Tomorrow, shotguns will be booming as hunters take to the field after dove.

Sept. 1 historically is the opener for dove season in the Central Zone, which includes Lampasas and surrounding counties. Hunters in the South Zone will have to wait until Sept. 17 to start their season.

The Central Zone season will run from Wednesday through Oct. 14 and reopen Dec. 25 through Jan. 9.

Texas hunters can anticipate large numbers of dove as ample rainfall earlier this year across much of the state has set the stage for the upcoming season, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart­ment. Adequate and timely rainfall usually means above-average dove production, and by all field accounts from TPWD biologists, this year is shaping up to produce a bumper crop of birds.

“Above-average rainfall across much of the state has created ideal habitat conditions for doves,” said Corey Mason, TPWD dove program leader. “I expect above-average production this year, and hunt success should be high, provided doves are not dispersed.”

Mason explained that the abundant

seed production -- predomi­nately

sunflower and croton (dove weed) -- would help young birds to put on weight. Quality range conditions, however, also could cause doves to disperse as native food sources become available and make managed fields less attractive early in the season.

There are three main species of doves in Texas: mourning doves, whitewings and whitetips. Only mourning and whitewings are found in Central Texas. Whitetips are found in deep South Texas with a traditional range extending south into Central America.

Hunters may see a new species of dove this season. It is the European collared dove. These birds somehow found their way to Florida and have been steadily expanding their range to the west and north. In Texas, they are found primarily around agricultural and livestock operations, as well as some urban areas.

I haven’t seen any collared doves locally, but the distinctive ring around the back of the neck can identify them. They are larger than mourning doves and slightly bigger than whitewings. They show a distinctive light-gray color in flight.

If you see collared doves, you can shoot as many as you want to, as there are no bag limits or a closed season since they are considered an invasive and exotic species.

The dove population can run to more than 40 million birds. There are more than 300,000 dove hunters in Texas, and they kill 30 percent of all doves taken in the United States each year -- about 6 million doves. Dove hunting also has a major economic impact, as it annually contributes more than $300 million to the state economy.

The firearms ammunition companies also love to see the opening of dove season, as more shotgun shells are fired at dove than all other game animals combined. I have read that the average hunter fires five shells to down one dove. If that is the case, and 6 million doves are killed each year, that means hunters fire 30 million shotgun shells each year at doves alone.

Dove hunting provides a relatively economical and accessible form of hunting, and it is a good sport for young and new hunters. A deer lease is usually several thousand dollars and up. Even if you have to pay for a dove hunt, many landown­ers allow hunting for a small daily fee.

TPWD has leased nearly 50,000 acres of public dove hunting fields in 48 counties. These fields can be accessed with a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. Information on these hunts can be found at on the TPWD Web site.

Hunters are reminded that in addition to a valid Texas Hunting License, certification in the Harvest Information Program is required. HIP certification is offered when you purchase your license and involves responding to a few questions about migratory bird harvest during the previous year.

Also, if you shoot a dove that has a leg band, please report the band by calling (800) 327-BAND or at www.reportband.gov. As part of its research, TPWD bands about 20,000 doves each year across the state.

Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518-2262 or via

e-mail at mntaylor@wild­blue­.

net.