I have been looking and some of the WMA’s don’t have dove listed in their legal game section. I see there are some army engineer places that do. Is it tough finding public dive hunting land in East Texas? Not sure where else to look. I know this season is over, wanted to see about next season. Can you find dove around lakes, or is it mainly fields/crops?

TPWD publishes a pulic land book...believe it covers what they call Type II land...its worth the cost for what you are after...

Dove in east texas are sparse, send me a PM - I know one wma that plants a field just for dove.

You might be better off paying for day hunts, unless you want to hunt very frequently or have a tight budget. Fields with sunflowers and what not are going to be a MUCH better time than anything you find on Corps land. I've hunted good fields west of DFW for less than $50 a day later in the season. You may be able to find something similar in ETX all though from what I hear it's not as consistent in regards to bird numbers

I know someone in El Campo with Dove for the 2023 season. Just PM

The public land program in Texas is terrible. Absolutely nothing is done to enhance habitat or attract wildlife. They limit access to just a few points and will be strictly on foot from those access points. When you are leaving, be ready for a full body cavity search from GW.

TPWD wants to tell you they have public opportunities but they don’t really want you using it

But to answer your question, state has a permit one can buy for 48.00. Called APH (annual public hunting permit). Us old timers call it Type II. It has quite a bit of land. You will be mailed a map booklet or can view it online. There is also property that becomes available for dove only and you most likely find this the better land as it is typically private land leased to the state. Most time it’s just hay fields but every now then the owner grew some sort of grain on them. Will be extremely crowed.

The report above is not accurate at all...I have not encountered a single GW search and I use Public Lands quite often...and outside of opening day, crowds are not found either.

I have encountered a GW twice while exiting Public hunting land. The first one was an azz, and was just short of a full body cavity search. I received no ticket, but got a tongue lashing because my hunter safety card number wasn't printed on my hunting license. (It does not legally need to be) The 2nd, he checked my license, checked my shells, and then we BS'd for a few minutes. Really nice guy. Most times, I see no GW.

The public dove fields are often times leased from farmers who pant crops, and harvest them shortly before dove season. Walking in has never been an issue, and rarely has it been a long walk. I have had some really good dove hunts on the TPWD public lands, and I've had some dismal ones. Coincidentally, the dismal ones coincided with poor scouting beforehand on my part.

Depending where in ETX you are, I know of a certain spot that is specifically managed for dove.

I respectfully disagree, sir. What posted has been my experience and I also hunt public extensively. Actually been doing so since what they used to call type 2 was started. My game warden experience was specific to the place I named and that experience continued every teal season we hunted there. I found it terrible behavior. Never received a ticket, but I do my level best to always be legal and respectful. Those are the only times where I was treated as if I was doing something wrong just being there.

I will not name the locations outside of the one in first reply, but there are several places I have been very successful hunting public. Especially for turkey and waterfowl.

Yes I know there are certain spots they do some habitat enhancing but most are just trash and they make actual access much more difficult than needed.

Visit some public hunting places in other states and you will quickly find out Texas is doing near what they could be doing.

I killed A LOT of ducks as a kid around Port Arthur/Bridge City on public land (Type 2). My dad and I would bring home bags of doves from public lands near San Angelo too. Those days of quail and dove in Angelo are gone with their rain - from my recent experiences. The Great Country (State) of Texas has some of the finest public places to hunt. It is all in God's time and planning on what you see.

I did not see anything on the public lands this deer season. But, I did pay for several private hunts and filled my freezer a few times over and others too. So, from that point, yes, you "get what you pay for".

I agree it depends on place. I hunted outside of College Station when going to school there. All we saw was drunk frat boys who didn't belong there with their daddy's guns or trucks. Scarry, really. Again, hit or miss and depends a lot on rain.

Keep "hunting" for that good public hunting land. And, stay here on the forum, for I have found really nice hunts here too.

All the best!