Many Lubbock residents celebrated another holiday this Labor Day weekend, with opening weekend for dove hunting season. The season officially began September 1, and Lubbock Game Wardens began patrolling for hunting violations.
Game Wardens reminded hunters that all licenses expired August 31, and hunters must get a new one for the 2017-2018 season, before taking a single shot. Wardens will be patrolling throughout the year, making sure hunters have updated licenses, as well as the proper certification.
“One of the many violations that we might encounter would be hunters not abiding by their daily bag limit,” Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Aaron Sims said. That limit is 15 doves a day.
Sims said that while recent rains could scatter the dove population a bit, they still expect a good season.
“According to the hunting forecast, specifically in the Panhandle area, our numbers are the highest they have been in 10 years,” Sims said. “If they are not seeing the birds down south, we welcome them to come up. It is not for a lack of birds that for sure.”
Sims said they appreciate and welcome the guests, especially for the economic benefits.
“It is an economic boost, too,” Sims said. “From the latest numbers, in the Texas economy, over 400 million dollars is created from dove hunters alone.”
Local gun salesman Charles Blackwell said that business at Sharp Shooters has been steady in preparation for the season. He said usually out-of-towners come from all over to hunt in the Lubbock area, and he expects more this year.
“I think a lot of the people affected by Harvey are going to be looking for other places to hunt,” Blackwell said. “I’m sure it is going to take it’s toll on the hunting population down there, and people are going to be looking for other places to hunt.”
Blackwell agreed with game wardens that the 2017-2018 hunting season should be a good one.
“I think we will probably see it be the best in another week or two when it starts to get cooler and the birds start migrating,” he said.
Over 300,000 Texas dove hunters head into the field each fall, according the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, and hunters took their shot out in the Lubbock county fields on opening weekend.
“We are very, very excited,” local hunter Heath Edgerton said. “I think everyone is very excited for this time to come. It’s the beginning of all hunting seasons and time for colder weather to come in.”
He said the South Plains is a top hunting area.
“Lubbock is more of an untapped resource for bird hunting. It is excellent hunting for all types of birds.”
