DOVE HUNTING: On the wings of a dove ... the season 
opens soon ... details ahead on Passport to Texas ... 
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PTT from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the SFWR Program

Dove season signals the beginning of fall hunting 
opportunities in Texas. September first marks the 
beginning of the season in the north and central zone, 
and in the south zone, it is planned to open later in the 
month.

"And that is to protect late-nesting mourning doves. We have 
indications from studies that a significant proportion of young 
are produced after September first in South Texas. And 
obviously, we want to set the hunting seasons when we're not 
going to affect the survival of the young that are still in the 
nest."

Jay Roberson is the leader of the webless migratory game 
bird program at the agency. He says protecting the 
species not only makes good conservation sense, it 
makes good economic sense.

"A Southwick Economic Survey, in 1995, indicated that about two 
hundred sixty million dollars are generated annually to local 
economies from dove hunting. Over five thousand four hundred 
jobs are created because of dove hunting, and about ten point 
five million dollars in sales tax is generated annually from dove 
hunting. This comes from leases, gasoline, groceries, hunting 
licenses, goods and services at local stores. So it is an 
extremely important species."

That's our show ... made possible by the Sport Fish and 
Wildlife restoration Program ... working to increase fishing, 
hunting and boating opportunities in Texas ... .for Texas 
Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.