2nd dove season to get underway this Friday

Texas dove hunters have an opportunity to bag the migratory game birds over the Christmas holiday season, starting this Friday, Dec. 21.

Dove season in Texas this year is Sept. 1 - Nov. 4, and Dec. 21 - Jan. 14. 

Dove Hunting Rules

Bag limits are still 15-birds per day, including no more than two white-tipped, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag limit.

Legal shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Sunrise in Albany this Friday, Dec. 21 will occur at 7:35 a.m., and sunset at 5:35 p.m. 

Guns used by dove hunters must be incapable of holding more than three shells. If the gun is designed to hold more than three shells, the hunter must plug the pump or autoloading shotgun for a three shot capacity: one in the chamber and two in the magazine.

Hunters are also reminded that it is illegal to hunt from a vehicle and that includes sitting in a chair in the back of a pickup or on a tailgate. Migratory game birds can not be hunted on public roads or on the right-of-way of public roads.

License

Dove hunters 17 years of age and older must have a valid hunting license, a migratory game bird endorsement receipt, be HIP certified, and anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must have successfully completed a hunter education course. They also should have a driver’s license or personal identification certificate (issued by the Department of Public Safety) on their person while hunting. 

Youth (those under 17 years of age at the date of license purchase) hunting license cost $7, and do not need a migratory bird endorsement. They must have passed hunter education or purchased a one-time deferral and be accompanied by a licensed hunter 17 years or older who has passed hunter education or who is otherwise exempt.