Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

Sept. 9th

Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

North Zone Dove: Plowed corn fields along the Red River in Lamar County held limits of mourning doves. Birds are coming into soybeans as well. Clay County hunters set up along treelines in the morning and afternoon for near-limits. Best hunts in the High Plains have been in harvested corn and milo fields in the morning. Playa lakes adjacent to agriculture fields have been best in the afternoon. Sunflowers have held most of the doves in the Abilene area. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: Shooting slowed in and around San Antonio as the week progressed. Resident whitewings have become educated to the plight of hunters in corn fields outside of Loop 1604. Hunters there have taken limits in fields with watering sources nearby. Limit hunts were posted near Lytle in corn and milo. Uvalde, Sabinal, Hondo and Del Rio hunters saw half-limits — again, resident birds have become wise. The region needs another cool front to push birds to the area. Hunters have taken half-limits at best around Beaumont, Dayton, Liberty, Nome and Winnie. Brookshire, Hockley and Katy hunters continue to see few birds. Better shoots have come from Sealy and Columbus. Afternoon showers have hurt the flight somewhat, but have been welcomed by Texans. Prospects are fair until another cool front prompts new migrants to head south.

South Zone Dove: Season opens Friday, Sept. 18.

Special White-Winged Dove Area: Shooting was fast and limits were quick around Harlingen, Brownsville and Edinburg. Best shoots were had over corn, milo and wild sunflowers. Port Mansfield hunters enjoyed good shoots as well. Del Rio hunters saw steady shoots in agricultural fields as well. The season opens again Sept. 12 and 13, with afternoon-only hunting. Prospects are good.

Teal Forecast: The 16-day season runs Sept. 12–27 and prospects look excellent for those areas holding water. The upper coast has endured decent rain during the summer which has habitat in good shape; however, the middle coast extending to the border has been severely dry. Some established ponds on TPWD wildlife management areas like Mad Island near Bay City, Justin Hurst near Freeport and Guadalupe Delta near Port Lavaca, have limited ponds available due to the drought. Second-cropped rice fields in Garwood, El Campo, Eagle Lake, East Bernard, Wharton and Collegeport are holding impressive numbers of bluewings. Fields near Port Lavaca and Seadrift are reported good numbers as well. Lakes and reservoirs in north and east Texas are in good shape and holding birds in shallow coves. Playa lakes in the Panhandle have received summer rains and are holding water and teal. The bag limit is four (4) birds per hunter, per day. Prospects are good.

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