By Craig Nyhus
The future is bright for South Texas dove hunters who prefer to hunt in the month of September.
“In the Special White-winged and the South Zones, we received the opportunity to expand the Special White-winged area to include the entire South Zone,” said Dave Morrison, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department small game director. “The same restrictions on harvest of mourning doves will stay in place.”
What the change means is all South Zone hunters will be able to hunt during the first two weekends in September.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” Morrison said.
Combined with a change to be available for the 2018-2019 season, it can be even a bigger deal.
“They will be allowing us to open the South Zone season as early as Sept. 14 (the first Saturday after Sept. 14),” Morrison said. “Combined with the Special White-winged expansion that allows four days on weekends in the first two weekends of September, it would allow South Texas hunters to hunt each weekend during the month.”
Changes to the 2017-2018 season will have to go through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission regulatory process and be approved before implementation.
