Texas Dove Season 2026-27: Dates, Zones, Bag Limits, and What's New

Opening day of dove season is one of the most anticipated mornings on the Texas hunting calendar — and in 2026 it comes with a major change: for the first time, every dove zone in the state opens on the same day, September 1. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission aligned the South Zone opener with the North and Central zones, ending the long-running tradition of a mid-September South Zone start. If you haven't checked the new regs yet, now is the time — a few key things changed for the 2026-27 season, and getting them right before sunrise on opening morning is the difference between a great hunt and a citation.

2026-27 Season Dates by Zone

Texas splits the state into three dove hunting zones, each with an early and a late segment. All three zones open on September 1, 2026:

• North Zone: September 1 – November 8, 2026, and December 18, 2026 – January 7, 2027
• Central Zone: September 1 – October 25, 2026, and December 11, 2026 – January 14, 2027
• South Zone: September 1 – October 25, 2026, and December 18, 2026 – January 21, 2027

Falconry season runs November 13–29, 2026, statewide. The late segments give hunters a second crack at birds during the winter months, when migrating doves push south ahead of cold fronts.

What's New for the 2026 Season

Three notable changes are in effect this year. First, as mentioned, the South Zone now opens September 1 instead of mid-September, aligning all three zones. Second, the Special White-winged Dove Days have been eliminated — hunters in the old special area now follow the standard South Zone season. Third, bag limits and shooting hours are standardized across the entire South Zone, so there's no more confusion about special limits in specific counties.

If you hunt near a zone boundary, check TPWD's county-by-county regulations in the Outdoor Annual before you go — a short drive can put you in a different zone with different dates.

Bag Limits at a Glance

The daily bag limit is 15 doves per hunter in all three zones, with no more than 2 of those being white-tipped doves. The possession limit is three times the daily bag — 45 birds — once you're home from the field. The aggregate limit covers any combination of mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves.

Falconry hunters have a separate limit of 3 birds per day, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag.

Legal Shooting Hours

Doves are migratory game birds, which means shooting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. That early half-hour of legal light is prime time — doves start moving off their roosts as soon as the sky begins to lighten, so be in position well before first light.

Licenses, Endorsements, and HIP

Hunting doves in Texas requires three things. First, a valid Texas hunting license — a resident annual license runs $25 and goes on sale August 15, valid through August 31 of the following year. Second, the Texas Migratory Game Bird Endorsement ($7), which is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including doves. Third, HIP certification — when you buy your license, tell the clerk you plan to hunt migratory birds and answer the Harvest Information Program questions. HIP is free, but it's mandatory, and game wardens check for it.

Hunters under 17 can buy a youth license for $7 and are exempt from state endorsement requirements, though HIP certification still applies. Resident seniors 65 and older can purchase a senior license for $7. A federal duck stamp is not required for dove hunting — that's only for waterfowl. Also remember: hunters born on or after September 2, 1971, must carry proof of hunter education certification.

Know Your Zones

The North Zone covers the portion of the state north of a line that runs from Fort Hancock east along Interstates 10, 20, and 30 to the Texas-Arkansas line. The Central Zone sits between the North and South zones. The South Zone lies south of a line from Del Rio along U.S. 90, Loop 1604 around San Antonio, and Interstate 10 to the Louisiana border. If you're anywhere near those boundary lines, double-check your county in the Outdoor Annual — dove boundaries don't follow county lines neatly.

Know Your Birds

Three doves are legal game in Texas: the mourning dove (brown with black wing spots and a long, pointed tail), the white-winged dove (white wing bar, rounded tail, increasingly common statewide), and the white-tipped dove (large, rust-colored wing linings, found mainly in South Texas).

Two birds have no season or bag limit: the Eurasian collared-dove and the rock dove (common pigeon) — though TPWD recommends leaving plumage on them for identification. Protected birds you must not shoot include the band-tailed pigeon, Inca dove, and common ground dove. When in doubt, let the bird pass.

Final Tips Before Opening Day

Scout early and often — doves are creatures of habit, and finding the field they're working a week before the opener beats guessing on opening morning. Sunflower, milo, and freshly cut grain fields are dove magnets, especially near water. Bring more shells than you think you need, a comfortable seat, and plenty of water; September in Texas is still brutally hot.

Finally, if you recover a banded dove, report it at reportband.gov — the data helps biologists manage the population you love to hunt.

With the statewide September 1 opener, this is shaping up to be one of the best dove seasons in years. Get your license, your MGB endorsement, and your HIP certification squared away now, and you'll be ready when that first flight of doves buzzes the decoys at daylight. Good hunting, Texas.