By: Tom Behrens
It doesn’t feel like much hunting season right now, but the “official opening day” is only a few days away. The regular season open Sept. 1 in North and Central Zones; South Zone’s Special White-wing Dove Days opens Sept. 2. The daily bag limit is 15. The Outdoor Annual App, (tpwd.texas.dove/regulaltions/outdoor-annual/app), will help in identifying the different zones.
Will the lack of precipitation that plagued us since May be a bad thing for the upcoming season?
“Doves kick reproduction into high gear in dry years like this, and we’re seeing a lot of young birds on the landscape,” says Dove Program Leader, Owen Fitzsimmons.
Extreme conditions concentrate birds near water and food sources, and Fitzsimmons offers this tip: “Hunting near water will be key for opening day this year.” Protected birds may be mixed in with your quarry, so make sure what species you are shooting.
Legal game birds include the mourning dove, brown with black spots on wings, and a long, pointed tail. White-winged dove have a white bar on wing, a large, rounded tail; White-tipped dove have a large, rounded tail, and rust colored wing linings. A webpage that might prove helpful in identifying the different doves is tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/know-your-doves.
If you haven’t had the shotgun out since last season, going out to the shooting range and popping off a couple rounds of clay targets would be great refresher. Also, don’t forget to clean and oil the gun. Even a gun sitting in a cabinet or other secure place, the firearm can collect dust, or an over zealous oiling might even gum the action.
To help keep cool, hunt in the morning. Drink both water and electrolyte beverages. Wear a hat and loose clothing in breathable fabrics like cotton. Wear a commercial neck-cooler or wet bandana around your neck.
One last thing, don’t forget to renew your hunting license. If you choose, you can renew online at txfgsales.com. A $5.00 administrative fee is charged, or at any of recreational retailer, such as Academy Sports, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor, Camping World-Katy, and Wal-Mart to just name a few.
Have a great time meeting old friends and making new friendships. Keep that gun pointed downrange, be safe, and come back for another day afield.
