Unfortunately, i had to work today and on Friday, but I will be heading down south to the RGV for the special whitewing weekend hunt.  I heard some great reports from friends that went out this am near San Antonio and found plenty of flocks some as big as 50 birds flying over corn and sunflowers.  I have been seeing plenty of birds all around the SA area and some fields I scouted in South Texas, the key is finding fields with good native food source and water nearby where the birds are actively using to drink.  Just because there is a tank of water does not mean birds are gonna use that tank, it has to have the right elements for doves to land and walk up to the bank and drink!!!

Trenton777:

Because public land is on National Forest property, there are STATE and FEDERAL rules and regulations.  You must have a valid state hunting license as well as the Annual Public Hunting Permit to hunt on U.S.F.S. lands AND obey the additional restrictions which apply to the national forests.

In order to understand both, you need to visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site and the U.S.F.S. web site.

You may hunt from Sept 1 through Aug 31 of the following year and may take any species which is in season for the specific county in which you are hunting.  For instance, the Sam Houston National Forest covers three counties, Walker, San Jacinto and Montgomery.  All three counties have the same open seasons for exactly the same species so you can't accidentally kill an animal in one county and then traverse over a county line in which the animal is not in season.

There is no hunting allowed at night without specific permission by the game warden covering the area you want to hunt so make sure you receive prior approval if you want to hunt hogs or fur bearing animals at night with artificial light.

I hope this helps.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me directly and I can answer most of your questions or provide a source to get your question answered.

That is good news for me and I have always found that dry years are the best for dove hunting compared to years where we have a wet september, the best just dont need to fly as much when all the tanks have water and food source is ready available.  But, when all the tanks are empty and the fields are empty from drought, the birds really have to get up and fly further everyday or find areas that have both food and water nearby, those are the spots to be at to have some excellent action!!!

Thanks for the response, been hard trying to get some information out of some. I was in Tyler this last weekend and headed out to the land to see some 10 hogs while fishing (spring fed tank), 2 deer bouncing off as I approached my feeder (it hasnt had corn in it for some time but the deer are close), and saw a few dove. I'll be back up for opening weekend so hopefully my game cam will produce something positive and I'll bag some dove for NFL season opener. Go Cowboys!

Ha ha one day Wilbur will get shot by my newly sharpend arrows.Yea I went hunting yesterday all I saw was deer. sigh Only if it was deer season...

Season Duck Lease being auctioned at banquet:

2011/2012 Water Fowl Season Membership
Executive Membership

HUNTING PROPERTIES
1. Franz (Brookshire)- New property with 6 duck ponds and a roost. 2. Turkey Creek (Beasley) New property 30 minutes from Houston 4 ponds and roost. 3. Reed (Lissie) New Property 2 ponds in Rice. 4. Glen Flora (Wharton) New property 10 acres of flooded green timber and 40 acres of crawfish ponds with rice. 5. Blue Creek (El Campo) 4 ponds and a roost. 6. Grady Allen's (El Campo) 1 Pond in rice. 7. Blockers (Bay City) 80 acre D.U. project can hunt 3 groups. 8. Darnell (Bay City) 2 ponds in rice. 9. Red Gate (El Campo) 1 pond. 10. Silivas (Bay City) 3 ponds. 11. Nada 2 (Garwood Prairie) 4 ponds (In Negotiation) 12. Coastal (Markham) 6 ponds (In Negotiation) We are in negotiation on two properties right now. If they do not work out we plan on replacing them with something equal in size, location, and quality.
MANAGERS
Nick Stillwell and Lane Thompson With 20 Years Of Water Fowl Management Experience

For The Entire 2011/2012 Season, No Guest Fee, Only One Guest Per Hunt Allowed Child Or Adult
GUIDED HUNT OPTIONAL
If You Book A Guide, Guide Fee Is $50.00 Per Person, Extra Scouting, Guide, Retriever, Decoys And Hunt Set Up Are Provided
HUNTING TIMES
You Are Allowed To Hunt Monday-Sunday As Much Until 12:00pm
RESERVATION PROCESS
Hunt Is Booked By E-Mail or Phone Call Four Days In Advance Or Sooner
FOR QUESTIONS OR DETAILED INFORMATION CONTACT
TO GET SIGNED UP AND RESERVE YOU’RE SPOT
Pay On Line At www.ghcof.org
Or
Mail A Check to GHCOF, P.O. Box 3082, Sugar Land, Texas 77487-3082, Attention: General Membership

im just south of san antonio i can see the tower of america from the hill that i hunt on and the doves should be verry good as long as a big storm doesint push them out in the next 48 days

Most folks would want to know how many acres are in the lease.

All that new growth may be primo deer hunting by the time the season rolls around.  Mother nature recovers pretty fast, especially with a little rain.  I wouldn't rule it out just yet.

Chris:  I can't be of much help to you now, but as we close in on deer season, I'd be willing to link up with you in the DCNF, and try to help you out.  It's always good to see new hunters get onboard with our sport, and I'm willing to extend my assistance to anyone just starting out.

Brian