South Texas dove hunters are in luck. Not only does the season start earlier than before, the bag limit has increased from 12 to 15.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SRC (Service Regulation Committee) has approved the 2009-2010 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide, and a 16-day early teal season.

Additionally, the SRC approved moving the Texas South Zone dove season opening to the Friday nearest Sept. 20, but no earlier than Sept. 17th. This year the season will open Sept. 18. The season has traditionally opened after Sept. 20.

The South Zone dove season will run Sept. 18 - Nov. 3, reopening Dec. 26 - Jan. 17, with a 15-bird bag limit and not more than two white-tipped doves.

Possession limit is twice the daily bag for all migratory game birds except light geese, which currently does not have a possession limit.

The Special South Texas White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting from Sept. 5-6 and 12-13 and will reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 18, through Tuesday, Nov. 3, and again from Saturday, Dec. 26, through Wednesday, Jan. 13.

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. The daily bag limit is 15 birds, not more than four mourning doves during the first two weekend splits, and two white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

Texas’ 16-day September teal season will run Sept. 12-27.

The season for rail and gallinule is Sept. 12-27 and Oct. 31 - Dec. 23; for snipe, Oct. 31 – Feb. 14; and for woodcock, Dec. 18-Jan. 31.