As a newcomer to TEXAS, your first September 1st will be special. You will experience a Texas Tradition that is often called a High Holy Holiday.


Opening Day of Dove Season.


You will need to Pay your $150/per at least a month ahead of time, because fields fill up fast. That will get you a "first come, first server, a spot to place your 5 gallon bucket, stool, or folding chair in a field that is way overcrowded with people you do not know and that you have no idea about how seriously they take gun safety. Expect the field to look pretty baron, with no sign of sun flowers or other crop the doves like and no shade trees for you to sit under. You will know this, because you will drive out to the field before sunrise and again just before sunset at least 2 - 3 times prior to Opening Day, to Scout The Field. If you don't, you cannot consider yourself a serious hunter.

On Opening Moring, show up about 5:00 AM, to try to find a spot on the perimeter of the field, that is not right on top of some other fool...remember, are doing this in the dark. Also realize, if you get there that late (5:00 AM), all the "good spots" will have been taken. On the way, you will need to stop at Allsups for a breakfast burrito and a chocolate milk. (More on that later)

A few dove may start flying before you can see...expect the ID10T sitting 40 yards away (you hope) in the dark to unload a couple of OZ of birdshot at eye level.

If you are lucky, in the period from a few minutes before sunrise to maybe 30 min after sunrise, you may get a chance for a good shot at a couple of dove that are actually within range. Good Luck...the little bastards are hard to hit.

About 11:00 AM it is acceptable to leave to lunch. Leave all your possessions, other than your vehicle and gun, there, to keep someone else from stealing "YOUR SPOT"


There is a state law that says you must go back to an Allsups convinces store and get a fried burrito and a mood pie for lunch. Most elect to get another chocolate milk to go with that, just to hear the milk cooler "MOOO" when you open it. You will also need a case of beer and a bag of ice per hunter.


Be back in the field well before 2:00 PM. If you don't, YOUR SPOT is up for grabs, regardless of what you leave there (including young children)

Expect 105 degree heat by 3:00. Start guzzling beer, like every other armed ID10T in the field that is over 14 years old. (That beer while sitting out in the sun is going to be great after an hour or two.)

About 4:00, your brain will be fried from the heat and you will be feeling a little sick from the beer and heat. Suck It Up Buttercup.

Some of the fools will be shooting scissor tails and dragon flies by now.

By 5:00 is you are doubting your sanity, but you damn sure cannot be the first one to give up.

Sometime around 6:00 - 6:30, a pair of dove will come by at about 20,000 feel. At least a case of ammo will be expended on them. Since they are high, you only have to worry about shot raining down...no danger of being hurt.

If you are lucky....just as the sun kisses the horizon, a few birds may start to fly and you may get one or two more good shots. This is another key time to expect a load of birdshot in the back of the head.

Legal shooting time ends at 7:53. Now you can go home without shame. Stop at Allsups for another burrito, ibuprofen, Tums, and the bottled water you should have purchased at 4:45 AM, when you were there the first time.

As you drive home, practice the story about how you had a great day, but there was an older guy, with young grandkids, that did not kill any birds. You gave him all your birds, so he could save face when he got home.

nice and classic!

If you want to hunt ducks, make sure you ask the retailer for teal tags, otherwise beware!

“ Some of the fools will be shooting scissor tails and dragon flies by now.“

I thought this was standard procedure?

In hindsight, I should have opened with the shopping list at Academy.

So now I know why that one guy was taking notes.

Dead on right there...except there are no Allsups in central or south Texas so don't spend too much time driving around looking for one...you'll just have to settle for a Bucees, Loves, etc...

I prefer a big ol plate of Tex-Mex after a dove hunt, but that's me.

Thanks for reminding me why I hunt alone.

On a side note - - -

Dove hunting is legal around fields close to sub divisions. I think the restriction is 150 feet.
So, if you purchased a home close to a sunflower or milo field, you may get a wake up round of blasting early on the 1st.

Don't call the cops or TPWD. What they're doing is 100% legal in Texas.
Guys have probably been hunting those fields for many years on opening day. Long before you even thought about moving to Texas.

So, sit back, enjoy the festivities, and welcome to our world.

One morning I was woken up to Dove hunters outside the Hampton Inn in Carrizo Springs. Sounded like they were in my room, yes I was very jealous of those guys!

Glad it is opening day for archery elk and deer up here. Our dove all fly south on Aug. 31 anyway, every year it seems.

Y'all are late. In Alberta we get archery almost everything on Aug 25th.