Recently read a field and stream article about pigeon hunting during non-migratory bird seasons. rural pigeons, not the nasty city pigeons eating trash. Anyone very tried this? Is this something people even do/can do in Texas?

here is the link for those interested: https://www.fieldandstream.com/hunting/off-season-pigeon-hunting/

"Unprotected Birds
Birds not protected by any state or federal law include European starlings, English sparrows (house sparrow), feral rock doves (common pigeon), Egyptian geese, Muscovy ducks (except in Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata counties) and Eurasian collared-doves; these species may be killed at any time, their nests or eggs destroyed, and their feathers possessed."

Have at em.

Old rancher buddy had a passel of them living in his barn. He got pooped on one day and that was it, he called me out to take care of the problem. Every afternoon for about a week I sat in the shade of a hackberry tree 40 yards from the barn and shot them off of the roof with a .22. I must say it was an excellent beer drinking sport.

Sounds like a good time to me.

I've hunted them a few times in North TX. Not the ideal way where I was setup where they were headed, but had access to a field (or even a public lake once) between their roost and feed. Ended up a lot like the white wing hunting at my deer lease... grouped up and flying high overhead. Lucky to get many good shots off, but worth doing every now and again. Definitely #6 shot birds.

If you can find a dairy farm, they are typically loaded. Shot 300+ on one hunt in Argentina last month. If you can find a place that has them, can be a great shoot - they decoy like ducks.

They can be a fun shoot. I shot someone’s racing pigeon a couple years ago. It had gone rogue and was living with rural birds. Owner had released it 5 months prior. Supposed to travel back to Pasadena, I shot it in Cass county.

I used to hunt pigeons at a dairy farm near where my grandfather lived in Erie, CO. Those things roosted in the equipment barns and made a huge mess. The guy that owned the dairy farm hated them but didn't want to put out poison because he was afraid it would make its way into the milk. So he let me and some friends hunt it.

The barns had those big sliding doors and we would shut them nearly all the way, leaving about a one foot gap and we would put 2 shooters outside the doors while the 3rd went into the barn to roust them out. Because the doors were only open a foot they couldn't fly out in big bunches but in singles or pairs. The shooters couldn't see them coming so they had to be paying attention. The flight pattern they took would be about 30 yards straight out and then bank to either the right or the left around on old silo so you had to be fast. Lots of fun and we used it to get our reflexes ready for dove, pheasant and quail. Because the birds were grain fed they were good to eat and we would pull the breast for the grill and fed what was left of the birds to my grandfather's hogs.

Good times but all that land is now turned into condos and track homes for the CA transplants.

I know they’re basically dove (which I love) but something about eating a pigeon does not sound appealing. Non game animal in TX so I’m pretty sure you’re clear to hunt year round.

Country pigeons have a different diet than their dumpster diving city cousins. They eat just like a big azz dove. But I get it... seeing them picking at day old fries in the parking lot can do that.

One of my mom's childhood chores was to pick squab from the nests built outside the barn. It was a pretty important part of existing on a small TX farm back in the day. I don't give her any chit when I'm grillin doves and she doesn't want any.