing categories for doves: Dove. Big Time Texas Hunts offers Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey).

When do doves open and close in Texas?

Doves: Central Zone regular season Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026; Central Zone regular season Dec 11, 2026 to Jan 14, 2027; North Zone regular season Sep 1 to Nov 8, 2026; North Zone regular season Dec 18, 2026 to Jan 7, 2027; South Zone regular season Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026; South Zone regular season Dec 18, 2026 to Jan 21, 2027. The full calendar is above.

Dove: final checks

TPWD can amend dove rules during the license year, so check the dove page linked below before heading out.

More speciesHunting seasonsPublic mapTPWD dove page

Other photos on this page: G Yancy (CC BY 2.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).