The embodiment of TDHA – growing the next generation
10th Anniversary of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine
A look back at the last decade of stories and remarkable people.
Official Publication TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com
Publisher
TEXAS DOVE
Editor
SUSAN THORNTON
Graphic Design
STUDIO SYKES
Contributing
TAMMY BLALOCK
DARE TO AIM BY SARAH
JAY SCHWISOW
NATE SKINNER
HONEY CREEK BY GRACE
TEXAS PARKS
Contributors
RANI CULP
JARED DUCOTE
OWEN FITZSIMMONS
HOLLY HEARN
MEREDITH KAY
JIM KINSER
REIS LADD
NATE SKINNER
Advertising Sales
CINDY JENNINGS
Printing
SHWEIKI MEDIA, SAN ANTONIO, TX
On the Cover: The Schuster and Thornton families celebrating the future of TDHA. Photo by Dare to Aim Photography by Sarah Dockery FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL 210-764-1189 EMAIL
The million-dollar question that everyone is asking is, “What are the birds looking like for this year?” Aside from TPWD projections, I think it would be safe to say some areas will be good and some not so favorable. Hatch numbers work well for a density study, but the obstacle this year will be water. This may sound strange when it has been such a wet spring. Many areas with prime commercial crops received a significant amount of rainfall around planting time, but then the clouds parted and didn’t return. The San Antonio area, for example, received some substantial rains this spring, but west and southwest of town, not so much.
There have been many questions about the Special White-Winged Dove Days (SWWDD) set for this season. When we sent out the new approved season dates in “The Coo”, you were probably wondering how the committee came to the decision they did. The federal guidelines state that we cannot start any earlier than Sunday, September 1. We are allowed six SWWDD days and since the South Zone opens on Saturday, September 14, to take advantage of the six days and to give our hunters as many days as possible, changes to the norm had to be made. They added a Monday to the first weekend, which is also Labor Day, then kept Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the following weekend. With one day remaining available to use, they added Friday, September 13 giving us more days to hunt around opening days.
Now for a personal note: After 12 years of pouring our hearts and souls into TDHA, Susan and I are stepping back and making room for new owners to do some great things. Charlotte and Cameron Schuster now have ownership of TDHA. They are not only talented but passionate about the hunting industry. It is bittersweet to be stepping back but we are confident that we have handed the reigns over to the best people for the task. In less than two months they have implemented more member perks, added new products in the store, and started a revitalization of the organization.
I remember our first trade show and the first dozen hats we had ordered. We were very nervous and wondering if they would sell. Since that time, we have reached over 10,000 members and program participants. We have had the privilege of meeting some amazing people. This is by far the best industry in the world to be involved in.
We will remain involved in TDHA because it is truly a passion for us.
If you are or have been a member and a supporter of TDHA, we thank you and hope you will get even more involved in the future as the organization continues to grow. If you aren’t a member, you need to be. Texas dove hunters are a family.
Congratulations to Joshua Creek Ranch 35th Anniversary
“At
– Kevin Welborn, Managing Director
Myrna Hassfield
It is with great excitement and a certain level of surrealism that I address you all for the first time as the new owner and president of Texas Dove Hunters Association.
Bobby and Susan Thornton established TDHA 12 years ago as a family-oriented organization focused on promoting and preserving the sport of dove hunting and growing the next generation of hunters and wildlife ambassadors. I can’t think of a greater organization to be a part of, and it is my honor to continue the meaningful work they have been pouring into it for the last 12 years.
Though the leadership is new, our dedication to the mission and deep family roots remains the same. We are looking forward to meeting a lot of you this upcoming season.
Now, less about me and more about the 10th anniversary issue of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine This issue marks a decade of connecting dove hunters, telling stories about fellow Texans, promoting outfitters and top-notch hunting and outdoor brands, and talking about our favorite subjects. There’s nothing better than dove hunting and enjoying the beautiful outdoors God created.
To the many people we have featured over the years, I want to say thank you for trusting us to tell your stories. To our readers, thank you for reading our magazines, sharing them with your family and friends, and sending us your photos from the field. What I have learned in a very short amount of time is that publishing a magazine is a HUGE feat. It takes time, money, and a lot of work by our writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers, and more. But it is a task we take great pride in. We want to make our magazine the highest quality for our members and readers, and we’re proud that it continues to be the only dove hunting publication in the state.
This issue is packed full of great content. The cover story and photo embody what TDHA stands for—growing the next generation and the importance of parents passing down hunting traditions to their children. Take a trip down memory lane with the 10th anniversary story that showcases the past magazine covers and highlights some of the stories that stood out the most to Susan, who has been the magazine’s editor since its inception. We know dove hunters are usually just as apt to chase ducks, so many of you will enjoy Reis Ladd’s perspective of what makes waterfowl hunting so special and worth the work. We know September’s temperatures are generally just like August’s, much to our demise. So, check out the article about dehydration so you can stay hydrated and healthy this season.
To the Thorntons and all of our readers, thank y’all for trusting Cameron and I with Texas Dove Hunters Association. We are excited about the road ahead, taking this organization to the next level, and seeing more hunters in the field every year.
Take the shot,
Charlotte Schuster
By Nate Skinner
Photo by Sarah Dockery
The sport of hunting has roots that run much deeper than the simple act of pursuing and harvesting game. These roots are rich in tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation by passionate outdoorsmen and women who are committed to growing the next generation of hunters and wildlife ambassadors. From a child’s first harvest to the passing down of a shotgun or rifle, hunting truly creates lifelong memories, strengthens the bonds between family and friends and instills and teaches core values that will promote success in all aspects of life.
Not every child’s first hunting experiences are the same. Some kids start out in the field as toddlers exploring, playing with siblings and friends, and connecting with nature. This gives them a sense of comfort and familiarity with the outdoors that acts as a natural transition when they go out for their first hunt. Though they may be small, they can still safely participate by helping dad or grandpa put out decoys or pick up spent shotgun shell hulls. This, coupled with hearing the shotguns, watching the dogs work and being with people they love, makes for fun introductory experiences in the field. It’s these simple-yet-profound times that lead up to the big day when they’re old and skilled enough to get to shoot a gun for the first time and maybe, hopefully, harvest their first dove or deer.
Photo by Sarah Dockery
For many, dove hunting has played an integral role in their development and journey as a hunter. Dove hunting is one of those activities that just about anyone can enjoy, no matter their age or experience level. Whether you’re an avid wing shooter, or just simply enjoy being outside, there’s a place for everyone on a dove hunt. There’s plenty of fun to be had regardless of whether you are old enough or even intend to pick up a shotgun.
Clint Faas is one of those individuals. In fact, his passion for hunting, wildlife, and the outdoors motivated him to make a career out of the lifestyle that he chose to pursue as a wildlife biologist.
Born and raised in the El Campo area, Faas began hunting at an early age.
“I can remember laying in a goose field as a young kid alongside my dad, holding a BB gun,” Faas said. “This was long before I was old enough to fire a shotgun. I was along on the hunt just to simply be there and take in the experience. Hunting was what my family did, and it was important to my dad to pass that tradition down to me.”
In addition to waterfowl, Faas said that he was fortunate enough to grow up with some excellent dove hunting opportunities at his fingertips.
“We did quite a bit of dove hunting on land owned by family
and friends in the El Campo area,” he said. “I started going along on dove hunts at around age 8 or 9, and I can remember shooting my first doves with a single shot 20-gauge shotgun at around age 12.”
Faas said that the sport of dove hunting became an even bigger deal for him during his early teens with his friends from school.
“The opening day of dove season was always a big social event for me and my buddies. We would gather at somebody’s property or backyard to hunt doves, and it was something we all looked forward to every year.”
During his high school years and late teens, Faas started getting into dove hunting with his own bird dog. He said that adding a retriever into the mix only intensified his passion for hunting.
Faas continued to pursue his passion of hunting throughout his college years and into his adult life and became a wildlife biologist. He also began working as a hunting guide in his spare time and grew quite fond of taking first-time hunters out and passing on the traditions of the sport to newcomers. After becoming a father, he knew that he would soon pass the same traditions on to his son, just as his father did with him.
Faas took his son, Hunter, on his first dove hunt when he was 7. The youngster is 9 years old now, and harvested his first deer last season at the same age that Faas was when he shot his first deer.
“I told him that he would remember that day for the rest of his life. My dad was able to be there with us, so we had three generations in the blind together that day. I hope that one day he will be able to look back and realize just how special of a moment that really was,” Faas said. Hunter also harvested his first ducks last season, and he did so with a single shot .410 shotgun that was passed down to him from his grandfather on his mom’s side of the family. He will be dove hunting with that same shotgun this fall, and hopes to harvest his first doves with it.
“It’s been really special to see my son develop and grow as an outdoorsman,” Faas said. “At the age of 9, he already understands that each hunt is about so much more than just harvesting an animal. He enjoys the entire experience and the bond that we share as we spend time together outdoors.”
Faas said that spending time with his son in the field has been one of the most gratifying and meaningful experiences that he’s enjoyed throughout his life.
“Hunting is not just an activity, it is a lifestyle for us,” he said. “It has created a connection between me and my son that can never be broken. Sharing the multi-generational traditions of hunting with today’s youth ensures that there will be future
generations of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts for decades to come. In a world that is so technologically and device driven, I think that is extremely important.”
In Faas’s opinion, hunting forges memories and lessons that will truly last a lifetime.
“That’s something that everyone should have the opportunity to experience,” he said. “And passing on our hunting heritage to the next generation will result in a positive future for the sport of hunting and wildlife conservation.”
Mitchell Stephenson is another avid hunter and outdoorsmen that is passionate about passing on the traditions and the lifestyle of hunting to the next generation. Born and raised on Galveston Island, Stephenson grew up waterfowl hunting with his dad across the bays, marshes, and rice prairies along the upper Texas coast.
“At a young age, my dad instilled in me core values like safety, responsibility, and respect for wildlife and game, by taking me hunting,” Stephenson said. “We almost exclusively hunted waterfowl together, but in the last decade, we fell in love with dove hunting.”
Stephenson said that he and his dad, along with his brother and some buddies of theirs, have created a new tradition in recent years of going on a big dove hunt together in South Texas.
“It’s become an event that we all look forward to every year, and it goes well beyond simply harvesting limits of birds,” Stephenson said. “We enjoy planning for the trip, and we enjoy the camaraderie and time spent cooking and hanging out at hunting camp just as much as we enjoy the time we spend in the field, actively pursuing dove. The memories we’ve all made on these dove hunts will last forever. And the best part is, we are only going to make more of them.”
This fall, Stephenson plans to take his 7 year old son, Matt, along on their annual South Texas dove hunt with his dad, brother, and friends. This will be the youngster’s first official hunt to attend.
“I’m excited to take Matt along with us this year, because I know having three generations of Stephensons in the field together is going to be pretty special,” he said. “It’s important to me to instill the same core values in him that my dad taught me when I was a kid. From gun safety to respecting and honoring the game that we pursue and everything in between, passing on the traditions of hunting is an essential part of my family’s lifestyle.”
Stephenson hunts with a gun dog that is also his family’s pet. He’s looking forward to his son being able to experience their family dog retrieving birds in the field and the satisfaction that a loyal retriever brings to a bird hunter.
“Above all, I can’t wait to see how spending time in the field with my son, alongside my dad and brother, strengthens the bond that we all have together,” he said. “The moments spent in the field with family and friends are irreplaceable, and I can’t wait to experience that with my son. Hopefully it will motivate him to share these same traditions of hunting and the outdoors with his kids one day, too.”
I, myself, have made hunting and the outdoors my career. As a writer, photographer, and full-time content creator in the outdoor industry, I spend a good portion of my time hunting. My dad was a hardcore angler, so I did not grow up hunting. I started hunting with some buddies during my teenage years and have since gotten my dad into hunting. We now cherish the times that we share together in the field as much as we do those on the water.
Without a doubt, the greatest thrill and satisfaction that I have experienced as a hunter has been those moments alongside my oldest son, Waylon. Whether we are pursuing doves, ducks, turkey, or deer, I feel like he teaches me as much as I teach him, on every hunt that we share together. We’ve been fortunate enough to share the field with my dad as well, and those moments with three generations of Skinners all hunting together have produced memories that will last forever. I can’t wait to get my younger son involved as well, when he is old enough to join us.
Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned from passing on the tradition of hunting to my son, has been to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Regardless of how a hunt turns out, the 6-year-old never fails to see the outcome in a positive way.
“Thanks for taking me hunting, Dad, I had a lot of fun,” he’ll say, at the end of every hunt.
Even if we didn’t harvest a single bird or see a single deer, he always shows appreciation for the time we spent together.
The innocence of a child is a magical thing, especially when it comes to the outdoors. They can find joy in the simple things that we sometimes easily take for granted. And to me, that’s why it is important to pass on the traditions of hunting to the next generation, so that generations to come can experience similar magical moments in the outdoors.
As sure as the sun rises from the East, another hunting season will soon commence. Take time to enjoy every moment of it. And if the opportunity presents itself, make an effort to teach and pass on the traditions of the sport to today’s youth. They are the future hunters and wildlife ambassadors, and the world needs as many of them as possible. One can only hope that more and more people will learn to live to hunt, and hunt to live.
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS of
10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY CELEB R ATING
It’s hard to believe that this is the 10th-anniversary issue of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine. The date was June 9, 2015, Bobby and I were having dinner with my brother, a prominent magazine publisher in San Antonio, when he approached us with the idea of starting a magazine. We weren’t even considering starting a magazine until at least the fifth year of TDHA; this was only the third.
Scared to death at the thought, I asked, “What could we possibly say about dove, even just twice a year, to fill a whole magazine?”
By Susan Thornton
“Would people want to read it?”
“Would advertisers support it?”
“I don’t know anything about publishing a magazine,” I said.
TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE
Mike said, “I’ll teach you.” And he did! In less than two months, thanks to my brother and some of the people at his office, the first issue of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine was printed and ready to distribute before opening day.
Throughout these last 10 years, I have had the privilege of meeting some extraordinary people in this industry, who have turned into sweet friendships for Bobby and I.
Sadly, we’ve lost some, too. Calvin Bentsen, Bubba Wood, and Laura Jane Elder have passed away. Each of these special people made a tremendous impact on everyone they met. They have been and will continue to be missed by so many who knew and loved them.
In preparation for this 10th-anniversary issue, I’ve had the chance to go back and read so many interesting and informative stories and look through some fabulous photographs. I have loved all the cover stories, but my absolute favorites were the ones where I got to meet and get to know the people who would be on the cover.
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS of TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE
In Fall 2016, I had the opportunity to meet Calvin Bentsen at the Hunters and Sportsman’s Expo in McAllen. Bentsen was 91 years old at the time and quite a character. He invited Bobby and I to visit his ranch in Red Gate before we headed back to San Antonio.
He gave us a tour of his beautiful South Texas ranch that I will never forget. It was there where I saw a picture of Bentsen, his wife Marge, their three daughters, and three granddaughters hunting dove. By the end of our visit, he had already agreed to let us write about him and put him on the Spring 2017 cover. I had the opportunity to visit Mr. and Mrs. Bentsen in their home in McAllen for the interview. She is a lovely woman with such beauty, grace, and style—a true Southern lady.
One of my all-time favorite stories was in the Spring 2019 issue, written by a TDHA scholarship recipient, Jeremy Lee. He talked about his grandfather who had never missed an opening day of dove season since he was a young boy. Lee told the story of how he and some other family members even snuck him out of a nursing home to go hunting because
they didn’t want him to miss opening day. What a fun memory!
I was tickled pink in the summer of 2019 when I received a call from Texas country singer Aaron Watson’s agent who agreed to let me interview him. I had been working on this one for two years. I drove from San Antonio to South Padre Island and met with him before his concert. He couldn’t have been nicer and more real. He was warm, friendly, and easy to talk to. What really struck me about Aaron was the love he has for his family and how much fun he has with them. It was easy to see that with Aaron Watson, what you see is what you get.
In the Fall of 2020, after things had been shut down due to COVID, Bobby and I were working from home and the phone rang. It was a lady named Sandy Gilchrist calling about purchasing an ad for G2 Ranch in the magazine. She told us all about the ranch and invited us to come for a visit. Little did we know that Sandy’s phone call would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Her and her husband Don’s love story is awe-inspiring. One thing I appreciate about Don and Sandy is that they have remained true to their roots. They are so genuine, just the salt of the earth. Their hospitality is endless. They care for their
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS of TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE
employees like family, and the guests at the ranch are always well taken care of. Hearing Don tell a hundred or more hunters to quiet down and remove their caps while he prayed over dinner was the icing on the cake for me. He and Sandy are comfortable in their own skin, love the Lord, and love people well.
In the Spring of 2022, we got to write about one of the nicest ladies in the industry, Amber Haynes. I have known Amber for many years now and have so enjoyed watching her business, McKenna Quinn, grow and thrive. Amber has a true passion for getting ladies in the field and making sure they look good when they are. Her ladies hunting and now sporting clay clothes are second to none. She loves the outdoors and has raised two girls who enjoy hunting and fishing too. Amber is sweet and authentic and all that is good wrapped into one.
People in this industry are so kind—they’re like family. It was more than 10 years ago that I met Joe Elder, owner of Elderado. When he heard about TDHA, he was interested in learning more and helping us garner more support, so he and his wife, Laura Jane hosted a meeting for us at their lodge in Uvalde. They invited other outfitters and locals from the surrounding area, and it was a wonderful evening of getting to know people in the dove hunting industry.
When I decided to put Joe on the Fall 2022 cover, I was able to spend some more time at Elderado with the Elder family at their photo shoot helping them look through photo albums for old pictures that we might want to use. I even spent the night in their home while we were working on the article. Laura Jane was always known as the “hostess with the mostess,” but their daughters, Maddy and Liza are as well.
I could fill every page of this magazine telling you about the fantastic people we’ve met and the relationships we’ve made. There are just so many, and they are all such good people. The people on the cover, ladies in the field, and other individuals we wrote about all had their own unique stories.
What a fabulous, one-of-a-kind environment the hunting industry is! In it, a man’s word still means something, and a handshake is sometimes all you need to make a deal. It is very refreshing.
We’ve come a long way in 10 years. The first few years, our recipes and photos came from my kitchen, sometimes made at midnight the night before we went to press. Today, we have a true professional—Holly Hearn with Game Girl Gourmet—sharing her delicious dove recipes with us.
Our vision was to provide our readers with as much information about dove as possible, and to promote the sport of dove hunting, especially for the next generation. It was to encourage others to try the sport, to educate both hunters and non-hunters, and to support and promote the rules and regulations set forth by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
There are so many more people to meet and much more to share with our readers. That’s why I’m so excited about passing the torch to Charlotte Schuster to carry on editing and publishing Texas Dove Hunters Magazine.
Thanks to our exceptional writers and photographers, I have had the blessing, honor, and privilege to bring you many great stories and articles through the years. How incredible it has been to meet so many fine people along the way.
THE ART THAT IS DUCK HUNTING
By Reis Ladd
Artwork by Jared DuCote
Around 4 a.m., sometime during the fall semester of my senior year in college, I found myself standing knee deep in the flood waters of a Texas lake that had surpassed its usual bank. Four others were asleep in the heavy gauged aluminum boat tucked away in the flooded trees 30 yards to my north. I was in the hole where the ducks were most certainly going to land. In the boat was the captain, two close friends, and the redheaded girl that introduced me to duck hunting. I had convinced all four of them the evening before to forego sleeping in their own beds and join me for an all-nighter on the lake awaiting opening day of duck season. The boat was too small to take all of us at one time, so we had to shuttle back and forth from the boat ramp. I stood all night in the water because again the boat was small. It was a jet-black, moonless night and cold enough that I opted into an air squat regimen to curb the teeth chattering. We killed two ducks, got zero sleep, froze our butts off, and got stopped by game wardens. It was the beginning of an addiction, and I loved every minute of it.
I could set this up as another “Duck Hunting 101” article, with the usual structure of season dates, bag limits, popular gear, and top outfitters, etc. And while all of this information is undoubtedly important, (especially the regulations—please see the TPWD website) and beneficial to the hunter it doesn’t answer the “Why” question.
Why do we do it? Why would one consistently wake up four to five hours before the sun does? Or sleep in a truck at a public access spot or a boat on the lake? Fight literal swarms of mosquitoes in the early season and actually hope to fight freezing rain and 20 mile per hour north winds in the late season? Hike miles over land in bulky waders or sink knee deep every step along the Texas coast? For what, six birds, if you’re lucky and shooting well that day? And of those six you’re supposed to know the gender and species prior to pulling the trigger because within the aggregate limit of six birds, certain species have their own special limit. To top it all off, everyone knows, “ducks taste like liver.” Seems like a whole lot of work for not a lot of return. Every duck hunter has had the same thoughts. Until they didn’t.
It’s art. Let alone the epitome of natural beauty a duck marsh portrays at sunrise. Or the fact that one of God’s most beautiful creations is a
drake duck, regardless of species, sporting his full plumage. We do it for the same reason an artist paints for hours on end or a photographer snaps thousands of shots waiting for the ‘right one.’ Duck hunting is a faith and trust process. It’s preparation-heavy with multi-steps and 98 percent of it right up until the very end is full of doubts and questions and roller coaster emotions. For duck hunters it all leads to one final and simple moment when a bird lands right where you want it to. Simple, yet profoundly deep.
I am no artist, in the traditional sense of the term at least, so I spoke to someone who is. Jared DuCote is a self-taught artist specializing in lifelike paintings and has been featured in countless well-renowned publications and outlets. He was recently announced as the Ducks Unlimited 2024 artist of the year with his painting “Coming In” on the cover of the January/February issue of Ducks Unlimited Magazine. More importantly, Jared is a deeply thoughtful and kind person, and a great friend.
Jared explained that, similar to duck hunting, there’s a relationship with the painter and his art. Every time he looks at the portrait, he sees every step he made behind the scenes. All the hard work. All the doubts. The emotional highs and lows. Every expletive and tear until the very last brush stroke when he can finally look back and see the whole thing.
“You don’t see it until you go through it, and no one can take that experience away from you,” said DuCote. “That is the addiction.”
The relationship with the duck hunter and his portrait is accompanied by more tangible relationships established through the duck hunting process. There is a common saying within Ducks Unlimited (DU), the leader in wetland and waterfowl conservation: “Come for the cause, stay for the people.” DU is a community brought together by a love and respect for a bird that is not bound by countries or time zones, or even hemispheres in some cases. Ducks have a way of bringing people together to be a part of the same team, and relish in the same experiences. When sharing a duck blind with fellow hunters, you become bound by the memories and moments experienced that Jared refers to. Oftentimes, tough hunts in miserable weather that weren’t necessarily fun in the moment, turn into the very hunts we remember and reflect on the most. Shared hard times bring us closer together.
Speaking of relationships, I would be remiss not to mention one of the most important and strongest bonds in the sport of duck hunting—that between a duck hunter and their retriever. At this point in my duck hunting career, a major reason I go is to hunt with my now 6-year-old yellow lab named Jack. He’s been there every step of the way on this journey and while some of our friends say our bond is toeing the line on obsessive, we like to say pure. A good bird dog is a critical part of a successful duck hunt. We can count on them to go into the cold water and over the muddy terrain that we wouldn’t go through all because they want to retrieve that bird to please their master.
And as far as ducks not eating well, we can agree to disagree with the naysayers. My favorite cookbook of all time, “Duck, Duck, Goose” by Hank Shaw, summarizes it perfectly: Cook duck meat like what it looks like, red meat. It is top tier table fare when done correctly.
So why do we do it? Why do I do it? I do it for the art, for the people you meet along the way and all the relationships built through the process. From the beginning to the end, it seems to me, my mind shapes it from many pieces to one final portrait of art. Every step, as early as the year prior looking at potential hunting spots, to finally having the one full plume drake commit 100 percent, toenails dragging the water, white underwings backpedaling like the dragons from Game of Thrones to the culinary culmination at the end, the fatty, crispy, specifically rich, seemingly bacon topped, medium rare end. It’s all art. And the old adage, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” rings true in the duck marsh more than ever. It is work. Often uncomfortable. Frequently unsuccessful. Always beautiful. Always worth it. I encourage you to try it out.
As for the redheaded girl asleep in the duck hunting boat, we got married in March 2024, and every one of the others in the boat that night was there, as well as Jared and Jack.
2024-2025 DOVE SEASON DATES & REGULATIONS
North Zone
September 1 – November 10, 2024
December 20, 2024 – January 7, 2025
Central Zone
September 1 – October 27, 2024
December 13, 2024 – January 14, 2025
South Zone
September 14 – October 27, 2024
December 13, 2024 – January 21, 2025
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 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, and 13, 2024 (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 white-tipped 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
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Premier Dove Hunting
ForAlyson Donalson, hunting has never been about the sport. For her, it’s a way to connect with family and friends while appreciating nature and God’s presence in everything.
Alyson was born in Alabama, but moved to Silsbee, Texas, when she was just 9 years old. Her father, John Derkits, was a forester and an only child to immigrant parents. Whenever Alyson would fight with her sisters, she remembers him saying, “You should be thankful that you have siblings. It’s so lonely growing up alone.” He instilled in his five children a strong faith and emphasized the importance of family, and Alyson carried these values into her own life as she grew up and eventually started her own family.
Her father loved the outdoors and shared this love with his children. He taught them the names of the trees and the plants, brought small animals home for them to care for, and shared his love of hunting deer, dove, and quail with his children. This time that he spent with his kids was precious to him, and Alyson, her three sisters, and brother learned the importance
of respecting nature and respecting one another. It was a lesson that he passed on through the generations, eventually cherishing his time spent with his grandchildren at the family ranch.
Alyson pursued a career in teaching after graduating from Texas A&M University in College Station and taught high school biology for 18 years. She had been teaching in Grapevine before she met her husband, Drew, a fellow Aggie, in Silsbee while she was home for a family visit. Drew is an auto dealer in Silsbee, and although they both grew up in the same small town, their paths had never crossed because they are a few years apart. After they married, Alyson and Drew bought a ranch in Carrizo Springs, near the Mexican border, and she would accompany him on his hunting trips. Luckily, Drew’s buddies were very welcoming, and she learned to shoot using a Beretta .410 over and under shotgun that Drew bought her at a Ducks Unlimited auction.
Together the couple had four children and raised their family in Silsbee, while also spending many happy family moments on the ranch in Carrizo Springs, until they decided to sell the property in 2019 and find something closer to home. They purchased 1,000 acres in Refugio in 2020 and expanded, buying an additional adjoining 1,300 acres several years later. This is where they still spend a large majority of their time with their children and their families now, and they look forward to passing along their love for nature to their grandchildren.
Alyson states, “It was the gathering of the family that became most important over the years. Hunting was just another way to spend time together. We all worked together
to take care of the ranch, filling the feeders, clearing the roads, gathering the firewood, and planting new crops and vegetation that would attract dove and quail.”
In fact, the entire family has worked very hard to transform former hay fields back into native grass meadows, attracting more animals. They have become intentional stewards of the land, and they are proud to pass this respect and responsibility down to the next generation.
“Everyone pitches in. It’s just what we do. There is a job for everyone, even the kids. It’s so rewarding to see the grandkids eagerly work alongside the adults, gaining an appreciation for the outdoors, enjoying each other, and reconnecting.”
Today, Alyson and Drew spend more than half their time at the ranch, returning to Silsbee to see their children, and to oversee the dealerships. Their oldest daughter, Lauren, is the president of Pure Cars, a digital marketing agency specializing in data management and analysis for auto dealers. Their second daughter, Blair, received her nursing degree from Texas Christian University (TCU) and works at an out-patient surgical center in Denton. Heath, their only son, followed in his father’s footsteps and now runs the fleet departments for the Donalson Auto Group.
Their youngest daughter, Erin, took to hunting and fishing the most growing up on the ranch. She was pursuing her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, studying the science of sport fishing, when she was killed in a car accident near Fulton, just north of Rockport, in 2018. She was 22 years old. Her loss devastated the entire family, and it was only through their faith and the support of their family, friends, and their community that they have been able to move through this tragedy and find a way to keep Erin’s memory alive.
Immediately following her sister’s death, Lauren put together a team consisting of herself, Blair, Alyson, and Alyson’s sisterin-law, Laura Derkits, and entered the “Babes on the Bay” fishing tournament in her honor. It has since become a tradition for her sisters and friends to get together for the tournament which they usually place in, and even won it in 2022. Any prize money that is won is then donated to the Erin Caroline Donalson Memorial Endowed Scholarship, a scholarship fund started by the family to assist graduate students whose studies and/or research align with the mission of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Alyson is proud of this and knows that Erin would be too.
Speaking to Alyson is like chatting with an old friend. She is kind and thoughtful, and she lights up when talking about her family and the memories they have made hunting on the ranch. She gets excited when she talks about building new memories with a new generation, as her grandkids, nieces and nephews, and their children, learn and grow up with nature. She recalls how special it was to watch her nephew, Eli, shoot his first dove, and then shoot his first deer with Erin’s rifle.
When the hunting day is finished and all of the doves have been collected, Alyson says that she can’t wait to prepare her favorite recipe, dove poppers, which consists of bacon wrapped dove breasts stuffed with cream cheese and jalapeños. It’s just one more tradition that she plans to hand down to the next generation, as long as they all remember that what makes them so delicious is knowing that everyone worked together to create them.
PHOTO BY JAY SCHWISOW
FOUR OF A KIND
By Jim Kinser
So, how much do we know about the doves we hunt? We’re permitted a bag limit of 15 of two species but only two of another, yet a fourth remains limitless, untethered by seasons. We also know how to identify them, but what else do we know about our favorite game bird?
In the vast expanse of Texas, four dove species are available for hunters: the Mourning, White-Winged, Eurasian-collared, and White-Tipped dove.
Mourning Dove
The mourning dove is symbolic of dove hunting with its slender body, sharp tail, whistling wings, acrobatic flight reaching 55 miles per hour, and the ability to humble some of the most skilled wing shooters. They are the most abundant, widespread, and most hunted birds in the United States. With numbers unmatched by any other game bird in the country, it is estimated there are around 350-400 million mourning
doves in the lower 48 states and that hunters take 15-25 million per year. Hunters spend more time hunting dove than any other game bird. They are undisputedly the most hunted game birds.
But what fuels their prolific numbers? Perhaps it’s their penchant for nesting in any nook or cranny, from sturdy structures to scraggly mesquite trees, even the bare ground. With each clutch yielding two eggs, and an astonishing one to six clutches per year, their proliferation becomes clearer. While many mourning doves remain year-round residents, their brethren from the northern states migrate to Texas as the weather gets colder making Texas a great place to dove hunt all season. The typical mourning dove lifespan
is skewed to only an average of one to two years due to the high mortality of hatch-year birds, but some survive as long as 10-15 years. One dove was documented through the federal banding program, living 31 years in the wild.
White-winged Dove
With their distinctive, whiteedged wings, square tail, and a more robust body than mourning doves, white wings are found as far north as Oklahoma and as far south as Panama. They will lay a couple of eggs four or five times during the nesting season with the hatchlings emerging from their shells in two to three weeks.
When dove hunting in Texas, white-winged doves can make up a significant percentage of the birds you encounter on any given hunt, but it hasn’t always been that way. In the early 1900s, unregulated hunting and reduced habitat due to expanding agriculture resulted in their numbers plummeting. I remember hunting doves around the San Antonio area as a kid in the ‘70s, and never seeing a white wing. Within Texas, they were relegated to the border counties, but through better management and the white-winged dove stamp program instituted in 1971, the numbers have recovered and expanded. Owen Fitzsimmons, Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department says, “The white-winged dove stamp was Texas’ first conservation stamp and, aside from being a critical factor in white wing recovery, it set the stage for other TPWD conservation stamps that have greatly benefitted Texas wildlife species over the past 50 years.”
White wings have also moved into growing urban areas and thrive in those habitats. Taking advantage of the density of trees for nesting and cover, and readily available bird feeders, cities play host to a significant number of them.
Eurasian Collared Dove
This relative newcomer spread from the Bahamas to Florida in the 1980s and has since spread to most of the lower 48 states in just a few decades. They don’t migrate like mourning doves, but merely expand their range where the suitable habitat is found and as far north as Alaska. Eurasians favor urban areas and the bird feeders they provide as well as areas around farming for the readily accessible grain spillage.
This bird is larger than a mourning dove, sporting a black collar and an overall light grayish-dusky look. They are very vocal, cooing frequently and letting out a kind of screech now and then. Eurasians are very prolific, laying one or two eggs per clutch, and laying eggs all year with up to six clutches per year. The male brings the female nesting material as she assembles the nest, and she will sit on the eggs for 14-19 days before they hatch. According to Fitzsimmons, “To date, we’re not seeing any population-level impacts on native doves from the spread of exotic Eurasian collareddoves, but at an individual level they are bigger and more aggressive and can drive native species away from feeding and nesting sites.”
White-Tipped Dove
Although being the most widespread doves in the Americas, in the US, they are found primarily in the lower Rio Grande Valley, but are occasionally found as far north as the Hill Country. Adorned with delicate white accents on the tips of their wings and tail, a light-colored breast, a square tail, and iridescent colors around their neck, they are handsome doves. The white-tipped dove are non-migratory and we have very limited information on them.
Whether hunting sunflower fields near urban areas for white wings, pursuing mourning doves in the Mesquites and dove weed of South Texas, or setting up near grain silos for Eurasian doves, they all offer great wing shooting but differing hunting experiences. Each time we hunt doves we are dealt a different array of challenges. Each species has its characteristics, habits, and traits, but knowing a little more about them can increase your odds of a winning hand.
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A HUNTER’S HYDRATION
By Reis Ladd
The high country of Colorado on a dream elk hunt is not the place one wants to find out the importance of hydration, but in September of 2021, that is exactly where I found myself. For the three years prior, each September I would forgo two weeks of dove season back home and drive to Colorado, hike into the backcountry with my bow and inevitably strike out. 2021 was different, however, all those years of learning and failing were starting to come together and pay off. Three days into the hunt, we were in the thick of it—in a good way. Each day presented better, and better opportunities and it seemed the noose was tightening on one of the many bulls on our little corner of the mountain. We were having a hard time sleeping because there were so many bugling bulls around camp. Good problem to have, right? Midday on day three though, I was sitting in my tent, more discouraged than ever, doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out what the next move was, halfway convinced we should hang it up and drive home early. I could already taste the greasy Wendy’s BaconatorTM and bubbly burn of the Dr. Pepper on our drive home. I was having a hard time choosing where to hunt that evening, what clothes to wear, if I should nap, or just simply lay there and do nothing. Frankly, I couldn’t make one clear decision. That’s when it hit me, “Dude, when was the last time you had something to eat or drink?”
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Over the course of the three plus days and 20-plus boot miles prior, I had been so caught up in the hunt I let my hydration and nutrition flounder. Years of hard work were paying off and for all intents and purposes I should have been on cloud nine, not mentally down and out wanting to quit. Fortunately, this important realization came before my physical health was in jeopardy, but I was noticing the effects dehydration and malnutrition were having on my mental clarity, cognitive state, and attitude.
While hydration is an obvious factor on a logistically challenging and heavy backpack-clad elk hunt, it can be easily overlooked on other less physical hunts but is always an important factor to finding success and most importantly, staying safe. Especially on those 100+ degree September days in the dove field we all love so much.
The Science
The adult human body is made up of 55 to 65 percent water. Water is in fact, essential for all life on Earth to survive. There are two main components of adequate hydration: water and electrolytes. Every cell in our bodies needs water to function and electrolytes assist in getting that water to our cells. According to Outside Magazine, “Electrolytes are soluble minerals that facilitate the flow of fluids through cell membranes via osmosis.” Sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride, calcium, and bicarbonate are some of the most important electrolytes for our overall health and adequate hydration.
indicators that dehydration is present and potential heat stroke is looming.
A heat stroke—the most serious form of heat illness—is life threatening and requires immediate medical attention. During a heat stroke the body has lost the ability to regulate temperature through sweating and overheats to dangerous levels. Along with the common symptoms of dehydration, symptoms of a heat stroke are likely to include elevated body temperature, seizure, loss of consciousness, and other life-threatening symptoms. Anyone experiencing heat stroke symptoms should receive immediate medical attention.
Nutrition
Electrolytes are mainly sourced through the food we consume and while our electrolyte needs come from our diet, strenuous activity and exposure to higher temperatures can lead to an increase in sweating and thus an electrolyte deficiency. Fortunately, there are numerous options on the market to supplement electrolytes that have grown in popularity in recent years. Powdered, portable drink mixes and/or pre-made sports drinks are loaded with minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes that help the body tremendously. Some of the most popular brands are Gatorade, LMNT, Liquid IV, and Wilderness Athlete Hydrate and Recover.
Recommended Practice
So, what should we do as hunters?
Signs of Dehydration
One of the earliest and most obvious signs of dehydration is thirst. In many cases such as a 100+ degree day in a dove field in September or October, it is common to neglect or brush off a seemingly harmless craving like being thirsty, but it is often one of the earliest signs of dehydration—and one that hunters should pay close attention to. Reduced mental clarity, lack of sweat, less frequent and discolored urination, headaches, fatigue, and muscle cramps are also
Drink water early and often. Ideally, hunters should be starting their “hydration plan” two to three days prior to entering the field. Shoot for eight to 12 cups of water per day to prepare for strenuous, hot days in the field. While in the field, hunters should get closer to 15 to 20 cups, or about eight bottles or four to five Nalgenes worth.
Supplementing with electrolytes is beneficial, but when it comes to how often depends on individual circumstances.
In general, if temperatures are high and sweat is so prevalent that salt rings are starting to show up on your hat and hunting shirt, it’s a good idea to take in some extra electrolytes. Mix in an electrolyte drink with your water every now and then while in the field and shoot for a minimum of one bottle of electrolyte drink per day.
Clothing is also crucial, and while we all know and love the uncle who can get the job done in a red flannel, blue jeans and New Balance tennis shoes, there are many better options on the market now for highly technical gear in a variety of price ranges. Lightweight, breathable pants with side vents and a long-sleeve lightweight breathable top with a hood are my go-to for a hot weather gear. The breathability helps wick sweat and keeps you cool, while the long sleeves and pants help keep the sun off your skin.
them their bodies are in danger. It’s important that hunters understand these signs in their dogs and respect that sometimes, the dog truly may be too hot and need to take a break. No retrieve or dove is worth risking your hunting buddy’s health and next season over.
A tip I inherited long ago is teaching your dog to drink from a water bottle. It is much easier and more efficient to give your dog frequent sips from the water bottle in your dove belt, than forcing them to drink from a bowl. My dog Jack is notorious for going 100 miles per hour as soon as he hits the field, neglecting any sort of self-preservation. When it comes time to finally slow down and drink water from the bowl he would lap the entire thing up, then inevitably throw it all up immediately after. Or my personal favorite is when he steps on the bowl in his excitement and spills the whole container of cold, clean water. We are strictly a water bottle in the field family now. But if your plan is to have the dog drink from a bowl, be sure you plan ahead and pack cold water in a container and a bowl. Don’t go to field unprepared, especially when you are responsible for others—be it dogs or kids or hunting buddies.
Dehydration in Your Dog
The highlight for many dove hunters, or bird hunters in general, is getting to hunt with their bird dog, me included. Yet naturally, dehydration does not discriminate and those early season Septembers in Texas can sneak up on hunters and bird dogs alike.
For the most part, dogs do not sweat and instead, dissipate heat through panting and/or moving to a cooler environment like shade or water. They will also inherently become lazier and slower when they’re feeling the effects of the heat—and sometimes even “lay down on the hunt” when their brains are telling
Another smart tip I picked up from a hunting buddy was to bring a separate ice chest—a big one—half full of water from the hose. Periodically throughout a hunt, we make Jack hop in the self-named “K9 cold plunge on wheels” and cool off. This practice works so well it has become a staple for all of our early season, hot temperatures bird hunting. Many times, as soon as he makes a retrieve, he heads straight to the ice chest without prompting and jumps right in.
Conclusion
Pay attention to your body, and your K9 buddy.
For me, the first thing I notice is a decrease in mental clarity and negative impact on mood. Soon after I notice a slight cramping in my hands and feet, mainly due to an electrolyte deficiency. For Jack, I have to be more diligent about preventative maintenance and have him sip water whenever the action is slow. Every aspect of our body, mind included, relies on proper and efficient hydration. Most of us have a limited amount of time we get to spend in a dove field each year, so make the most of the time you do have. Take youxr and your dog’s hydration before, during and after the hunt seriously. Maybe even hop in the cold plunge together.
TRICHOMONAS GALLINAE The Most Common Disease You’ve Never Heard Of
By Owen Fitzsimmons
Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
This spring, TPWD received an unusually high number of reports from across the state of sick doves and songbirds. After sending several samples to the National Wildlife Health Center for testing, the diagnosis came back as Trichomoniasis. “Trich” is the most common disease in doves and pigeons.
Somewhere between 15-75 percent of a dove population may be infected at any one time, with the vast majority showing no symptoms. In most years, a relatively insignificant number of birds succumb to the disease, but there have been rare die-offs numbering in the tens of thousands throughout history across the U.S.
Also called “canker” in poultry or “frounce” in raptors, Trich is an infectious avian disease caused by the single-celled protozoan Trichomonas gallinae. Noted in veterinary records dating back to the 1500s, it is found worldwide and everywhere there are doves and pigeons, making it one of the oldest and most widespread known bird diseases.
Signs of a Trich infection include a ruffled appearance, vomiting, lethargy, and the tell-tale yellowish-white lesions that occur in the throat. A chronic infection causes severe damage to the throat and sinuses, resulting in visible lesions that some
describe as “cheese-like”. These lesions can prevent an infected bird from feeding and breathing, ultimately resulting in death from starvation or suffocation.
Trich primarily affects young, hatch-year birds. If the young fledglings survive the initial infection, they typically carry the disease without symptoms into adulthood where it may eventually clear. It’s no coincidence that Trich outbreaks usually occur in the spring when birds are in close contact while courting, breeding, and rearing young. The Trich parasite can survive for several hours in water, and up to five days on moist grains. Transmitted through bodily fluids like saliva, the disease is often spread at food and water sources or by infected adults feeding their young.
While there are Trichomonas species that affect mammals, Trichomonas gallinae cannot be transmitted to humans, dogs, or cats, though it can infect poultry and other birds that share food and water with wild birds. Outbreaks usually resolve themselves fairly quickly, but you can help prevent outbreaks by regular disinfecting bird feeders and waterers with a light bleach solution, especially in the spring and summer. If you find a sick wild bird, call your local TPWD office to report it and do not handle it as the bird may have other diseases that can be transmitted to you.
DOVE TAQUITOS
Holly Hearn
Game Girl Gourmet
INGREDIENTS:
15 doves, minced
corn tortillas
½ white onion, finely chopped
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp flour mixed with 1 tbsp water (to form a sealing paste)
avocado oil for sautéing and deep frying
INSTRUCTIONS:
SPICE BLEND:
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
GARNISH:
Romaine lettuce, chopped
Mexican-style crema
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Cotija cheese, crumbled
Grape tomatoes, cut in half
Sliced avocados
1 Prepare the filling: Heat 2 tbsp of avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté. until translucent. Sprinkle in the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the minced dove meat to the skillet. Stir in the spice blend and cook until the meat is thoroughly cooked. Remove from heat.
2 Assemble the taquitos: Soften the corn tortillas by briefly heating them on both sides of the skillet making them pliable. Place 1-2 tablespoons of the dove mixture near one end of each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly around the filling. Use the flour-water paste to seal the edge of each tortilla, ensuring they don’t unroll during frying.
3 Fry the taquitos: In the skillet, heat avocado oil to 350o F. Carefully place the sealed taquitos in the hot oil, seam-side down, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry until the taquitos are crisp and golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Use tongs to remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels.
4 Serve: the taquitos hot, garnished with chopped romaine lettuce, a drizzle of Mexican style crema, chopped cilantro, crumbled Cotijta cheese, sliced avocados, and halved grape tomatoes.
TIPS
Ensure the tortillas are soft and pliable before rolling to prevent breaking. Using the flour paste as a sealant helps keep the taquitos intact during frying.
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DISABLED OUTDOORSMEN
By Rani Culp DOUSA Board Secretary
Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can experience the thrill of the great outdoors. This is the vision of Disabled Outdoorsmen USA (DOUSA), a nonprofit revolutionizing how people with disabilities connect with nature. The organization is transforming perspectives and participation, significantly impacting the lives of individuals with disabilities. Empowering people and changing their view of what’s possible is at the heart of what DOUSA offers.
Weston Jenkins, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of DOUSA, created the organization in 2017 while attending Texas State University. Weston’s passion for the outdoors, combined with his deep empathy for individuals with disabilities, set him apart from many of his peers. His dream of equality and inclusion— instilled in him from a young age— drives his mission. DOUSA welcomes participants with any kind of disability, offering them the opportunity to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
The idea for DOUSA came to Weston after a day of hunting with his cousin TJ, who has muscular dystrophy. “TJ is the main inspiration behind Disabled Outdoorsmen, and I want to give other people like TJ the chance to explore the outdoors,” Weston explained. His vision was simple: to make people with disabilities feel capable of anything while putting aside their worries and stresses.
DOUSA is more than just an organization – it’s a movement. While other groups focus on specific disabilities, DOUSA embraces inclusivity, welcoming individuals with a wide range of abilities. From hunting and fishing to camping and hiking, DOUSA creates unforgettable outdoor adventures that nurture the mind, body, and spirit. One participant noted that his trip forever changed his life, giving him a new passion and purpose: to help others in similar situations find their happy place and embrace the power of the outdoors.
Weston fondly recalls planning the first fundraising event, collaborating with a team of volunteers, and executing a vision that garnered overwhelming love and support. Now in its fourth year of banquet planning, DOUSA ranks fifth out of the top 48 fundraisers in partnership with Valero’s Champions fore Charity. With five chapters across the United States and aspi-
rations for a chapter in every state, DOUSA receives support and offers from all over the country, contributing to its growing presence.
Volunteers, donors, and board members create opportunities that help individuals realize their strengths and discover new passions. Every inquiry is carefully evaluated to pair participants with trips, ensuring that the team is wellversed in the necessary accommodations for a successful expedition.
DOUSA changes lives through outdoor experiences. Hearts and souls are touched, and everyone involved learns valuable lessons about life and themselves. People engage with DOUSA not just to give back but because their hearts are genuinely touched by the cause. Their work is about more than just outdoor adventures – it’s about challenging perceptions and empowering individuals to embrace their full potential. As Jenkins says, “The outdoors have a healing capability that allow individuals to focus on what they have, what they love, and to show them that a disability doesn’t define the rest of their lives.” The true magic of DOUSA lies in its impact. Every trip is carefully curated to ensure participants have a successful and transformative experience.
Join the DOUSA movement and help create a world where everyone can experience the joy and freedom of the great outdoors. Together, we can make the impossible possible.
