Are you ready for some dove hunting?

This year, dove hunters will have more opportunity earlier in the season. The North and Central zones will have five more days than last year, and the South Zone will have two additional days. The 2015-2016 Texas dove season is 70 days, with a 15-bird daily bag limit and 45-bird possession limit statewide.

“Age-ratios (juveniles versus adults) from last season indicated very strong production in mourning doves across Texas last year; we expect similar or slightly increased production this year with the improved habitat conditions across nearly all of Texas,” said Shaun Oldenburger, TPWD’s dove program leader. “However, improved habitat conditions equal more food and water on the landscape, which means hunters may need to spend more time patterning mourning doves prior to opening day in their area.”

Read the full dove forecast in Texas Hunting 2015, a digital extra from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Or, watch this video forecast.

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.

Please check the doves you shoot for leg bands and report them to 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or www.reportband.gov. The bands are very small and easy to overlook. Reporting helps provide information for better wildlife management.

Photo: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department