There is no secret that Texas’ Rio Grande Valley has one of the best white-winged and mourning dove seasons in the USA.
And although the white-winged dove, a colorful and slightly bigger bird, keep moving farther north, these natives of South Texas and northeast Tamaulipas (Mexico) state still call this region of both countries home.
Thousands of birds have been flying in all directions before and after the season opened on Sept. 5, which marked the start of a two-weekend special season that stretches from Del Rio, San Antonio, Houston to Orange.
In fact, some hunters either said or showed pictures of friends getting their limits of white-winged dove from places like Uvalde and Victoria.
That season ended Saturday, Sept, 13 and it was immediately followed by the regular dove season – something which has not happened before.
That led to a little confusion among wing shooters, outfitters and state parks under the public hunting land management.
But in the end, everyone seemed content with the two seasons running into each other.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, shots could be heard throughout the Valley as hunters began harvesting dove.
Some of them reported mixed bags of the two dove species while others said the white-winged dove were still abundant.
Houston resident Patrick Gaona got his limit of five mourning and 10 white-winged dove on his first day hunting.
“We got here about 7:30 a.m., “ he said of his group of about 10. “We are going to hunt Monday and will head back on Tuesday.”
Gaona got his limit right before 9 a.m. and said hunting is as great here as it can be anywhere in the country for dove. He and dozens of others were hunting at Texas Dove Hunt, a large track of land sandwiched between Texas Highway 281 and the Rio Grande.
About a mile down the road, Isiah Jones and Chase Turner, also from Houston, kept watchful eyes for the doves flying by.
“It has been pretty good,” Turner said. “I got a couple so far.”
At some of the state parks opened for dove hunting, wing shooters were having a blast harvesting doves. As many as 1,000 birds were brought in each of the days of the special season at some parks. Some days had more hunters than others as some people buy a daily permit while others buy a season long permit.
At the Resaca de la Palma State Park along New Carmen Road west of Brownsville, hunters were told some of the new regulations already in effect, as well as a new one for next year. A park ranger kept telling people not to leave empty shells out there and no field dressing either.
But the most informative aspect was that next year only non-toxic shot shells, such a steel, bismuth and tungsten, will be permitted – something which has been the norm for waterfowl. But why for dove? The ranger said the park has a number of ponds frequently visited by waterfowl.
Meanwhile, hunters said they have been doing well around Harlingen, Rio Hondo, Los Fresnos, Bayview and Donna, among other places.
