2008-2009 Texas Dove Hunting Season

The 2008-2009 Texas Dove Hunting Season marks the beginning of the game hunting season in this great state, as dove season has been for many, many years. The rules and regulations that govern this hunting season are decided upon by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in conjunction with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and include important aspects of this sports such as the dates of the hunting season, where the different zones are in Texas, what licenses, certificates and other requirements are needed by the hunter, what type of weapon can be used and even the daily bag and possession limit.
The dates of the 2008-2009 Texas Dove Hunting Season depend on the zone or area of Texas that the hunter is interested in hunting in. These zones are the north zone, central zone and the south zone.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department the north zone is "That portion of the state north of a line beginning at the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; thence north along FM 1088 to State Highway 20; thence west along State Highway 20 to State Highway 148; thence north along State Highway 148 to Interstate Highway 10 at Fort Hancock; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to Interstate Highway 20; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 20 to Interstate Highway 30 at Fort Worth; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 30 to the Texas-Arkansas state line." The season dates for the north zone are September 1 through October 30. During this time, licensed dove hunters in Texas can have a daily bag limit of 15 doves and a possession limit of 30 doves, but the maximum number of white-fronted doves to be counted in the daily bag limit is 2.

The central zone of Texas is the area located in the middle of the north zone and the south zone. Dove season in this area is September 1 to October 30 and December 26 to January 4. The daily bag limit is 12 doves, of which only 2 can be white-fronted doves and the possession limit is 24 doves. The south zone of Texas is, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department "That portion of the state south of a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge in Del Rio; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio; thence east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 1604; thence following Loop 1604 south and east, then north, to Interstate Highway 10; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to the Texas-Louisiana Line." The daily bag limit for doves in this zone is 12 doves, of which only 2 can be white-fronted doves and the possession limit is 24 doves.

There is also a special White-winged dove season that occurs noon to sunset on September 6 and 7, September 13 and 14, September 20 to November 9 and December 26 to January 9. This special white-winged dove season occurs in a designated portion of Texas. This area is, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "That portion of the state south and west of a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge in Del Rio; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio, thence east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 1604; thence south and east along Loop 1604 to Interstate Highway 35; thence south along IH 35 to State Highway 44; thence east along State Highway 44 to State Highway 16 at Freer; thence south along State Highway 16 to State Highway 285 at Hebbronville; thence east along State Highway 285 to FM 1017 to State Highway 186 at Linn; thence east along State Highway 186 to the Mansfield Channel at Port Mansfield; thence east along the Mansfield Channel to the Gulf of Mexico." The daily bag limit for this special dove hunting session is 12 doves for Septemebr 6 and 7 and September 13 and 14. Of these 12 doves, only 4 can be Mourning doves and only 2 can be White-fronted doves. The possession limit is 24 doves. The daily bag limit on the remaining days of this special session is also 12 doves and the possession is 24 doves.