It’s time to beat the rush and purchase our hunting license for the upcoming season. Current hunting license expire August 31 and license 2012-2013 go on sale August 15. Each year, about 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses are purchased.

One of the easiest methods of purchasing license is online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/buy or by phone (800-895-4248). The online transaction system is available 24/7. A transaction receipt may be printed at the time of purchase for online and a confirmation number is provided for phone orders, and the physical license is mailed separately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that require a tag.

In addition to a hunting license, all wing shooters will need to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt dove or teal in September, a Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification. HIP certification involves a brief survey of previous year’s hunting success and is conducted at the time licenses are purchased. Certification will be printed on the license. Lifetime license holders must also be HIP-certified and purchase the Federal Duck Stamp to hunt migratory birds. All other state stamp endorsements are included with a lifetime license.

There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at the time of purchase, too. An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt all non-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail, pheasant and chachalaca.

If multiple species are hunted, the Super Combo license package is by far the best dea at $68. With this license, hunters automatically gets these needed stamps. Sportsmen ages 65 and older qualify for a discounted Senior Super Combo for $32. Duck hunters will still need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp.

For younger hunters looking forward to many years of hunting ahead, the purchase of an $1,800 Lifetime Super Combo is a very good deal.   A Hunter Education Certification is required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 and who is at least 17 years old. For hunters who are unable to work in a hunter education course before hunting season for whatever reason, TPWD does offer a deferral option that allows people 17 years of age or older a one-time only extension to complete the state’s hunter education requirements. The individual must first purchase a hunting license and then may purchase the deferral option #166.

Hunters using the deferral must be accompanied by someone 17 years old or older also licensed to hunt in Texas. The accompanying individual must have completed hunter education or be exempt from the requirements (born before Sept. 2, 1971). The extension is good for one license year, by which time the person with the deferred option needs to complete a hunter education course.

This option is not available to those who have ever received a conviction or deferred adjudication for lack of hunter education certification. These folks must still must take the course before going afield.

The days of simple game laws are in the past. Last year’s TPWD Outdoor Annual contained about 112 pages, most of which were devoted to spelling out the regulations for hunting and fishing in great detail. I suggest every hunter or fisherman pick up a copy of this year’s Outdoor Annual and keep it in the truck for quick reference. Make sure you thoroughly understand the laws that pertain to the harvest of the wildlife or fish you pursue. If, after reading the regulations, there are points that you do not thoroughly understand, take the time to call TPWD for clarification. 

Dove hunting prospects look good

Things are looking good for the dove opener but we veterans of the dove field know that an early arriving cool front, especially a WET early arriving cool front can cause doves that have been as dependable in the Polar Star with their feeding and watering patterns to pack up and move! A bumper crop of native sunflower and other seed producing weedy plants this year has created ideal habitat conditions leading into September’s dove hunter opener. Better habitat is good for the birds, but might make hunting tougher during the early migratory game bird seasons.

“Abundant seed production, predominately sunflower and croton will help recently fledged birds to rapidly put on weight,” said Corey Mason with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “But quality range conditions could also cause doves to disperse as food sources become readily available and make managed fields less attractive early in the season.”

Dove decoys have proven to be highly effective in getting doves in close for the shot.Hunting seasons open soon and it’s again time to purchase your license. photo by Luke Clayton

Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Saturday, Sept. 1 through Wednesday, Oct. 24 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 6, with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

The South Zone dove season will run Friday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 28, reopening Saturday, Dec. 22 through Tuesday, Jan. 22 with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

The Special White-winged Dove Area will be restricted to afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September running from Sept. 1-2 and 8-9 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 28 and again from Saturday , Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 18.

The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area must close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. During the early two weekends, the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than four mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15 with no more than 2 white-tipped doves.

For hunters looking for hunting opportunities on public lands, check out TPWD’s Public Hunting Program, TPWD offers affordable access to quality hunting experiences with the purchase of a $48 Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit.

It’s always a good idea to get out and shoot a few clay targets before the opener of dove season. The mechanics of putting that shot string at exactly at the right place in front of a fast flying dove takes practice and few are those that won’t benefit from a bit of practice. A trip to a skeet, trap or sporting clays course is fun but a much more economical way of sharpening your shooting eye is to simply buy a case or two of clay targets and a hand thrower. Find a safe place to shoot and practice throwing the clays at different angles and speeds. Dove are, in my opinion, the most challenging of upland game birds. Sharpen your skills with clay targets and I can almost guarantee your percentages will increase come opening day!