Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has released its 2026 Dove Population Status Report, and the numbers give North Texas dove hunters plenty to look forward to heading into September.
The biggest number for hunters around Woodson, Breckenridge, Throckmorton and the surrounding North Texas area is the strength of the mourning dove population in the Central Mixed Grass Prairie region.
TPWD estimates 4.55 million mourning doves in this region for 2026. That is:
- 6% higher than 2025
- 49% above the long-term average
- A record-high population estimate for the region
That is a strong population heading into the 2026 Texas dove season.
Texas Mourning Dove Numbers Remain Strong Statewide
The North Texas numbers are part of another strong year across the state.
TPWD estimates approximately 36.7 million mourning doves in Texas for 2026.
That represents:
- A 2% increase from 2025
- A population 29% above the 2008–2025 long-term average
Texas continues to hold one of the largest mourning dove populations in the country, and roughly 88% of the mourning doves counted during the 2026 surveys were found in rural areas.
For hunters sitting over sunflower fields, grain fields and native feeding areas, that rural distribution is especially encouraging.
North Texas and the Rolling Plains Stand Out
TPWD divides Texas into several Bird Conservation Regions rather than simply calling areas North, Central or South Texas.
For our hunting area around Woodson and Breckenridge, one of the most relevant regions is the Central Mixed Grass Prairie, historically identified with the Rolling Plains.
The mourning dove estimate there has climbed to 4,549,082 birds.
Even more important than the one-year increase is how that number compares with normal years. The 2026 estimate is nearly 50% higher than the region’s long-term average.
That does not mean every field will automatically be covered in birds on September 1. Dove hunting is much more local than that.
Food, water, weather, field pressure and the timing of migration can move birds quickly. A field can be loaded one evening and dramatically different a few days later.
But you always want to start the season with a healthy population of birds in the region, and this year’s TPWD numbers show exactly that.
What About White-Winged Doves?
White-winged doves continue to expand their presence throughout Texas.
Statewide, TPWD estimates approximately 12.6 million white-winged doves in 2026, up about 10% from last year and 25% above the long-term average.
The picture is slightly different in the Central Mixed Grass Prairie.
TPWD estimates 656,016 white-winged doves in the region, an 11% decrease from 2025, but still 8% above the long-term average.
Whitewings also remain much more closely connected to cities and towns than mourning doves. TPWD reported that about 78% of the state’s white-winged doves were observed in urban areas in 2026.
For our rural hunting fields, mourning doves remain the number we watch most closely.
Another Good Sign for the 2026 North Texas Dove Season
Population surveys cannot tell us exactly what will happen on a particular field on a particular morning.
What they can tell us is how many birds are out there before the migration and hunting season begin.
And this year, that starting point looks good.
For North Texas hunters, the headline from the TPWD report is simple:
Mourning dove numbers are exceptionally strong in our part of Texas heading into the 2026 season.
Now the focus shifts to what happens between the summer survey and opening day — rainfall, food availability, cold fronts and where the birds decide to concentrate.
At Texas Dove, we will continue watching bird activity across our fields around the Woodson/Breckenridge area as opening day approaches.
2026 North Texas Dove Season Dates
The Texas North Zone dove season opens September 1, 2026.
The regular North Zone seasons are:
- September 1 – November 8, 2026
- December 18, 2026 – January 7, 2027
The daily bag limit is 15 doves, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag limit.
Book Your 2026 North Texas Dove Hunt
Texas Dove is currently booking hunts for the 2026 North Texas dove season in the Woodson/Breckenridge area.
Our operation covers thousands of acres and multiple fields, allowing us to watch bird movement and rotate hunting pressure as conditions change.
Opening week and September weekends are available now.
Book Your North Texas Dove Hunt
We’ll continue posting field reports and updates as we get closer to September 1.