texas parks & wildlife department: news & season date info

FEB. 24, 2026: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSED DOVE SEASON DATE CHANGES TO THE 2026-27 SEASON

There are 2 changes to the 2026-27 dove season dates proposed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, and both pertain specifically to the South Zone. These changes will be voted on and adopted or not adopted at the TPW Commission meeting in Austin at TPWD headquarters on March 25-26, 2026.

PROPOSED CHANGE No. 1: Change the South Zone regular season opening date to September 1, eliminate the Special White-winged Dove season, and institute standardized bag limits across all days in the South Zone (i.e., 15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate with no more than two white-tipped doves per day).

PROPOSED CHANGE No. 2: The other proposed change pertains to the second segment of the South Zone dove season. At the commission meeting on Jan 21, 2026, the Commission proposed to adjust the second segment of the dove season in the South Zone to allow for hunting opportunities around Thanksgiving weekend (you can view this meeting in the helpful links section below). The adjusted season dates as proposed would be Nov. 25 – Dec. 29, 2026, as opposed to keeping the same season dates from previous years, December 18, 2026 – January 21, 2027 (as adjusted for calendar shift).

The proposed dove season dates for 2026-27 are:

North Zone: Sep. 1 – Nov. 8, and Dec. 18 – Jan. 7

Central Zone: Sep. 1 – Oct. 25, and Dec. 11 – Jan. 14

South Zone: Sep. 1 – Oct. 25, and Nov. 25 – Dec. 29

Click the button to respond to the 2026-27 Statewide Hunting & Migratory Game Bird Proclamation

If hunters would like to comment in support or opposition of these or any other proposals for 2026-27, there is an open public comment period through March 26. You can read all proposed changes and comment online at this linked button below. There is also the option to attend the Commission meeting in Austin on March 26 to comment in person. Public comments, whether in support or opposition of proposed regulations, are strongly encouraged. All public comments are taken into consideration before the Commission makes any decisions.

Take the TPWD Survey

REGULATORY PROCESS EXPLAINED

Because migratory game s like doves move across state and international borders, they are federally regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This means that state regulations must work within “federal frameworks,” which are usually flyway-wide or even nation-wide regulatory limits. For example, federal frameworks dictate that Texas (and other Central Flyway states) can have a maximum 15-bird daily bag limit. As a state, Texas can be more conservative and set a lower daily bag limit but cannot be more liberal and exceed the federal framework of 15 birds.

Determining federal and state regulations is an annual process. TPWD works cooperatively with state and federal partners in the Central Flyway each year to help determine appropriate federal regulations for migratory birds. Once federal frameworks are determined, the annual state process for setting season dates and regulations begins. This process involves TPWD staff working with technical and advisory committees who review biological and harvest data, existing hunter opinion data, and other relevant information to develop recommendations for the upcoming season. These recommendations are presented to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, which is a panel of Governor-appointed and Senate-approved members who ultimately determine TPWD policy, law, and rules. Each year in January, TPWD staff present the upcoming migratory bird season recommendations to the TPW Commission, asking for permission to publish the proposed regulations in the Texas Register (thus making them viewable by the public). Once published, there is a public comment period beginning in late February that is open approximately 30 days in which hunters can make their voices heard on whether they support or oppose any proposed regulations. In late March, the proposed regulations are presented again at the Commission meeting, public opinion data is reviewed and public comments are heard, and then regulations are adopted as rule (law) by the TPW Commission for the upcoming hunting season.

HISTORY OF SOUTH ZONE SEASON DATES:

The South Zone has historically been restricted by federal regulations to opening in mid-September or later due to a longstanding concern about extended nesting seasons for doves at southern latitudes, and the potential biological impacts of opening a hunting season while a significant portion of the population may still be nesting. This concern was primarily based on nesting studies and data collected over 50 years ago. After thoroughly reviewing contemporary biological data and determining there is no longer a justified biological concern, TPWD worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to change the federal frameworks for the South Zone opening date from Sept. 14 to as early as September 1, beginning with the 2026-27 season. A Sept. 1 opener is the earliest allowed for any bird season under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A Sept. 1 opener also aligns the South Zone opening date with the other two zones in the state and simplifies regulations by eliminating the need for the Special White-winged Dove season, which in recent years has served primarily to offer South Zone hunters' additional opportunity before the regular season could start on Sep 14. With the elimination of the Special White-winged Dove season, standard regular season daily bag limits will apply all season long.

HELPFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS:

TPWD news release
The 2026-2027 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird Proclamation can also be found under the Public Notice on the main TPWD webpage: https://tpwd.texas.gov/
Click to view the Jan. 21, 2026, Commission meeting. - Helpful timestamps: TPWD recommended changes to the Statewide Migratory Game Bird Proclamation (2:36:45). Commission proposed change to 2nd segment dates (2:43:40). Additional discussion on proposed dove season changes (2:55:20).
Questions can be addressed to Owen Fitzsimmons (owen.fitzsimmons@tpwd.texas.gov) (512) 284-1537, or Shaun Oldenburger (shaun.oldenburger@tpwd.texas.gov)
If you'd like to email TDHA your questions, we can also relay them to the TPWD Webless Migratory Game Bird Program team: info@texasdovehunters.com

2025-2026 Season Dates

Regular Season Shooting Hours: North, Central and South Zones - Legal shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Special White-Winged Dove Days: Legal shooting hours are noon to sunset

North Zone

September 1 - November 9, 2025, and December 19, 2025 – January 7, 2026

Central Zone

September 1 - October 26, 2025, and December 12, 2025 - January 14, 2026

South Zone

September 14 - October 26, 2025, and December 12, 2025 - January 22, 2026

Special White-Winged Dove Days

Special Days: September 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13, 2025 (Legal shooting hours are noon to sunset)

Bag Limits

RegularDaily Bag Limit: 15* Possession Limit: 45

Falconry Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 9

*In all zones, the daily bag limit can include no more than 2 white-tipped (white-fronted doves).

The possession limit on white-tipped doves is three times the daily bag limit.

Did you know that 100% of your hunting and fishing license fees go to conservation?

It's true, 100% of your hunting and fishing license fees go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for on-the-ground conservation efforts that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. Fish stocking, wildlife management, habitat restoration, land conservation, and Texas Game Wardens are just some of the initiatives funded in part by your license fees. Thank you for your investment in Texas' natural resources. For more information on the types of licenses available, where you can purchase a license, hunting and fishing rules and regulations, and much more, explore the links below.