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Doves: Destination Texas

Texas Dove Hunting By John Hardy: A Memorable Adventure

To kick the new year off right, I needed some time away from the internet and the never-ending stream of emails. Missing the September dove hunting season of last year left me feeling as though I was missing a big part of who I am at my core. So, knowing that all of the migratory birds of the year would be collecting in deep south Texas, I set off in a search for the best of January birds.

Finding Texas Elite Outfitters

After some conversation with friends, I located Texas Elite Outfitters, run by Capt. Arnold Lacount in Mission, Texas. After a brief conversation with him, he stated, “Just get here, and I will show you some doves.”

The Hunt Begins

To begin our expedition of hunting in Mission Texas, we arrived the following day in the dark, meeting guide Renee Beltran, who farms the local area and plants sunflowers and sesame for birds across hundreds of acres. He pointed to several fields and said take your pick. We quickly took positions not far from the truck next to two brush lines and waited for the light. Renee had indicated that the birds would come from the south and that they did flight after flight, pouring over us for the first 30 minutes, so many that we could not load fast enough. I wish I could say that with that many birds, it would only have taken me 30 minutes to shoot a limit, but that was not the case. There was the element of the ever-present Texas wind, and the birds came three feet off the ground before instantly being on top of you. These Jan doves have been hunted, and seeing any movement would slide in the wind right or left and be gone. Ok, enough excuses. Eventually, we got it down and were limited out by 9:00.

Day 2: A Spectacle of Doves

Back at the truck, we picked all the birds and headed back to Mission to discuss the shooting, rest, and finish processing and packaging the birds. It was to be the drill for the next three days. The next morning, having watched the bird’s line of travel, we set up in a cut between two brush lines where I had watched hundreds of birds passing the previous day. I wish I had a video of that spectacle of wave after wave of mourning doves Texas streaming through that cut, eager to get to the sesame fields across from us. Even if I had had someone loading for me, I could still not have kept up with their numbers. I had to settle my nerves before the svelt tightly choked 28 gauge and 15/16 of 7 1/2’s began to stack them up, but I again figured it out and limited it in about the same time. Birds picked and processed a nap, and we hunted up some good Mexican fare. Asking my guide where somebody might find that, he suggested Marie Taquirea.

Day 3: Continuing Success

What a find! The menu is entirely Spanish, so my passable but limited Spanish came in handy. We were treated to delicious Barbacoa tacos, sweet tea chips, and homemade red and green sauce.

After a night’s rest with dove dreams patterned from the past two days, the next morning, my guide wanted to rest in the previous field. Hence, he stationed us at a small gas plant about a 1/4 of a mile from where we had been and said to be patient; the birds wouldn’t get here until about 9:30. Renee lived up to his reputation as one of the best Texas hunting guides and proved his knowledge of the birds coming to perch after feeding. They appeared in mass just when he said they would, and the shooting was again extremely good, and we limited again in short order.

Dining Discoveries

Feeling the success of the past three days and wanting a different dinner experience, I researched a restaurant called Lorettos in Mission, Texas, and made reservations. Lorettos is an upscale dining experience that anyone would enjoy. It offers excellent service, incredible appetizers, and entrees that include Salmon Wellington, which was off-the-charts good. You can find the menu online; a trip there is well worth the price.

Reflections and Recommendations

I have embarked on Texas dove hunting adventures for many years from central Texas south to Beeville and Three Rivers, and it has always been good, with Sept and October providing Excellent shooting for White Wings and Mourning doves. But this was a treat; Mission turned out to be one of the best dove hunting spots in Texas! It wasn’t hot; it wasn’t cold. It was balmy, and the doves were there in mass. The food was good, the company was good, and I’m already booked for the same period next year with a larger group. If you like to shoot, you can simply not do better than to call Texas Elite Outfitters and enjoy the professional hospitality of Arnold Lacount and Renee Beltran, who will show you some doves. If you prefer the heat of September, their hunts in planted sunflowers are outstanding, with limits of whitewings being the rule, usually in less than thirty minutes. If that’s not enough, there are rock pigeons, thousands of them, and yes, they are lovely to eat, too; in addition to bringing back the generous Texas possession limit of 45 doves per person, we got back with 20 or so Rock Pigeons to be turned into dinners for days. If you’d like to shoot with Texas Elite Outfitters, book early. They will fill up fast in September. Closing off with the last of dove hunting tips by John Hardy, Hidalgo County is one of three that have huntable numbers of Chachalacas or Mexican Tree Pheasants, a whole different shooting experience but one that can provide a unique and memorable hunt.

HI, I’m JOHN HARDY

Hi, I’m John Hardy, a lifelong outdoorsman, fisherman, hunter, and cook. This site shares my extensive experience in the field, on the water, and in the kitchen, along with insights from our expert Pro Staff. Explore our proven tips and tools for outdoor adventures and culinary success.