Texas · Dove · 2026–27 Edition
Texas Dove Season 2026–27: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | North Zone | Sep 1 – Nov 8 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | North Zone | Dec 18 – Jan 7 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Central Zone | Sep 1 – Oct 25 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Central Zone | Dec 11 – Jan 14 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | South Zone | Sep 1 – Oct 25 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | South Zone | Dec 18 – Jan 21 |
| Falconry | Statewide | Nov 13 – Nov 29 |
02 — Bag limits
| North / Central / South — Daily | 15 birds daily aggregate; no more than 2 may be white-tipped |
|---|---|
| Possession (all zones) | 3× daily bag (45 total) |
| Falconry | 3 birds daily; 3× daily for possession |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove & Rock Pigeon | No closed season, no bag limit — leave plumage on for identification |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 06:43 — 20:00
Rule: From one-half hour before sunrise to sunset (per TPWD). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Texas sun times for any other date.
04 — License & HIP
Dove hunters in Texas need a Texas hunting license and — because doves are migratory game birds — HIP registration (Harvest Information Program). No federal Duck Stamp is required for doves.
Where to hunt public land in Texas — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does dove season open in Texas?
The 2026–27 opener is September 1, 2026. Most states open Sep 1 under the federal migratory bird framework.
When does dove season end in Texas?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 21, 2027. Split segments and late seasons vary — see the table above.
Do I need a Duck Stamp to hunt doves?
No. Doves are migratory game birds but the federal Duck Stamp is only required for waterfowl (ducks, geese, brant, swans). Dove hunters need only their state hunting license and HIP registration.
How many doves can you shoot in Texas per day?
2026–27 bag limits: North / Central / South — Daily — 15 birds daily aggregate; no more than 2 may be white-tipped. Possession (all zones) — 3× daily bag (45 total). Falconry — 3 birds daily; 3× daily for possession. Eurasian Collared-Dove & Rock Pigeon — No closed season, no bag limit — leave plumage on for identification. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting doves in Texas?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:43 to 20:00. The rule is: From one-half hour before sunrise to sunset (per TPWD). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Texas sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt doves on my own land in Texas without a license?
Texas requires a license for essentially all game even on your own land — the one landowner carve-out is feral hogs, which a resident landowner (or anyone with their consent) may take without a license. Deer, turkey, and everything else still need the usual license and tags.
Verified · Texas Parks and Wildlife Department · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Three zones (North / Central / South) per TPWD Outdoor Annual. Per-county rules apply — see the TPWD county selector. All Texas counties have dove seasons. NOTE FOR 2026-27: the Special White-winged Dove Days are gone. The TPW Commission's April 1, 2026 order gave the South Zone an earlier regular opener (Sept. 1 – Oct. 25) and 'eliminate[d] the Special White-winged Dove Days', with one standard daily bag limit and one set of shooting hours across every day of the South Zone season. Listings that still show separate early-September white-wing days with noon-to-sunset hours are describing a prior season, not this one — and that includes TPWD's own material: the Outdoor Annual's hunting-hours definition still carries the clause 'except during the Special Whitewinged Dove Days (noon to sunset)' even though the Commission removed those days for 2026-27. The dated season table, not the definitions page, is the one to follow. Eurasian collared-dove and rock pigeon have no closed season or bag limit. Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + HIP certification required in addition to a hunting license.