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Get set for three popular hunting seasons opening in September:
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Dove - Regular season begins September 1 in the North and Central Zones, September 19 in the South Zone and Special White-winged Dove Area.
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Fall alligator - September 10
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Early teal - September 13
 See a zone map and the full season dates for the county where you'll be hunting in the Outdoor Annual. The season will be 70 days this year, in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations. The daily bag limit statewide is 15 which includes both mourning doves and white-winged doves. The possession limit is 45.
Read the dove forecast in Texas Hunting 2014, a digital extra from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.
Brush up on 2014 dove season basics with this brief video describing zones, split seasons, bag and possessions limits, license requirements and more.
Need a place to hunt? For just $48, an Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit provides year-round hunting on nearly one million acres of land, including wildlife management areas, state parks and approximately 120 dove and small game areas leased from private landowners. Youth under age 17 may access these areas for free with a permitted adult.
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 Here's what dove and teal hunters will need to be legal in the field:
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Every hunter needs a valid hunting license.
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To hunt dove or teal, hunters are also required to have a Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp Endorsement ($7) and a free Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification, a brief survey of previous year's migratory bird hunting success conducted at the time licenses are purchased.
- Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 must carry proof of hunter education certification or deferral on their person while hunting.
Licenses and stamps may be purchased at a license retailer near you. They may also be purchased online or by phone (800-895-4248) with a $5 convenience fee required for each transaction.
For online and phone orders, a physical license will be mailed within three business days. During that time period, a transaction receipt will be provided via email that will be sufficient proof of hunting license that can be used for dove hunting, though it will not be allowed for the take of fish or wildlife that require a tag.
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Alligator Season and Permits
 In 22 "core" counties and on properties in other counties for which Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has issued CITES tags to the landowner, the open season for alligators is September 10 - 30. No person may hunt an alligator without possessing a valid CITES tag on their person. For information about tag issuance and requirements, contact the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management office at (409) 736-2551.
Upon killing an alligator, you must:
- Complete an alligator hide tag report (PWD 304) immediately upon harvest. Immediately tag the alligator with a hide tag within 10 inches of the tip of the alligator’s tail. The white copy of the PWD 304 report must be submitted to the Alligator Program in Port Arthur, Texas within seven days of harvest.
Additional regulations including lawful hunting hours and means and methods apply and can be found online, at all TPWD Regional Law Enforcement offices or by calling (800) 792-1112.
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Can't make it to opening day of Dove Season? Enjoy some vicarious thrills with the Texas Game Wardens' Tweet-along. Follow @TexasGameWarden.
Game wardens will be in the field for dawn-to-dusk coverage, reporting on the hunting conditions, the hunters and the game. Will folks get their limits? Will they be carrying their hunting license? Will the birds be flying where the wardens are checking the hunters?
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