Dove hunting kicks off the fall hunting season in Texas each year, but many people, even though interested, have never had an opportunity to learn what hunting is all about. That is about to change for some families that are looking to get outdoors, in addition to testing their ability to shoot.
An innovative public hunting opportunity for newcomers, the Mentored Hunting Permit, will launch this fall with a dove hunting workshop September 19 and 20 at the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA), near Freeport, Texas.
The family-friendly event is designed to introduce participants to hunting and provide hands-on knowledge and experience for hunting dove and other game animals in Texas. The mentored dove hunting workshop will focus on teaching hunting skills, safety, ethics, game processing and preparation, elements of habitat management, and provide guidance and advice for hunting activities in the future.
As part of the workshop, participants will be offered the opportunity to take part in a mentored dove hunt accompanied by an experienced hunter.
Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited to 20 participants at the Hurst WMA. Information about the event, including registration form, is available by calling urban wildlife biologist Richard Heilbrun at 210-688-6444. Cost for the workshop is $35 and the Mentored Hunting Permit, which covers cost for access to the dove hunt, is $25.
Participants must also have a valid Texas hunting license and Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp and have satisfied Hunter Education Certification requirements or purchase the Hunter Education Deferral prior to the weekend of September 19.
“The mentored hunting program is intended to explore possible ways to increase hunter recruitment,” said Linda Campbell, director of public hunting with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “By offering these educational workshops and mentored hunting opportunities, we hope to provide an effective vehicle for people who are not from traditional hunting backgrounds to learn about and get started in hunting.”
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the new hunter recruitment initiative as a means of providing opportunities for people interested in participating in a multi-day hunter recruitment workshop on a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department WMA. Participation will be by reservation, on a first-come, first-served basis, and the fee for the Mentored Dove Hunting Permit will be $25.