Guided hunt
Guided Dove Hunts
Field shoots on private Central Texas ground. $300 a gun per day.
$300 a gun per day
| Price | $300 a gun per day |
|---|---|
| When | Sept. 1 to Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 11, 2026 to Jan. 14, 2027 (Central Zone) |
| Where | Private land near Salado, Marlin, Gatesville, Rogers and Holland |
| Guns and ammo | Bring your own rifle or shotgun, or use ours. Same with ammo. The price doesn't move either way, because you're paying for access to the ground and the hunt, not for gear. |
The Texas tradition
Opening day of dove season is a holiday in Texas whether the calendar says so or not. It's also the easiest hunt to bring someone new to, and the best one for a group: everyone shoots, everyone talks, nobody sits in a blind alone.
2026-27 dove season
Bell, Coryell, Milam and Falls counties are in TPWD's Central Zone.
- First split: Sept. 1 to Oct. 25, 2026
- Second split: Dec. 11, 2026 to Jan. 14, 2027
- Daily bag: 15, no more than 2 white-tipped doves
- Shooting hours: half an hour before sunrise to sunset
What you need before you come
- A Texas hunting license. (TPWD, Hunting Licenses and Permits)
- Migratory Game Bird Endorsement if you're 17 or older. It covers doves. (TPWD, Stamps, Permits and Certification)
- HIP certification. You answer a few questions when you buy your license. Get it whatever your age. (50 CFR 20.20, Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program)
- Hunter education if you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, or the one-time deferral (17 and older, hunt accompanied). (TPWD, Hunter Education)
- A shotgun that holds no more than three shells (plugged). (50 CFR 20.21, Hunting methods)
- You don't need a Federal Duck Stamp or non-toxic shot for doves. Those are for waterfowl. (TPWD, Migratory Game Bird Methods)
Agencies change rules. The agency page is the authority. Check it before you drive out. Digital license, paper tags, duck stamp on your phone: licenses and FAQ.
Questions hunters ask
How much is a guided dove hunt?
$300 a gun per day. Shotgun and shells available at the same price.
When is dove season in Bell County?
Central Zone, 2026-27: Sept. 1 to Oct. 25, 2026, then Dec. 11, 2026 to Jan. 14, 2027, per TPWD.
What license do I need to hunt doves in Texas?
A Texas hunting license, the Migratory Game Bird Endorsement if you're 17 or older, HIP certification, and hunter education if you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971.
Is dove good for a company outing?
It's the best one. See corporate hunts.
Other hunts
Thermal Hog Hunts · Thermal Predator Hunts · Whitetail Deer Hunts · Teal Hunts · Duck Hunts · Goose Hunts · Corporate groups
Sources: TPWD, Dove seasons; TPWD, Stamps, Permits and Certification; 50 CFR 20.20, Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program; 50 CFR 20.21, Hunting methods; TPWD, Definitions (shooting hours); TPWD, Hunter Education.
Book a dove hunt
Call with your dates and how many are coming. We'll tell you what's open.