Texas Dove Season 2026
Everything you need to know to hunt the Rio Grande Valley this season — dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and licenses. The South Zone opens September 1.
Texas dove season opens September 1, 2026. In the South Zone — which covers the entire Rio Grande Valley — the first segment runs September 1 – October 25, 2026 and the second segment runs December 18, 2026 – January 21, 2027. The daily bag limit is 15 dove in the aggregate, with no more than 2 white-tipped dove, and legal shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. For 2026–27, the South Zone opener moved up to September 1 and the Special White-winged Dove Days were eliminated, so standardized limits apply all season. Ready to hunt it? Book a hunt.
What changed for 2026–27
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission moved the South Zone opener from mid-September to September 1, aligning it with the North and Central zones. The long-running Special White-winged Dove Days have been eliminated, and standardized daily bag limits and shooting hours now apply across the entire South Zone season.
Season dates by zone
When you can hunt
| Zone | First segment | Second segment |
|---|---|---|
| South Zone (Rio Grande Valley) | September 1 – October 25, 2026 | December 18, 2026 – January 21, 2027 |
| North Zone | September 1 – November 8, 2026 | December 18, 2026 – January 7, 2027 |
| Central Zone | September 1 – October 25, 2026 | December 11, 2026 – January 14, 2027 |
The Rio Grande Valley falls entirely within the South Zone. Dates reflect the proclamation adopted by the TPW Commission in March 2026.
Daily bag limit
15 dove in the aggregate, with no more than 2 white-tipped dove. The possession limit is three times the daily bag (45 dove). With the special white-wing days gone, these limits apply all season.
Shooting hours
Legal shooting hours during the regular season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, standardized across every day of the South Zone season.
Licenses
A valid Texas hunting license plus a Migratory Game Bird Endorsement is required, and hunters must be HIP certified. No federal duck stamp is needed for dove.
Always verify dates and regulations against the official Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Annual before you hunt. Regulations can change, and this page is provided as a convenience, not as legal authority.
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Hunt the 2026 opener
September 1 will be here before you know it. Reserve your dates now.