We were a few days away from sending this magazine to press when the unimaginable July 4th floods happened along the Guadalupe River and then other surrounding Central Texas river towns.
Like you, our hearts remain broken for what so many of our fellow Texans experienced.
Our intent is for this page to serve as a ‘moment of silence’ of sorts. We ask that at some point, as you read through this issue, you take time to stop and pray for the families and people affected by the floods and devastation that swept through our beloved Hill Country. Pray for their healing. Pray for understanding. Pray for the rebuild and the future. So many of our fellow Texans have inconceivably painful roads ahead of them. This storm caught everyone by surprise, and it is still hard to understand or even comprehend the damage it caused.
One thing about Texans is that we come together like no other in times of despair and need. It has been nothing short of amazing to watch so many people join forces, no questions asked, to help. Volunteers showed up with chainsaws, companies organized benefits, and people across the country raised millions of dollars for various charities, nonprofits, families, and relief organizations. Our Hill Country neighbors were hurting, and Texans showed up.
We want to thank the first responders, healthcare workers, military, police, game wardens, and everyone who flocked to the riverbanks in the days after, helping sort through the disaster, trying to bring some relief to the families and businesses whose lives changed in an instant.
The road is far from over, and for some, the impacts of this harrowing July 4th weekend will last forever. To the families hurting—we extend our love, prayers, and deepest condolences. Please join us in prayer in remembering and honoring each of the lives lost too soon.
TDHA Staff
“I visited Joshua Creek for a corporate event. We hunted behind dogs the first afternoon and had a great experience. The guide was knowledgeable, knew his dogs well and was enjoyable to be around. The second day we did a driven hunt and had a great time as well. Overall, this place was beautiful, the staff were professional, and the hunts were exceptional. Lodge, food, and bar were also wonderful.”
ON OUR COVER
Dove Hunters
THE BARRINGER TWINS: RACHEL AND MELISSA
Twin sisters describe how their love for shotgun shooting sports grew from a childhood hobby with family into professional shooting careers, and how they feel at home on the skeet field.
Hunt
ABLE OUTDOORS
Chad Waligura explains the healing powers of the outdoors after his life-changing injury—and how he helps other quadriplegics hunt again. 22
Publisher
TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS, LLC
Editor
CHARLOTTE SCHUSTER
Graphic Design STUDIO SYKES
Contributing Photographers
LEFTY RAY CHAPA
HOLLY HEARN
JAY SCHWISOW
BIRDDOG STAFF
CHAD WALIGURA
TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
Contributors
OWEN FITZSIMMONS
HOLLY HEARN
MEREDITH KAY
JAY SCHWISOW
NATE SKINNER
CHAD WALIGURA
Advertising Sales TDHA STAFF
Printing
SHWEIKI MEDIA, SAN ANTONIO, TX On the Cover: Rachel Barringer and Melissa Hinton Photo by Lefty Ray Chapa FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL 210-764-1189 EMAIL info@texasdovehunters.com
Are you looking forward to September 27, 2025? If not, you should be! It is National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF), a day recognized by our government that brings sportsmen and women together to celebrate the rich tradition of hunting and fishing. This day was meant to draw attention to the great outdoors but more importantly, to introduce someone else to the outdoors. NHF Day is celebrated every year on the fourth Saturday of September. In 2021 the Texas R3 (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) Strategic Plan was introduced by Carter Smith in his term as Executive Director of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). The goal of this program is to recruit new hunters, fishermen and shooting sports enthusiasts, to keep them coming back to these outdoors sports annually and to bring back those who may have lost interest over the years. To do your part this year, grab a friend and head to the dove fields on September 27.
Speaking of TPWD, let me encourage you to take full advantage of the Outdoor Annual App to purchase your hunting and fishing licenses and to check up on rules, regulations, bag limits and dates. You will find everything you need and it’s extremely simple to navigate. If you’re not too tech savvy though, don’t worry, you can still do it the old-fashioned way.
I know that this topic may be somewhat controversial, but there are two ways of looking at it that benefit both sides of the aisle. How have tariffs affected or how will they affect the hunting, fishing, and shooting sports industry? Like so many other industries, we rely on imported goods such as equipment and accessories. Yes, tariffs drive prices up and that’s not good for the hunting world. Luckily, dove hunting isn’t the kind of game hunting that requires a lot of expensive equipment. The other side of the coin is to buy American made or even Texas made when possible. I would bet that you would be hard pressed to find something that you can’t buy in Texas or the U.S. to go on a dove hunt. Clearly some name brands that you may prefer come from overseas, but why not support our home state and country? Texas and the United States produce some superior products that will stand the test of time. I hope to see you in the field this season with your gear, made in the USA.
Take a kid hunting,
MISSION STATEMENT
Texas Dove Hunters Association promotes strong family unity through hunting and outdoor programs. We are committed to research, education and habitat conservation.
Bobby Thornton
Charlotte Schuster
Cameron Schuster
Myrna Hassfield
Christine Sykes
Lefty Ray Chapa
Andrew DeLeon
Another dove season is right around the corner, and like you, I cannot wait! September 1 is special for a lot of reasons, but especially the way that it kicks off the rest of hunting season. The dove season opener is the first one out of the gate, and my favorite thing to watch all year is the excitement that builds across the hunting community. Waterfowl enthusiasts, trophy whitetail hunters, you name it, they’re all anxiously awaiting September 1, too— because it means the rest and best part of the year is finally here!
Dove season is the gateway and an introductory hunting sport for a lot of hunters. Dove hunting has a low cost of entry, and you don’t need the biggest, fanciest equipment to be successful at it, making it a perfect way to introduce new or young people to hunting.
It has been a phenomenal year for Texas Dove Hunters Association. From reestablishing our sporting clay shoots to attending trade shows and participating in dove events and hunts, we’ve enjoyed being out on the road meeting TDHA members. What I value most from these events is gaining perspective and learning about people’s experiences in the field. Each of us has unique viewpoints and experiences that we bring to the table, and I believe there’s room for all of us in the field. With the political and economic state of the world in a constant topsy-turvy these days, one thing remains steadfast: Our common interest in conservation and shared responsibility of passing down our hunting heritage to the next generation.
Our mantra since 2012 has been, “Growing the Next Generation of Hunters and Wildlife Ambassadors.” But it doesn’t work unless we do. I challenge our members and anyone reading our magazine, to put those words into action. If you take just one new hunter or youth hunting this fall, you will help grow our sport and push it forward. Just think what a ripple effect that could have, if we all took one person. I’m as guilty as the next person; I default to spending that time with my family or longtime hunting buddies. But let’s do better this year and make a concentrated effort to act on our beliefs and help someone experience the great outdoors for the first time.
On a different note, we’re busy releasing this year’s 800 banded Eurasian Collared doves for the ninth year of our Texas Banded Bird Challenge. We’re optimistic this year will be another better-than-average season. With all the late season rains, the fields should be in great shape and we’re hoping that means a good hatch year and plentiful birds. Texas Parks & Wildlife releases their Dove Outlook Report in August each year and we look forward to sharing their statistics and predictions.
The magazine articles speak for themselves. This fall issue is packed with great content, interesting features and people, and educational information for every hunter. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together and sharing it with you.
Take the shot,
Charlotte Schuster
Experience an upland bird hunt for quail and pheasant located in the Huntsville, TX area of Bedias. Our professional guides and pointing and flush dogs will take you on a fun adventure in our diverse terrain that includes open pasture and wooded areas. Selfguided hunts are available, and you are welcome to bring your own hunting dog. We offer day hunts and overnight lodging is an option in the area as well. As a preserve, our season runs October-March.
A Family Tradition of Shooting Excellence and Pursuing a Passion
By Nate Skinner
by Lefty Ray Chapa
n the competitive skeet shooting world, Melissa Hinton and Rachel Barringer are known as the Barringer Twins. The identical twin sisters are ranked among the top competitive skeet shooters in the world. They are experienced in all disciplines of shotgun sports, and both sport a long list of impressive competition titles, achievements, and accomplishments. Their roots and passion for the sport run deep, as competitive shooting has been a longstanding tradition for the Barringer family.
Hinton and Barringer began their competitive shotgun shooting careers more than 17 years ago in their local 4-H program in Victoria where they grew up.
“A strong passion and affinity for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and competitive shooting has been passed down from generation to generation in our family,” Hinton said. “Our great grandfather introduced our grandfather to competitive shooting, who in turn passed the tradition on to our father who introduced us to the sport.”
Barringer said she and her sister have been around shooting sports since they were about eight years old.
“My dad found out about the 4-H program and got our brother started with shooting sports,” Barringer said. “Melissa and I started shooting competitively a few years later after we turned 11, once we were finally able to physically handle a shotgun safely and comfortably. Prior to that, we were always at the shooting
Photo
range with our dad and brother, keeping score and helping in any way that we could. It’s safe to say that we fell in love with sport of shooting before we were ever able to compete and participate ourselves.”
Both sisters agree that being raised around guns and shooting paved the way for their competitive shooting careers. Once they began competing in the game themselves, their love and passion for the sport grew at an exponential rate.
Hinton and Barringer both admitted it took them a few years to really find their groove in competitive shooting. They continued a strong, regimented practice program as they honed their skills during their early teens and throughout their high school years. Both attended college at Schreiner University in Kerrville to continue their competitive shooting careers and obtain a college education.
“Competing on the Schreiner University shooting team is what really helped us both find and develop our passion for skeet shooting,” Hinton said. “Rachel and I were both fairly experienced with all disciplines of competitive shotgun shooting, such as sporting clays and trap. However, once we began competing in college, our focus became skeet.”
The twins were able to play a large role in growing the competitive shooting program and their team at Schreiner University, and they both played integral roles in leading their team to its first ever Division 1 National Championship in 2019. During their time at Schreiner, they were able to grow their team from nine members to 36.
“We wanted to put Schreiner University’s shooting team on the map,” Hinton said. “We encouraged every awesome shooter we knew from 4-H to come give Schreiner a shot, and it was an extremely rewarding experience to see our team grow and compete against some of the best collegiate shooters in the country.”
Barringer said their tenure as key members of the Schreiner University shooting team led to many opportunities and sponsorships that have molded them into the professional competitive skeet shooters they are today.
“These opportunities and sponsorships ultimately created our path into the professional skeet shooting world,” Barringer said. “One of these key sponsor relationships began with Blaser USA. Melissa and I have been sponsored by them for about 10 years now and they have been a significant part of our shooting careers.”
In addition to being a sponsored shooter for Blaser USA, Barringer now also works for the company as their Marketing and Digital Manager, where she oversees and manages the marketing efforts for six brands in the United States and Canada.
“My goal in college was to work in the shooting sports industry full-time, and the opportunity with Blaser USA has allowed me to
obtain and live my dream job,” Barringer said. “I’ve been working full-time for Blaser USA for over four years, and am honored to be able to incorporate my passion and knowledge for shooting in my everyday job, in addition to my competitive shooting career.”
Barringer currently lives in San Antonio and is also a member of Team Fiocchi—an Italian founded ammunition company. She is constantly looking forward to future endeavors and opportunities to continue being an ambassador and role model for youth and women shooters all over the world.
After graduating college, Hinton also continued her competitive shooting career as a professional skeet shooter. In addition to shooting competitively, she took a job at the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce, where she has been the Director of Communications for the last five years.
“It’s been a blessing to have a job that allows me to continue to pursue my passion and career as a competitive skeet shooter,” said Hinton.
Hinton currently lives in Bandera with her husband, Truman. Along with being a sponsored shooter for Blaser USA, she is also sponsored by Federal Ammunition as well as a proud member of Team Briley and Team Pacific Sporting Arms.
As professional shooters with full-time careers, Melissa Hinton and Rachel Barringer both admitted that staying on top of their game relies on mental toughness just as much as it relies on physical ability.
“Like any sport, skeet shooting has its ups and downs,” Hinton said. “At the end of the day, I think it’s important to remember that we’re here because we truly love the sport and have worked hard to get where we are. Bad days and mistakes are inevitable but staying focused on why we compete and the passion that brought us here always helps bring things back into perspective.”
Another aspect of maintaining their elite level of shooting skills revolves around what Barringer refers to as quality practice.
“Being able to log quality practice sessions, rather than just focusing on the quantity of practice sessions that we are able to get in between competitions, has been key to our success,” Barringer said. “We went from practicing four times a week in college, to maybe a couple of times a month now that we both have full-time careers in addition to our competitive shooting careers. Both of us are competing more than we are practicing right now. And even during each competition, we are constantly learning how to become better shooters, just like we would during a practice session.”
The twins said they will compete in anywhere from 12 to 15 registered skeet shoots a year.
The National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) is a member-based organization that supports and governs the sport of American skeet. The NSSA promotes skeet as a sport for men, women, and youth of all walks of life who believe in safe gun handling, take pride in shooting well, and enjoy shooting with friends and family. The NSSA, along with the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA), is headquartered in San Antonio at the National Shooting Complex. The game of skeet has changed a little from its origin in the 1920s. A skeet field has eight shooting stations and two houses. A round of skeet consists of 25 targets, with 17 shot as singles and eight as doubles. Competitors shoot in squads of up to five shooters. During a NSSA registered shoot like the ones Barringer and Hinton compete in yearround, each shooter will shoot 500 to 600 rounds through their guns — 100 in doubles, then 100 for each competition gauge (12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and 410.) The 12-gauge event is sometimes a 200-target event, including at the NSSA World Skeet Championships. Shoot offs take place after each gauge and the entire event for individual gauge winners and High Overall winners (HOA).
Barringer is the reigning NSSA World Skeet Ladies HOA World Champion, shooting an impressive 497/500 targets. She’s also the NSSA Mini-World Skeet Ladies HOA Champion (394/400), earning both of those titles just last year in 2024. Hinton held both of those titles the previous year, as the 2023 NSSA World Skeet Ladies HOA
World Champion (445/450) and the 2023
NSSA Mini-World Skeet Ladies HOA Champion (392/400).
“It was so incredible for us, as twin sisters, to win those titles in back-to-back years,” Barringer said.
Both ladies admitted that they are each other’s biggest competitors, but also each other’s biggest fans.
“We are major competitors and have been that way toward each other since we were kids,” Hinton said. “However, throughout that twin sibling rivalry, we have always rooted for one another. At the end of the day, if somebody is going to beat me, I’d rather it be my sister than anyone else.”
Hinton and Barringer grew up fishing, as well as hunting with their dad for doves, deer, hogs, and ducks. They had a dove lease in high school and used to plan their afterschool schedules around skeet shooting and dove hunting.
“We probably went dove hunting or skeet shooting nearly every day during our senior year of high school,” Hinton said. “We were
great shooters that year and did really well in our competitions because we were literally shooting shotguns almost every single day. All the dove hunting we did was with our dad and some of his buddies, either on the lease that we had or on our dad’s friends’ properties.”
Barringer said that in her opinion, there is a big difference between hunting birds with a shotgun and shooting clays.
“They have different flight paths,” Barringer said. “With clays, you can assume what the lead is going to be, while with doves, the lead is unpredictable. Sometimes, I think these differences tend to make me struggle with dove hunting; however, I love the fun challenge that hunting doves presents. At the end of the day, dove hunting puts a shotgun in our hands, and that’s what we love the most.”
Hinton said she enjoys the challenge that dove hunting provides as well.
“When I’m dove hunting, I’m determined to harvest birds, sometimes to a fault,” Hinton said. “I’ll take shots at birds that are out of range, because when I’m competing, I’m used to pulling the trigger at every clay target that I see. It’s funny to think about, but the unpredictable challenges that dove hunting presents are what make it so fun.”
When they first began shooting shotguns competitively, Hinton started with a 20-gauge shotgun that she used while hunting with her dad.
“I remember that shotgun breaking while I was on a pig hunt with my dad,” Hinton said. “Then I was given a hand-me-down shotgun from my grandpa that he had actually won in a trap competition back in the 1960s. It was 1964 model Browning, and my dad sent it off to Briley to get choke tubes made for it, since it was a fixed choke barrel. I shot that gun until we ended up getting sponsored by Blaser USA in college in 2015.”
Barringer started with a used 12-gauge Browning shotgun that her dad bought from one of his buddies.
“Just like Melissa, I shot the gun that our dad got me until we started our sponsorship with Blaser USA,” Barringer said.
Barringer and Hinton have now been shooting their Blaser F3 shotguns for about decade.
The twins both said their favorite shoot they compete in each year is the NSSA World Skeet Championships in October, held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.
“It involves the best of the best shooters from all over the world,” Hinton said. “It’s the shoot that we are working towards and looking forward to every year, and we would never miss it.”
Barringer said there are numerous local and smaller, state-level shoots they enjoy as well.
“Any time we are able to compete at the Greater Houston Gun Club for an event, we always have a great time,” Barringer said. “It’s just an incredible shooting venue.”
Both Barringer and Hinton said the support, encouragement, and camaraderie that they have and experience with their squad mates is key to their success during a competition.
“We are always lifting each other up and encouraging one another,” Hinton said. “Having a solid squad that you can count on is extremely important.”
Hinton and Barringer are both big advocates for encouraging today’s youth to get involved in shooting sports.
“First off, I think that competitive shooting is one of the safest sports to participate in,” Barringer said. “It’s safer than football, baseball, or other sports that can result in a variety of physical injuries. It also teaches and promotes gun safety in a positive way that doesn’t put a negative outlook on firearms. Guns can be used to accomplish positive results, and competitive shooting proves that.”
Hinton said competitive shooting also teaches skills that can be used for a lifetime.
“At some point in their life, an athlete will be told that they can no longer play football, baseball, basketball, or soccer, but you can literally shoot a shotgun, seemingly forever,” Hinton said. “Shooting is something you can do when you’re eight years old or 88 years old. It’s something that families and friends can enjoy together. Shooting has provided us with so many opportunities, and it’s a sport that we’d love to share with anyone who is interested.”
At 28 years old, Melissa Hinton and Rachel Barringer have plenty of shooting and competing left to do. They plan to continue pursu-
ing their passion as professional competitive skeet shooters, while constantly striving for perfection. With goals of one day becoming both Texas State and NSSA Hall of Fame members, they are excited to see what the future holds and what adventures lie ahead. It’s safe to say they will continue to make a positive impact on women shooters and youth around the world that are interested in shooting sports, as they continue to live and build their legacy. When the dust settles, they’ll undoubtedly be considered two of the best skeet shooters to have grasped a shotgun, all because they dared to follow their dreams and pursue their passion.
Melissa Hinton
Top shooting highlights:
n 7x NSSA All American Team Member & 8x TSSA Texas State Team Member
n 2023 NSSA World Skeet & MiniWorld Ladies HOA Champion
n 2024 NSSA Mini World Skeet 12 Gauge Open Runner-up
n 13x Mini World Skeet Ladies Titles (1st, 2nd & 3rd places)
n 8x World Skeet Ladies Titles (1st, 2nd & 3rd places)
n 2023 TSSA 12 Gauge High Average Leader with a 99.48 Average
n 2019 Blaser Skeet Classic Open & Ladies HOA Champion with a 399/400
n 2022 Briley Blue Goose Doubles Open Champion
n 2019 Texas State Skeet Ladies HOA Champion
n 2023 & 2020 Texas State Skeet Ladies HOA Runner-Up
n 2017 ACUI Ladies National Champion HOA
n 2015 Texas State 4-H Open & Ladies High Overall Champion
n Inducted as a Schreiner University’s Athletic Centennial Team Member in 2023
Rachel Barringer
Top shooting highlights:
n 7x NSSA Krieghoff All-American Team Member (Ladies & Open Teams)
n 7x NSSA Texas State Team Member (Ladies & Open Teams)
n 3x NSSA Ladies High Average Leader
n 5x NSSA World Skeet Ladies Champion
n 2024 NSSA World Skeet Ladies 12 Gauge, .410, & HOA Champion
n 11x NSSA Mini-World Skeet Ladies Champion
n 2024 & 2020 NSSA Mini-World Ladies HOA Champion
n 4x Texas Open State Champion
n 14x Texas Ladies State Champion
n 5x NSSA US Open Ladies Champion
n 10x NSSA Pan American Ladies Champion
n 2022 Texas State HOA Open & Ladies State Champion
n 2023 Texas State Ladies HOA State Champion
n 2023 NSSA US Open Ladies HOA Champion
n 2020 World Skeet Ladies 12 & 28 Gauge World Champion
n 2020 Mini Worlds Ladies 20, 28, .410, & HOA Champion
n 2018 Junior Worlds Ladies 12, 20, 28, .410, & HOA Champion
CAN HUNT TESTS REALLY IMPROVE YOUR GUN DOG?
By Jay Schwisow
Photos by Jay Schwisow
Bird hunting and good dogs go hand in hand. You certainly don’t need a dog to bird hunt, but it sure makes it a lot more enjoyable. Depending on the terrain of the field or area you’re hunting, a well-trained dog can make quick work of locating and retrieving downed birds.
There are a number of different styles and methods for dog handling and training. If you have a gun dog or are thinking of getting one, you should first set goals for what you want to achieve with your gun dog, then find the people and other resources to help you get there. For me, hunt tests have built-in standards that align with my goals afield.
We’ve all seen (or maybe been guilty of ourselves) a hunter who ends up spending more time disciplining their gun dog or helping them find the downed birds than they do enjoying the hunt. A good gun dog should complement and add to your hunt, not take away from it. If you want to spend more time shooting and have your dog ready to quickly and cleanly retrieve your birds, you may be interested in preparing your dog for hunt tests. Steadiness, marking and memory, working cover, obedience, and delivery are all concepts that can be improved with hunt tests and can take your dove hunting experience to the next level.
Hunt tests are sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC), and they are different from field trials.
Hunt tests more closely simulate actual hunting scenarios and distances. They usually require hunting attire, and a gun is typically used by the dog handler. In hunt tests, dogs are judged against a standard and they either pass or fail. Every dog has an opportunity to pass the test.
Field trials generally cover much longer distances and can be more technical than a hunt test. Appropriate attire is needed to be seen at long distances (white or black clothing is common) and guns are not typically used by the dog handler. Dogs are judged against other dogs and are placed in a ranking order. There is only one winner per event.
For hunt tests, AKC and UKC award titles when the dog and handler complete a certain number of tests against the judged standard. The most common titles are Junior Hunter (JH), Started Hunting Retriever (SHR), Hunting Retriever (HR), Senior Hunter (SH), Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH), Master Hunter (MH), Master National Hunter (MNH), and Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (GRHRCH).
When you train for these standards, hunt tests can significantly prepare your gun dog for improved bird hunting.
Examples include:
1. Steadiness to gunfire and birds
• Hunt tests require dogs to remain steady when birds are flushed or shot.
• In hunting, steadiness ensures the dog doesn’t break early, keeping him or her safe and under control when there are follow-up shots or multiple shooters. This also enables you to determine the best time to send your dog (or not) when dealing with fences or dangerous obstacles.
2. Marking and memory
• Hunt tests train dogs to mark where birds fall and remember multiple fall locations, to get to the area quickly, establish a hunt, and use their noses.
• Doves often fall at different distances and directions, so strong marking helps recover more birds.
3. Retrieving in a variety of cover
• Tests simulate varied terrain (crop fields, brush, water, etc.) which builds confidence and experience.
• Dove fields often have dense crops like sunflowers, so dogs learn to persist and hunt harvested birds efficiently in this type of cover.
4. Obedience under distraction
• Hunt tests allow dogs to get used to and be comfortable in high-distraction situations with other handlers, dogs, guns at the line, and multiple bird launches.
• These tests prepare your dog to stay focused and working for you even when other hunters are shooting and moving in a busy dove field.
5. Controlled delivery
• Dogs are trained to retrieve gently and return birds to hand.
• This ensures doves aren’t damaged and cripples don’t fly away, which saves time and game during actual hunts.
6. Socialization and exposure
• Hunt tests simulate real-world hunting scenarios with noise, people, and action. This helps prepare your dog for the sometimes-chaotic nature of opening day dove hunts.
As a gun dog handler and hunt test participant for more than 35 years, I can attest to how the specific skills trained for hunt tests directly translate to the field and an improved hunting experience. From my experience, a dog trained and titled to the level of Hunting Retriever (UKC), Senior Hunter (AKC) or above will be a joy to hunt with in the field and a true asset to the others in your hunting party. Spend more time actually hunting and less time worrying about if your dog is retrieving well or doing what they’re supposed to do.
Hunt tests are usually held outside of hunting seasons, offering you an opportunity to train and work your dog toward a title without missing out on hunting weekends. It’s also the perfect way to keep your gun dog in prime hunting shape and acclimated to the exercise that will be asked of them come September.
The Able Hunter LIFE AFTER INJURY AND HELPING OTHERS HUNT AGAIN
By Chad Waligura
When I got out of rehab after my injury, I had no idea how I was going to be able to shoot a shotgun again, if at all. It was Halloween day, 1986, the day I got home. I could barely feed myself. My hands didn’t work. I could only get in my wheelchair for a few hours a day and dove season had just ended. It was the first one I’d ever missed.
Three months earlier, I was just a high school kid having fun with some friends at a private pool not two blocks from my house. It was a hot July afternoon and in a month, I’d be starting my senior year. Life was great!
Then my world changed in an instant.
I jumped in off the side of the pool near the deep end. I dove headfirst until I met the incline from the shallow to the deep and hit it perfectly to break my neck at the C-7 level.
Up until that moment, everything had been easy. I’d grown up in the small town of El Campo, spending as much time as possible at my grandparents’ farm in Garwood where I could roam the countryside with a pellet gun, hunting for rabbits and whatever else I could sneak up on as a young boy. We also had a bay house at Port Alto where I had some of the best times of my childhood fishing with my grandfather. My dad was a bird hunter though, and when he bought me a single shot 28 gauge when I was 12, I became a bird hunter, too. I went on my first teal hunt that year and was immediately hooked. I think I killed
my first dove that day, as well. It was something I knew I’d be doing for the rest of my life.
Right after my injury, I wasn’t so sure.
After some time getting adjusted to my new reality and the new way of doing just about every single thing I’d ever known, I set out to figure out a way to pull the trigger. As a brand-new quadriplegic, TIRR (a rehab hospital in Houston) sent me home with a device that fits on the hand and holds a pen so you can write, but I had other ideas for that thing. To me, it looked like something I could pull the trigger with. It looked like the gateway to getting back in the field doing what I loved.
Deer season was fast approaching, and with no information anywhere about adaptive hunting (this was before the internet or cell phones) I was on my own to figure it out.
Deer hunting that fall consisted of my dad and I parked in his truck in the woods along the Colorado river. With no blind, no cover and no feeder nearby, we were about as unprepared as we could be, but it felt good to be out there. One evening on the drive there, we came across a little buck and I wanted to take a shot. It was pretty dark
already, but with my dad’s help, I got the gun propped up and rested on the window. I fumbled around trying to get my “trigger” device near the trigger and find this deer in the scope, but when I pulled, I couldn’t feel anything. The gun went off and I missed.
Well, that was an all-time low. If I couldn’t hit a stationary deer, how in the world was I going to be able to hit a bird … flying in the air? But you’d be surprised by how much failure fuels the invention process.
By the time next hunting season came around, I’d improved my trigger pull design so that my finger was on the inside. I had a chest strap made to fit around my shoulders and the push handles of my chair that velcroed in the front in order to keep me sitting up. With zero trunk muscles, you can’t really hit anything if you’re falling on your face while raising the gun.
I had my sights set on dove season and I was determined to never miss another one.
It was one ordinary afternoon in October 1987, when my dad and I were hunting in a field near a tiny water hole in Danevang, Texas. A couple of doves came by, and I connected with one in the air. I might’ve gotten lucky, but it didn’t matter. Dad scooped it up and brought it over and shook my hand. He knew how important that shot was to me. I was on my way. I could exhale.
The next few years were all about me getting back out there. I was focused on hunting and fishing and doing things with my friends, but that would soon change.
Some of the therapists at TIRR started calling because they were getting patients in who were asking about outdoor stuff. I was the only one they knew who was into that kind of thing, so they asked if I would meet with them.Of course I couldn’t say no. God was calling. I soon began driving to Houston regularly to meet with people who were going through the same trauma I had experienced. I began sharing everything I knew about life after injury and adapting to the outdoors with them.
This path led me to creating a website as an information source for able sportsmen everywhere, and we started hosting a group teal hunt in Garwood every September so we could actually take people hunting who needed help. Eventually, TIRR would create a Peers Program for volunteers like me, and I began hauling adaptive equipment there to present to groups of patients and staff.
Somewhere during those years, white-winged doves began migrating into Texas from Mexico and took up residence in the small towns (and big cities) that were close to row crop farmland. My hometown of El Campo was one of them, and as their population exploded, my friends and I made it our personal mission to hunt them as much as we could. It quickly became our favorite pastime.
mind, I’d always wanted to film one of these hunts someday, too.
The journey that ensued took me all across the country and halfway around the world, hunting and fishing with other able hunters. I’ve learned about and created adaptive equipment for every type of disability you can imagine, and helped everyone who contacted me about wanting to get back outside.
Several years ago, we created a magazine called Able Outdoors which turned into a nonprofit and a TV show that launched on CarbonTV. Thirty years ago, that dream was merely a whisper in the most hidden places of my mind, and in April 2025, we produced our seventh episode, a dove hunting episode.
I had also redesigned my shoulder harness to include a metal bar across the back that fit on the push handles, with a single strap and thumbhole in front so I could tighten or loosen it myself. It was more secure that way and supported me higher on my chest where I needed it. My trigger pull was upgraded, too. I had an orthotics doctor custom make one for my hand with velcro straps and reinforced steel rods so it would never bend. Those are the two things I need to wing shoot. In Texas, another key product we use is a bucket top mister fan when it’s hot. When you break your neck, you lose your ability to sweat, and it can get dangerous out there if you’re not prepared.
As a quadriplegic, wing shooting is the most difficult thing to do, and dove the most challenging bird to hunt, but during those early years I came to love it again. It wasn’t easy, but lucky for me I had a lot of opportunities to practice. In the back of my
The idea is to be able to help as many people as we can. With Able Outdoors TV show, we’re able to show the world how we as adaptive hunters do things in the field. We also get to tell other people’s stories of overcoming challenges and sometimes even achieving the impossible. There are a lot of different disabilities out there, and I promise you there’s something for each type when it comes to adaptive gear. There are gun rests that attach to your chair and bite triggers and viewfinders for rifle scopes and zero gravity rigs to help higher quads shoot shotguns. If you can imagine it, we want to make it happen. We’ll we want to cover it all eventually.
Behind the scenes, Able Outdoors now produces some of the adaptive devices like the ones we use—the trigger pullers, the chest strap and brace, and a piece called a Receive-All fishing rod holder. It’s either that or we figure out what they need and help them get it.
I also get to guide more now. Since the show aired, more people are calling, telling me they want to go hunting again. Last fall, we took a lady teal hunting who hadn’t been in over 20 years since her injury. She killed her first duck and later that year, her first deer. We also hosted five able sportsmen on turkey hunts in April. All five went on their first turkey hunt and one guy on his first hunt ever. We’re working on a group teal hunt in Louisiana this fall; the sky is the limit.
The bigger we get, the more people I can reach, and this is why we started Able Outdoors. It’s the best therapy there is.
Texas Dove Hunters sporting clay shoots brought back with a BANG!
With right at 100 shooters and 40+ volunteers and non-shooting attendees, we had a great crowd on June 7 at the beautiful National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.
Thank you to all the shooters for showing up and helping us bring back these fun events. It was fun seeing long-time TDHA members and meeting new ones. Our shoots play a big role in TDHA’s First Flight Youth Program, helping us continue initiatives like our scholarships for high
school seniors, TDHA Youth Days, and Dove 101 educational curriculum.
Congratulations to our winners for their great shooting! Thank you to our TDHA staff, volunteers, and family for all their hard work. And we want to thank our amazing sponsors for their support of the shoot. We’re already looking forward to next year! Save the date for our 2026 shoot on Saturday, May 16, at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.
Team: Paul Dirks, Walter Priestly, Myles Priestly, and Luke Priestly
HOA Champ: Jared Musgrove
HOA
Youth HOA Champ: Myles Priestly
Hunt with Heart team
Two Dove team
Lady HOA Champ: Bailey Glenewinkel
“Friends of TDHA” Lopez Engraving
Disabled Outdoorsmen
Justin Boots/ Chippewa Team
Redstone Ranch team
The Dove Cord team
Forager Outdoor team
• Dove/duck/hog/varmint/fishing
• 200-acre cattle ranch with 11 small ponds and a 21-acre lake • High quality lodging for up to 13 guests
• White-Winged & Mourning Dove Hunts
• Sandhill Cranes
• Hunting in Uvalde, Medina, Frio, Atascosa, and Zavala Counties
• Lodging in Concan, Knippa and Uvalde
• Day, Corporate and Package Hunts
• Sunflowers, Sesame, Milo, Tanks, Fly ways
Jason Schneemann D’Hanis, Texas 78851 (830) 741-1717
DownSouthAdventures.com
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2025-2026 DOVE SEASON DATES & REGULATIONS
North Zone
September 1 – November 9, 2025
December 19, 2025 – January 7, 2026
Central Zone
September 1 – October 26, 2025
December 12, 2025 – January 14, 2026
South Zone
September 14 – October 26, 2025
December 12, 2025 – January 22, 2026
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
TDHA Banded Bird, if harvested call: 210-764-1189
Federal Banded Bird, if harvested: Report at reportband.gov
Public Hunting: tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public
Operation Game Thief:
If you witness a violation, call: 800-792-4263
NORTH ZONE
That portion of the state north of a line beginning at the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; thence north along FM 1088 to State Highway 20; thence west along State Highway 20 to State Highway 148; thence north along State Highway 148 to Interstate Highway 10 at Fort Hancock; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to Interstate Highway 20; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 20 to Interstate Highway 30 at Fort Worth; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 30 to the TexasArkansas state line.
CENTRAL ZONE
That portion of the state between the North Zone and the South Zone.
SOUTH ZONE
That portion of the state south of a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge in Del Rio; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio; thence east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 1604; thence following Loop 1604 south and east, then north, to Interstate Highway 10; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to the Texas-Louisiana Line.
SEASON DATES & ZONE INFORMATION COURTESY OF TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
ZONE MAP ART BY MATT TUMLINSON
Special White-Winged Dove Days
September 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13, 2025 (SWWDD shooting hours noon to sunset)
Shooting Hours: Unless otherwise noted, one-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily Bag Composition*
15 mourning, white-winged and white-tipped (white-fronted) doves in aggregate, to include not more than two whitetipped (white-fronted) doves.
*No more than two mourning doves and two whitetipped doves during Special White-Winged Dove Days
Possession Limit:
Three times the daily bag limit
Migratory game Bird Stamp and HIP Certification required
Texas Dove Hunters Association: 210-764-1189
GOING DIGITAL WITH TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
By Owen Fitzsimmons
Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader
Texas
Parks & Wildlife Department
I f you grew up hunting or fishing in Texas, you are likely familiar with the Outdoor Annual, the all-in-one Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) regulations booklet for anglers, boaters, and hunters. You may even still have tattered old copies that spent a season or two stuffed in between the truck seats somewhere. Nostalgia aside, when economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic prevented printing of the Outdoor Annual in 2020, everyone was forced to go digital for their regulatory information. Fortunately, TPWD had just developed the first version of the Outdoor Annual mobile app. Since then, due to the growing popularity and demand for digital services, TPWD has improved and expanded mobile app resources and now offers a completely digital licensing and tagging system, as well.
The Outdoor Annual is still printed in limited quantities, and you can still buy a paper license, but almost all of us have a smartphone in our pockets while in the field, so why not consider the digital options? Between the Outdoor Annual mobile app, the Texas Hunt and Fish mobile app, and other online services, it’s never been easier to get licensed and informed before you hit the field. Let’s break down exactly how it all works.
First, consider purchasing your licenses and associated tags online using the TPWD website. The process is quick and easy, and you can choose to receive the traditional paper license or the newer digital license. Your past purchase history is stored, so if you are like me and just want to repeat what you bought last year, you can easily view that information while logged in. If you purchase a digital license, you can quit trying to punch out those tiny dates on the paper tags and instead digitally tag your fish and game. A digital tag also satisfies the requirement for mandatory reporting for certain species. I’ll explain how digital tagging works in more detail, but first let’s talk about the Outdoor Annual mobile app.
Everyone who hunts, fishes, or boats in Texas should consider downloading the Outdoor Annual mobile app. It’s free
and is your source for regulations information. It works even when you are offline and contains all the same information you would find in the printed booklet, plus much more. For example, with the press of a button you can look up the official sunrise and sunset times for your location to make sure you adhere to legal shooting hours or quickly find the contact information for your local game wardens. You can access the latest fishing reports in your area or find the nearest boat ramp based on your current location. You can easily link your license information to the app so that you can see which licenses, stamps, tags, and certifications you have currently, including your hunter education certification. Have you ever accidentally left your paper license at home? Now you can simply open the app and show the game warden your licensing information. Have you ever been on your way to the dove field and realized you forgot to buy your Migratory Game Bird Endorsement? The app gives you the option to purchase online, via a phone call, or you can easily look up your nearest license retailer.
The free Texas Hunt and Fish app (formerly called My Texas Hunt Harvest) is used for digital tagging, harvest reporting, and electronic On-Site Registration, or eOSR, for hunting public lands. Once you link your information to the Texas Hunt and Fish app, just like in the Outdoor Annual app, you will be able to view all your current licensing information. If you have a digital license, once linked, you’ll also be able to view and see all of you digital tagging options, whether it’s for deer, turkey, or oversized red drum or trout. When digitally tagging your harvest,
simply click on the appropriate tag and you will be prompted to fill out the same information you would normally fill out on a paper tag, like the date and location of harvest, which generates a harvest report. Completion of your digital tag is legally required immediately upon harvest, just like with a paper tag. Once you complete the report, the app will issue you a confirmation number which must be written on durable material (duct tape and a permanent marker work great) and attached to the harvested game until normal tagging requirements cease. A digital tag and harvest report also satisfy the mandatory reporting requirement for certain species like turkey or, in some counties, whitetailed deer (check your Outdoor Annual for details). Keep in mind that digital tags are only available if you purchase a digital license. If you have a paper license, you must use paper tags. No phone service available where you’re hunting or fishing? No problem. When you fill out the digital tag and harvest report, it will be saved on your device in an “unsubmitted” status, and you can complete the report once you are in a location with reception. The harvested game will need to be immediately marked with the date and time of harvest and the hunt-
HELPFUL LINKS
er’s name and license customer number, but if a game warden checks you before you are back in an area with service, they can see that your report is in progress and legal requirements have been met.
You can also use the Texas Hunt and Fish app to voluntarily report any other game you harvest, including game birds, hogs, javelinas, rabbits, or squirrels. While not required for these species, voluntary harvest reporting provides important information to help TPWD better manage game populations. The app even stores your harvest report history, in case you want to see exactly when and where you landed that big buck a couple years back, or how many doves you shot on average each time you went out last year.
Finally, the Texas Hunt and Fish app allows for electronic On-Site Registration (eOSR). Using eOSR is required when accessing certain public lands. Not only does the app simplify the registration process, but it also has downloadable satellite-imagery maps which indicate the area boundaries, parking areas, hunting blinds, and more. It’s especially handy when navigating a public area on foot, since it will display your current location in real-time during use if you choose to allow location services.
Going with the digital license is not for everyone. If you are still on the fence, try it out for a year and see how you like it. Paper licenses aren’t going anywhere. In the meantime, download the Outdoor Annual and Texas Hunt and Fish apps and try them out, too. You might be surprised how much you end up using them.
• Texas Hunt and Fish App: tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/hunt-and-fish-app/
FROM FAMILY TRADITIONS TO A CAREER IN HUNTING
By Meredith Kay
For Bailey Dunks-Luker growing up in deep South Texas with a father who worked for Texas Parks & Wildlife as a game warden, a love for the outdoors came naturally. Born in Alpine, Bailey and her family moved to the Rio Grande Valley when she was very young. She loved spending time in the field and in the bay with her dad and grandad who taught her how to hunt and fish. She remembers going to Ducks Unlimited events as her grandad was a director for many years.
Bailey dove hunted with her dad near the border in the Brownsville area and cherished her time learning to respect the animals and how to harvest them responsibly. The opening of hunting season was a favorite family tradition. She started dove hunting when she was 10, and some of her best memories were spent hunting with her family during Special White-winged Dove Days. Bailey
lights up when she recalls the day she bagged her first limit.
“I was a freshman in high school, and it was opening day of dove season. My whole family was there, and when I hit my limit, everyone celebrated. It was so much fun to have them there for that.”
Since her dad, James Dunks, spent his career working for Texas Parks & Wildlife, Bailey was able to really take advantage of their youth hunting programs. These programs provide a safe and informative environment for kids to learn about hunting and firearms safety. The programs even arrange a first hunt for young hunters to be accompanied by an experienced guide, who stays with them, educating them every step of the way.
Bailey says, “Hunting is truly not just a boy’s game. When taught properly, girls and women can find joy in outdoor sports as well.”
In fact, Bailey grew up on the water fishing with her childhood girlfriends, Kiersten Stiers and Alexa Ray. Their dads started taking the girls fishing when they were very young. As their love for the sport and confidence grew, they competed in fishing tournaments together, including the Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT), which takes place near South Padre Island every year.
When deer season came around, Bailey and her dad would get up early and head to the country outside of McAllen. She smiles when she recalls, “We would get up when it was still dark outside and bundle up when it was cold. More than the hunt itself, it was the time spent with my dad that I loved the most. I shot my first doe when I was 8, and my dad was so proud of me.”
Today, Bailey works for Los Cazadores, a premier outdoor outfitter, featuring everything you could ever need to hunt, fish, and live life outdoors. Los Cazadores first opened in Cotulla in 1986, and now there are three locations around the Hill Country: Pearsall, Stonewall, and Buchanan Dam. Bailey began working there in 2019 to be closer to her boyfriend at the time, Jesse Luker. The couple got married in May of this year and they live on a ranch that Jesse manages near Kerrville.
She began working at Los Cazadores doing whatever was needed, traveling among the three locations, but she found her calling organizing the annual Los Cazadores White Tail Deer Contest. It is the largest deer hunting contest in the world and features 13 divisions. Bailey has been the tournament director for the past six years. The contest is open to anyone, anywhere in Texas and Mexico. Bailey says, “We’ll get between 1,500 and 2,000 entries for the contest, and I’m in charge of scoring the deer and recording the entries.”
The deer are scored with a software program called Trophy Scan, that Bailey helped develop. It measures the antlers by 3D scanning and it uses a series of algorithms to accurately measure and score antlered animals. Hunters must bring the deer into a Los Cazadores location to be scanned, and winners are announced when deer season closes in January.
Bailey’s dad retired in 2020 and spends his time as a hunting and fishing guide around South Texas. They still get together to hunt and fish when they can, but she also loves to hunt turkey, deer, and hogs with her husband on the ranch where they live. As for her favorite place to fish, she says, “The best fishing on the Texas coast is in Port Mansfield. They have a great ecosystem and it’s never too crowded. Plus, my dad retired there, so I get to spend time with him when I’m down there.”
As she continues to fine tune the Los Cazadores deer scoring program, and plan future hunting and fishing trips, Bailey will continue to help other girls and women become interested in and comfortable with the outdoors. She says, “When I’m hunting and fishing, nothing else matters. I’m doing something primal and instinctual. It allows me to connect with nature and loved ones as we share the same, special experiences together.”
Our Cast and Blast season is Sept. 5 – Oct. 23. Fish in the rich waters of the Lower Laguna Madre in the morning, and dove hunt in our private sunflower fields in the afternoon. Our two-day, all-inclusive Cast and Blast trips are experiences like no other! Enjoy chef-prepared meals and lodging, and expert guides on the water and in the field.
• We have whitewings through the end of October!
• Casa Arroyo Lodge accommodates groups of 6-25
• Over 30 years of guiding experience
• Located on the Arroyo Colorado where it spills into the Lower Laguna Madre, just 30 minutes from Harlingen
FAMILIES IN THE FIELD
EMPOWERING LANDOWNERS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS AND HUNTING
How BirdDog is helping landowners turn acreage into income
By TDHA Staff
Photos by BirdDog Staff
In a lot of ways, Texas is still the Wild West when it comes to large tract land ownership. The right to buy and own land for private or commercial use is important to people who live here. Countless Texans depend on the land they own for agricultural, recreational, income-generating purposes. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, more than 93% of the land in Texas is privately owned. The vast majority of privately owned land is used for agricultural purposes, with more than 130 million acres dedicated to farming and ranching.
But with any large-scale, financial, and legal intensive process, land ownership in Texas isn’t always a walk in the park to keep up with and keep in the family for future generations. It involves a unique mix of historical rights and laws, changing legal initiatives, and ever-evolving economic aspects. The Lone Star state—the second largest in the U.S.—has more than 171 million acres of varied landscapes and natural resources. From the Panhandle plains and the deserts out West, to the Pineywoods in the East, down to the coast and across the Hill Country, Texas has a lot to offer landowners and hunters looking to enjoy the great outdoors.
When we first heard of BirdDog a couple of years ago, we associated them with an “AirBnb for ranches and hunts” of sorts. And while they do act as a hunt-booking third party, they’re apparently doing a lot more for landowners you may not know about.
Founded in 2022 by Texans, BirdDog was established to help landowners unlock the full potential of their property. They work with landowners to maximize land value and preserve the land’s legacy for future generations through programs that include hunting, farming, tax strategies, and even government assistance programs.
Their founder saw a need to help landowners avoid selling out or make the bare minimum returns year after year to keep operations running.
They set out to build strategies and land stewardship services that help landowners not only keep their land but unlock new revenue streams. Their tailored landowner solutions include services like:
• Section 180 tax deductions
• Residual soil fertility assessments
• Hunting, farming, and cattle leases
• Government and non-profit conservation programs
• Carbon tax credits and agriculture exemptions
• Property development and land use planning
• Exotic animal trade and wildlife management
• Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP)
• Advanced ecosystem mapping
• Pond management and habitat restoration
• Conservation easements and other wildlife biology expertise
Through these programs, BirdDog has established 1 million in partner acres, $3 million in revenue generated across properties, $30 million in taxes saved for current landowners, and an average of $40,000 in annual revenue per property.
A New Way to Book Hunts
A big part of BirdDog’s landowner assistance program and a way landowners can turn their acreage into income is an innovative hunt book-
Bader Ranch is conveniently located in Hondo and has 875+ acres of prime hunting. With irrigated sunflower fields and strategically placed ponds, the ranch is managed year-round for white winged dove hunting— providing a mecca for white winged doves every year. With a limited amount of hunters in the fields each day, Bader Ranch offers a more exclusive and enjoyable hunting experience.
• Group, individual and corporate hunts
• Hunting and lodging packages available
• All ages are welcome
• Premier French Chateau-style luxury hunting lodge + other private lodging options
• Resort-style pool and hot tub
ing tool. They connect hunters looking for reliable, high-quality hunting experiences with premier private properties through trusted relationships with landowners.
Hunting is continuously evolving with the integration of technology, apps, and the internet into almost every facet of the hunting process. Think about how far game camera and hunt-mapping apps have come in the last decade. Digital tagging, advanced optics, you name it. And the hunt booking process is no different. By combining exclusive access to private lands with a cutting-edge booking platform, the folks over at BirdDog have redefined how hunters are able to connect with their passion. Their platform makes it easy for the most seasoned or novice hunters alike to plan and book hunts. They handle all booking logistics, payment processing, and back and forth (similar to how rental apps like AirBnB and Vrbo work).
Landowners get to customize what they’re willing to offer the hunters or how many hunters they’d like to book throughout the seasons – allowing them to monetize sections of their land without giving up the full season rights via a lease or running a full-time outfitter program.
Exclusive access to top-tier lands: BirdDog’s hunt booking platform opens the gate to high-quality private properties that were once hard to find—and even harder to access. Hunters can browse ranches and hunts across the state through the booking platform, streamlining the search process.
No leases or long-term commitments: This hunt booking tool is good for hunters that don’t want to mess with long-term contract leases and would rather pick a hunt and go, much like they would book a weekend trip.
Personalized hunt and experiences: Their platform offers any kind of animal species hunters may be after. Dove, big game, waterfowl, exotics, upland birds— there are flexible options designed to deliver the exact hunt and experience people are after. The same goes for accommodation. Hunters can choose from a basic hunt without any of the frills, to a full-blown catered and white glove service experience.
BirdDog helps landowners unlock their land’s recreational revenue potential by marketing and selling hunting and fishing experiences on to a wide range of hunters, anglers, and corporate groups.
Dove season is a big part of the hunt hosting tool at BirdDog, and the company culture. They host an annual dove hunt at JL Bar Ranch in Sonora, bringing together 60 hunters for a premier wingshooting experience, complete with live music, all-inclusive ranch access, and the kind of Texas hospitality that turns a great hunt into an unforgettable weekend of tradition and camaraderie. Held every year on dove season’s opening weekend, this trip kicks off the fall with one of the most anticipated gatherings in the BirdDog community.
Through hunting access, farm and grazing leases, tax-smart land strategies, and conservation tools designed to work with the land, not against it, the team at BirdDog created a method to help landowners unlock real income and lasting impact. The goal? To allow those ranch owners to keep their land in the family for generations to come, while optimizing the working assets and financial opportunities that come with the greatest thing you can buy—dirt.
DOVE CARBONARA
INGREDIENTS
15 dove breasts
By Chef Holly Hearn of Game Girl Gourmet
Kosher salt – 2 tablespoons
Light brown sugar –2 tablespoons
Garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
Dried rosemary – ½ teaspoon
Juniper berries – 5, crushed
Lemon zest – from 1 lemon
Bay leaf – 1, crumbled
INSTRUCTIONS
Black pepper – ½ teaspoon
12 ounces fresh pasta (like fettuccine or tagliatelle)
2 whole eggs
3 egg yolks
Grated Parmesan – 5 ounces
Reserved pasta water – ½ cup
Freshly cracked black pepper – to taste
1. Cure the Dove: In a small bowl, mix the kosher salt, brown sugar, garlic powder, rosemary, juniper berries, lemon zest, bay leaf, and pepper. Coat dove breasts evenly with the mixture and seal in a zip-top or vacuum bag. Refrigerate for 12–16 hours only—no longer.
2. Rinse and Soak: Remove the dove from the cure, rinse well, and soak in cold water for 1 hour, changing the water once halfway through. Pat dry.
3. Prep the Carbonara Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine the whole eggs, egg yolks, and grated Parmesan. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.
4. Render the Dove: Dice the cured dove breasts into small cubes or strips. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the dove pieces in a small amount of bacon fat until browned and crisped on the edges, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat but keep warm.
5. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the fresh pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta. (DO NOT SALT YOUR PASTA WATER.)
6. Temper the Sauce: While whisking the egg and cheese mixture, slowly drizzle in the reserved hot pasta water. This tempers the eggs so they don’t scramble.
7. Combine Everything: Add the pasta and rendered dove to the pan (off the heat). Pour in the tempered egg mixture and toss quickly and thoroughly until the pasta is glossy and coated in a silky sauce. The residual heat will gently cook the eggs.
8. Finish and Serve: Top with freshly cracked black pepper and more grated cheese if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes:
Don’t over-cure! Dove breasts are small and delicate—more than 16 hours in a full dry cure (especially vacuum sealed) will pull in too much salt and overwhelm the meat. Stick to the time window and be sure to soak after curing.
The cure should fully coat all sides of the dove breasts—every surface should have a light but even layer. If you find the mixture isn’t quite covering everything, feel free to scale up the salt and sugar slightly, keeping the 1:1 ratio.
PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD
• White Wing Fields is family owned and operated and provides a family friendly atmosphere (kids are welcome).
• We limit the number of hunters to ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt.
• Fields are planted with sunflowers, corn, grain and soybeans which acts as a natural magnet for the droves of dove found in our sub-tropical climate. White Wing Fields
