Texas Dove Season: 2024-2025 Hunting Dates & Information

The state of Texas offers some of the best dove hunting in the country due to the diverse habitats that doves love to live and forage in. As such, opening day of dove season is one of the most highly anticipated events for hunters in Texas. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to know before getting out on your annual hunt, including the legal species you can hunt, bag limits, and so much more.

If you're new to dove hunting, check out our guide on essential dove hunting gear you need to make your first hunt a success.

Dove Species & Regulations in Texas

In Texas, there are a few different types of doves and migratory birds you may encounter while out on a hunt, but not all are legal to shoot.

Legal Dove Species in Texas

Mourning Dove

These birds are brown with black spots on wing and a long, pointed tail. You can find Mourning doves across all of Texas.

White-winged Dove

These birds feature a white bar on their wing and a long, rounded tail. You can typically find them in South Texas but their populations are starting to spread across the state.

White-tipped Dove (White-fronted)

These birds have a large, rounded tail with rust-colored wing linings, and can be found in South Texas.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

The Eurasian collared-dove is an invasive species that has no closed season or bag limits. The have a narrow black collar on nape of neck with a white, squared tail underside, pale gray body, black bill, and red irises. Although there is no closed season for Eurasian collared-doves, it's recommended that you keep the plumage on the birds for identification purposes.

Rock Dove (Rock Pigeon)

There is no closed season or bag limit restrictions for rock doves, commonly known as the common pigeon. Like the Eurasion collared-dove, keep the plumage on the bird so that it's easy to identify.

Protected Dove Species in Texas

In Texas, you're unable to shoot some species of dove, no matter the season. These three dove species are currently protected:

Band-tailed Pigeon

These birds feature a yellow bill and white band on their neck. You'll typically find these in wooded mountain areas. Do not shoot these if encountered.

Inca Dove

These birds are small, brown and their feathers resemble scales from a distance. You'll encounter this species of dove in urban and suburban areas, woodlands edges, savannahs and thickets.

Texas Dove Hunting Zones

The dove season regulations in Texas are divided by hunting zones across the state. Seasons can vary depending on what zone you're hunting in, so make note before you head out on your zone's opening day.

North Hunting Zone

The North Zone encompasses a portion of the state, stretching from the northern border with Texas down to a boundary that resembles a slightly wavy diagonal line, extending from Fort Hancock in the west to the Texas-Arkansas state line in the east.

The southern boundary, or "bottom," of the North Dove Hunting Zone is delineated by three major highways: I-30 from Texarkana to Fort Worth, I-20 from Fort Worth to Kent, and I-10 from Kent to Fort Hancock. Areas north of these highways fall within the North Zone.

Central Hunting Zone

The Central Zone starts just south of these boundaries and extends further south to another set of demarcations. For this zone, I-10 serves as the southern boundary from Orange, through Houston, and all the way to San Antonio. However, in San Antonio, the boundary shifts to follow State Loop 1604 until it intersects with US Highway 90. From there, US 90 becomes the boundary from San Antonio to Del Rio.

South Hunting Zone

The South Zone includes all areas from the bottom of the Central Zone's boundary to the southern border of Texas.

2024 Texas Dove Season Dates, Regulations, and Bag Limits

North Zone

The regular season for the North Zone runs from September 1, 2024 through November 10, 2024 and re-opens from December 20, 2024 through January 7, 2025.

Central Zone

The regular season for the Central Zone runs from September 1, 2024 through October 27, 2024 and re-opens from December 13, 2024 through January 14, 2025.

South Zone

The regular season for the South Zone runs from September 14, 2024 through October 27, 2024 and re-opens from December 13, 2024 through January 21, 2025.

Special White-Winged Dove Days

In addition to the regular season, there are special white-winged dove days slotted for the beginning of the month. The 2024 white-winged dove days are September 1-2, 2024, September 6-8, 2024 and September 13, 2024.

Texas Hunting License Requirements

To hunt dove in Texas, you're required to have a valid Texas hunting license, along with a migratory bird stamp. You can purchase these online from the Texas Parks & Wildlife website or from one of 1,800 retail locations throughout the state.

Additional Things To Know About Dove Hunting In Texas

Only Shoot Dove During Legal Shooting Hours

In Texas, hunters are only allowed to shoot during legal shooting hours. This begins a half hour before sunrise and goes to sunset. If you're hunting in the morning, make sure to note what time the sun rises before pulling the trigger on your first dove.

Book Your Next Texas Dove Hunt

Find your perfect dove hunt this season with one of our local, vetted Texas dove hunting guides. We offer hunts across the entire state, from Abilene to Roma!