09/05/2026
4-H families! Please be safe this dove season!
Dove season kicked off statewide Tuesday, and plenty of hunters will be heading to the fields this weekend. Before you go, a few reminders from Texas Game Wardens:
🔸 Treat every fi***rm as if it is loaded and always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
🔸 Know your target, what is beyond it and where everyone in your hunting party is before you pull the trigger.
🔸 Make sure your hunting license, migratory game bird endorsement and HIP certification are in order.
🔸 Carry proof of Hunter Education certification, if required.
🔸 Know your daily bag and possession limits, and know what you’re shooting.
🔸 Don’t hunt over bait, be sure to check the area before hunting. It’s the hunter’s responsibility.
🔸 Don’t trespass or shoot across property lines or roadways.
🔸 Be weather aware and leave the alcohol at home.
The rules aren’t just fine print that can be overlooked and they exist for multiple reasons. Texas Game Wardens seized the 23 dove pictured here from a baited field in Bell County on opening morning.
Enjoy the tradition, follow the rules and don’t let a preventable mistake cut your hunt short. Hunt safe and good luck this weekend!