Texas is one of the best states for hunting, attracting thousands of hunters every year with its diverse landscapes and wide variety of game. Among the many hunting seasons, dove season is one of the most anticipated.
Dove hunting in Texas is one of the most popular pastimes for hunters. However, like any hunting activity, there’s a lot to consider before you head out. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned hunter, having the right gear is crucial for any successful hunt. From selecting the right shotgun to choosing the optimal ammunition, your equipment can make all the difference.
Dove Hunting in Texas
Before delving into the specifics of the different shotguns, ammo, and other gear ideal for dove hunting, it’s important that you understand the sport. Dove season in Texas offers a unique hunting experience no matter what part of the state you’re in. However, Texas has its own rules and regulations for hunting, just like every other state.
Knowing and following these rules and laws is your responsibility, so it’s paramount that you understand both local and statewide laws outlining dove hunting. Although local laws can vary depending on where you are, statewide rules and regulations are outlined by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). We strongly recommend checking the TPWD guidelines on dove hunting before your trip.
Best Dove Hunting Shotgun
There are a lot of shotgun options to choose from, ranging from semi-automatic shotguns to pump and break action models. Choosing the right shotgun for dove hunting depends on several factors, like the shotgun’s action and your budget. No matter whether you want a premium option or an affordable and reliable shotgun, there are many choices available.
Semi-Auto Shotguns
Semi-automatic shotguns are some of the most popular shotgun models available. They offer quick firing rates and can store up to 3 shells when plugged per state law.
For beginners, the Mossberg 940 Pro Field is a solid pick. It’s available with either black synthetic furniture or a walnut stock and foregrip, while the barrel and receiver have a matte black finish. The 940 Pro Field features a self-cleaning piston design for longevity, a 28-inch vent rib barrel, and a 4-shell capacity, plus, it comes standard with fiber-optic bead sights. All these features make it a great beginner’s semi-auto shotgun, typically priced around $750 to $850.
For more mid-range options, Winchester emphasizes utility and affordability. One of their most popular options is the Winchester SX4. While available in a multitude of configurations, the SX4 Upland is an excellent dove gun. It comes with a 28-inch barrel complete with front bead sights, wooden furniture, and has a blued finish. Though it has a 4-shell capacity, it can be plugged to 3 shells easily. It’s an excellent mid-range shotgun, with it usually being priced around $1,000.
If you’re interested in a premium semi-auto shotgun, the Browning Maxus II is one of Browning’s flagship shotgun models. A popular configuration is the Maxus II Upland, which has a 26-inch barrel, fiber optic sights, a nickel-plated receiver, and walnut furniture. Instead of being inertia driven like most other models, the Maxus uses Browning’s Power Drive Gas Piston System, which reduces the shotgun’s felt-recoil and exhausts gas more efficiently. All these features make it one of the more expensive options mentioned in this article, with the Maxus II costing anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500+ depending on the configuration.
Pump Action Shotguns
Pump-action shotguns are widely used by dove hunters. Although they don’t have the quick firing rate of semi-auto models, they often come with similar features and are renowned for their simplicity and affordability.
Models like the Remington 870 Field are a standout choice for dove hunting. It comes standard with a 28-inch vent rib barrel, walnut furniture, and a milled steel receiver. The 870 field comes with a matte blued finish and is chambered to take 3-inch shells. Though packed with quality features, it’s one of the more affordable pump-action hunting shotgun models, commonly priced as low as $500.
Another solid pick is the Mossberg 500 All-Purpose Field Shotgun. Having similar features to the 870 Field, the core difference between the two is the receiver material. Mossberg 500 shotguns use aluminum receivers instead of steel; our Mossberg buyer’s guide goes more in-depth on their unique features. The Mossberg 500 All-Purpose Field Shotgun features a matte black finish, wooden furniture, and standard brass bead sights. Overall, the 500 All-Purpose Field Shotgun is a great choice for dove hunting, and it cost less comparatively, commonly being found around $400.
Break-Action Shotguns
Arguably, the most popular type of shotgun used for dove hunting is the break-action, or over under shotgun. These shotguns are known for their simplicity, with their classic design, ease of use, and accuracy, keeping them in the spotlight.
A solid entry to mid-range choice is the Weatherby Orion. A great shotgun for dove hunting, it has a 26-inch barrel, a standard brass bead sight, and can either come with a matte or gloss blued finish and wooden furniture. It’s perfect for enthusiasts looking for a high-quality shotgun with a classic look and feel. These shotguns are commonly priced around $800, but depending on the model and what’s included in the package, this price can fluctuate slightly.
As far as mid-range options go, it’s hard to beat the CZ USA Redhead. Depending on the model, it can come with either black polymer furniture, or a wooden stock and forend. Each option has extra rubber padding in the buttstock for better comfort and recoil control, and they also feature enhanced sights as well as a corrosion resistant finish. Aside from this, they’re also exceptional aesthetically, coming standard with unique engravings on the receiver. Each Redhead shotgun offers distinctive features, and as such, their price typically ranges anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500.
For those looking for a premium model, one of the most sought-after shotguns is the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon. It’s offered in a wide range of configurations, featuring anywhere from a 26-inch to a 30-inch barrel, either synthetic or wooden furniture, and can either be nickel plated, blued, or have an all-black finish. Regardless of which one you look at, they all have smooth actions, single selective triggers, and ergonomic furniture. These shotguns range in price and commonly start around $2,300, but can cost upwards of $2,500+ depending on the model.
Best Ammo for Dove Hunting
Enthusiasts often debate which shell gauge and shot type are best for dove hunting. If you aren’t familiar with these terms, the ‘gauge’ of a shell refers to its size, while the ‘shot’ refers to the size of the pellets.
Best Gauge for Dove Hunting
The most common shotgun gauges are 12-, 20-, and .410-gauge. Of the three, 12-gauge Ammo is the most popular, offering the most shot variety, pellet count, and powder capacity for optimal shot spread and pattern.
While 20-gauge shotguns are capable, you’ll have less overall variety and a smaller pellet count compared to larger gauges. The same applies to .410 shotguns, which, due to their smaller size, have limited pellet counts and spread, making accurate hits more challenging, but the smaller size of .410 makes it a great chambering for lever action shotguns.
Between 12- and 20-gauge, we recommend going with a 12-gauge shotgun since over they have superior variety and pellet counts. If you’re looking for less recoil, a 20-gauge shotgun can be an excellent choice; just keep in mind that you’ll have a lesser pellet count. While .410 can be used, the lack of shot variety and low pellet counts make it a less-than-ideal choice.
Shot Size
Doves are small and agile, making smaller shot sizes like #7, #7 ½, and #8 shot some of the best shot sizes for doves, offering high pellet counts, and increasing your chances of hitting your target. Larger shot sizes would be overkill for doves, plus they won’t have as high a pellet count. For better performance, high-quality shot shells will provide you with the most consistency per shell. Brands like Federal, Fiocchi, Winchester, and Sellier & Bellot are some popular options to go with. If you don’t know what to look for when shopping for ammo, our article, shotgun ammo 101, will get you up to speed on what you need to know.
Dove Hunting Accessories
Having the proper hunting essentials is crucial for a successful hunt. Regardless of what gear you bring, having a good backpack or bag is essential for storing your gear. It’s more than likely that you’ll need to do some travelling on foot or in a UTV to get to your hunting spot, and a pack keeps your gear secure and easy to transport.
Hunting vests offer many of the same benefits. Although they don’t have the storing capacity of backpacks, they have many pouches and pockets, which are great for smaller accessories like knives, lights, spare shot shells, and other gear you may need quick access to.
Finally, it’s always better to err on the safe side and bring a good first aid kit. No matter what your experience level is, accidents happen, and having a first aid kit with quality tools and supplies is crucial in ensuring your safety. There’s a lot to consider when looking at first aid supplies; our guide on gun range first aid kits goes in-depth on the gear you should include in your kit.
Conclusion
Dove season can be one of the most exciting hunting seasons around, regardless of whether you’re new to dove hunting, or if you’ve been on multiple trips before. Just like with any other hunt, having the right gear and the shotgun that best fits your needs is paramount to your success.
When choosing a shotgun, it’s crucial that you research each option to make sure that it aligns with your personal needs and preferences. Each model mentioned above is just a brief glimpse into the world of shotguns. Whether you choose one of them or opt for another model not listed, ensuring it meets your needs is paramount to your success when hunting. Just as important, using the right ammo is critical to your success. Shot shells vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but so long as you go with a quality choice, you’ll be good to go.
Lastly, having all the gear and knowledge won’t turn you into a master hunter. Getting out to the range and practicing different shooting mechanics is the best way to get comfortable and familiar with the core mechanics of dove hunting. If you aren’t sure how to get started, our guide on the shotguns, ammo, and techniques for skeet shooting highlights the different techniques that can serve as excellent practice for dove hunting.