Texas Dove Hunters Association

‼️‼️ Only 1 more day to enter! The 2026 TEXAS BANDED BIRD CHALLENGE entry period closes on Monday, August 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Make sure you’re entered so that if you harvest a Eurasian Collared dove with one of these orange bands on it during season, you can win one of many amazing TBBC prizes.

Go to texasdovehunters.com for more info and to enter.

Anything else we should add to the list?

Who’s already got their gear packed and ready for Tuesday?! 🤠

Season starts Tuesday, and if you have procrastinated and still need to book a dove hunt or three, don’t worry. Our online Outfitter pages and magazine ads have you covered with hundreds of great outfitters across all 3 zones and day hunts. Check them out at texasdovehunters.com and get a hunt on the calendar!

🖐️ days!!

It was an honor to capture the story of Christina Pittman for our cover of the fall Texas Dove Hunters Magazine! Anyone who has worked or crossed paths with Christina says the same thing — her passion for the outdoors is palpable, she is kind, driven, and a joy to work with. Pittman leads Texas Trophy Hunters Association and the important work her and her team do at TTHA, similar to TDHA, is helping ensure Texas’ hunting heritage and Second Amendment rights are protected for future generations of hunters and outdoorsmen and women. Check out Texas Trophy Hunters Association online to see how you can get involved or join, and read the article online at texasdovehuntersmagazine.com if you didn’t get one in your mailbox.

Article by Nate Skinner
Photos by Ata-Girl Photography Co. & courtesy of TTHA.

😎

Record white-wing numbers gets us pretty fired up for season, what about y’all?! For the third year in a row now, Texas Parks & Wildlife’s spring dove surveys and reporting are estimating record or near-record highs in mourning and white-winger dove numbers, including the highest estimates ever for white-wings.

The 2026 statewide estimated mourning dove population is 36.7 million, which is a 2% increase from 2025 and 29% above the long-term average. The statewide estimated white-wing population is 12.9 million, which is a 10% increase from 2025 and 25% above the long-term average. 📈📊🐦🪶

The bottom line? Dove population and habitats look promising, and a wetter-than-normal year has tanks, waterways, and agricultural fields healthier than ever. Barring any unexpected storms or heavy rainfall that could happen between now and Sept. 1, we’re expecting a great Opening Day!

Read the full TPW 2026 Dove Population Status Report: tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/game_management/dove_summary/doveStatusReport.phtml

Data and reporting credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife

Time is running out to enter the 2026 TEXAS BANDED BIRD CHALLENGE! Entry period closes on Monday, August 31 at 11:59 p.m. ahead of dove season.

Make sure you’re entered so that if you harvest a Eurasian Collared dove with one of these orange bands on it during season, you can win one of many amazing TBBC prizes. We’re finishing up releasing this year’s 800 birds across the state as we speak!

Go to texasdovehunters.com for more info and to enter.

All smiles knowing we’ll be dove hunting in 10 days, dove number projections are looking up, and all three zones open on Sept. 1. 😎🤠

We are excited!