September presents an opportunity for bird hunters to target teal in the morning and doves in the afternoon.
Story and Photography by Nate Skinner

Hunting season is here and the anticipation is over. It’s finally time to get out in the field and enjoy the traditions that so many of us have been longing to partake in. Perhaps the best part of this commencement lies in the fact that hunters don’t have to choose just one specie to target.
With dove and early teal seasons kicking off this month, wingshooters can make a day-long adventure out of challenging their skills and logging memories. Across the state, teal and dove can be found inhabiting the same properties in search of food and water. And there’s no better way to spend an early fall day than to hunt teal in the morning and pursue dove in the afternoon. Call it a “blast-n-blast,” or a chance to double up—it’s an exciting escapade worth experiencing.
Dove and teal behave similarly in some ways, yet very different in others. This provides shotgunners with an opportunity to enjoy a variety of shooting scenarios during the same 24 hours on a single tract of land.
Those hunting within the North and Central Zones have the best opportunity to take advantage of the over lapping seasons for these two migratory game bird species. Dove season in these areas opens on September 1st and continues into November. The early teal season begins on September 9th and runs through September 24th.
North and Central Zone hunters can harvest dove in accordance with the 15 bird per person bag limit, in addition to six teal per shooter in a single day where these two seasons over lap. The six teal per person bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged, green-winged, or cinnamon teal.

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