Jr. Trophy Hunters Corner

Five Things to Know About Dove Hunting

Ilook forward to a lot of outdoor activities each month, as Texas has so much to offer when it comes to getting outside. September brings us some fun-filled, family and friends time while hunting doves. You can hunt doves in Texas lots of ways, and depending upon your geographic location, you will have to do a little research to find out what is the most effective and legal way to hunt these tasty critters. I personally have hunted doves over big fields, known fly ways, and near water. All these methods are a lot of fun and can be very productive, if Mother Nature cooperates and gives you an avenue for success. What I mean is, doves can move around at a moment’s notice. A big rain or a strong cool front can move the doves hundreds of miles. That change in the weather can either help or hinder your hunting days, but nonetheless, it’s great to be outdoors. Try and get out as much as possible and watch the patterns of the doves so when your day comes to hunt, you can make the most of it.

You should know a few more things when planning your trip so not only will you have a ton of fun, you’ll also be legal. The last thing you want to do on a great day outdoors is violate of one of the hunting laws. It can be a real downer to have a great hunting day followed up with a citation. You can download the Texas Outdoor Annual to your cell phone, so you’ll have the do’s and don’ts at your fingertips. Here are a few helpful tips from Huntshield Basecamp News to assist you.

Get a license

In order to hunt migratory birds in Texas, you must purchase a hunting license. Hunters born after Sept. 2, 1971, must have successfully completed a Hunter’s Education course. In addition to your license, be sure to

get your HIP certification. The Harvest Information Program is used by Texas Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife to generate estimates which helps these agencies manage wildlife populations.

Know the area you’re hunting

Due to the large size of Texas, the area is broken up by three different zones: the North Zone, the Central Zone and the South Zone. Knowing where you’re hunting is essential to knowing the dates when you’re able to hunt. For instance, the North and Central zones allow hunting starting Sept. 1, while the South Zone doesn’t begin until Sept. 14. The South Zone also includes a special white-winged dove days for a select few days in September. Before you head out to hunt, be certain which zone you’re in.

Know your limits

The daily bag limit for doves in Texas is 15, with a maximum possession limit of 45. Broken down, that means you’re only allowed to harvest 15 total birds per day, not per half-day and not per outing, but 15 for the entire day. Possession is different than your daily bag limit. Let’s say you’re on a five-day hunt, and you intend on bringing home your doves. Despite the daily bag limit of being 15, you can’t have 75 doves on you at once. The total amount of doves you’re able to have with you, at any given time, is 45. Also remember to keep your doves in a clean and edible condition at all times.

Know your birds

There are eight different types of dove species in Texas, and only three are considered legal game birds. The most hunted common dove is the mourning dove. You should familiarize yourself with the different types of doves, as you could find yourself in trouble with the law if you can’t tell the difference.

Keep track of time

As a rule of thumb, you should only start hunting 30 minutes after sunrise, and stop hunting 30 minutes before sunset. There are many apps and websites you can use to determine the sunrise and sunset for your area. So there you have it. The top five most important things to remember during dove season.

Over the past few years, my family has shown great interest in dove hunting, not to mention other outdoor activities. A lot of this had to do with COVID. Although that time in our history was quite puzzling, it did get a lot of people outdoors and as of right now, they’re staying outdoors. The camaraderie, laughter, and sense of accomplishment of taking a few or even a limit of doves is very rewarding and makes for a great meal. If you have a retriever, it makes it fun to watch your dog do what they love, too!

How do you like to cook your doves? We have tried a

bunch of ways and no matter what, they’re all good. The most popular way is wrapped with bacon and jalapeños. I like to add a little cheese. Or we cut the breast away from the bone then add a pepper and a slice of cheese in two dove breasts and dip in cornmeal and fry. We call those dove balls. The cheese melts through the bird ball and is extremely good.

Another great way is to put the entire cleaned bird in a deep dish, about 12 to 15 side by side. If you can squeeze more in the pan, then get after it. I cook rice to pour over the top of the doves then I take cream of mushroom soup and layer on top of that. I garnish it with bacon pieces and cook for a couple hours. The dove meat falls off the bone and you have one heck of a meal.

Gary E. Mobley soaks his doves in Dr. Pepper for 24 hours in the fridge. Then he slices each dove open, puts a slice of jalapeño inside, along with fajita seasoning, wraps it in bacon and cooks it over coals until done. This is one recipe I will have to try.

When we dove hunt, we love to eat all we can at camp when they’re fresh. The doves do freeze well, but fresh birds on the table are just like fresh fish. You cannot go wrong. Rub-a-dub-dub, show me the grub.

Michael Marbach is the CEO of the Christian Outdoor Alliance, www.mycoa.org; 210-827-9802. COA’s mission is to guide youth and outdoorsmen to a relationship with Jesus Christ through experience in God’s great outdoors.

Did you know there are Youth Only hunting seasons? Yes, licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger are eligible to participate in youth seasons, which generally occur before (or directly after) general hunting seasons. Youth Only hunting seasons occur for turkeys, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and waterfowl. Special requirements, bag limits, and restrictions may apply for Youth Only white-tailed deer hunting seasons.