Opening morning of dove season brought high bird counts across East Texas, but for local hunters gathered in the field, the day also underscored a broader story of changing land use and conservation across the region.
Wood County outdoorsman Eli Godwin joined Mineola residents Hollis and Kathleen Blanks on a Celina field the Blanks have hunted for the past 15 years. Godwin reported immediate success.
“It had been years since I’d hunted doves in a place holding quite that number of birds. From the time the sun was up until after everyone had reached their limits, they were still flying,” Godwin said.
The activity reflects a broader statewide trend. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimates show more than 300,000 Texas hunters harvest nearly one-third of all mourning doves taken nationwide each year, generating more than $500 million in economic impact.
“Texas is uniquely situated to catch a lot of migratory birds as they move through the central part of the continent. Couple that with the fact that we are such a big state with diverse habitats, and it makes sense that we have such large numbers of doves,” said Owen Fitzsimmons, TPWD Dove Program Leader.
Despite strong bird numbers, rapid suburban expansion along the North Texas corridor continues to reduce available hunting land.
“After watching agriculture in southeast Texas die and the fields disappear, it’s hard to see it happen in North Texas. Texas touts its population growth as success, but it will forever change the state and its wildness,” Godwin said.
For Hollis and Kathleen Blanks, that change is evident on the land they have hunted for years. Hollis Blanks owns 777 Gun Dogs and Hollis Blanks Performance Horses, while Kathleen Blanks is an associate broker with Whitetail Properties. Agricultural acreage across Collin County has steadily given way to residential developments, schools and commercial infrastructure.
“Ten-plus years ago, this area was almost nothing but farmland and farmhouses. Landowners and farmers depended on these fields. It was their livelihood. Where you once looked across the fence and saw open farmland, cattle, and unobstructed country views, you now see construction, heavy equipment, and neighborhoods going up,” Kathleen Blanks said.
That growth has made securing long-term hunting access increasingly difficult.
“In my lifetime, I didn’t think I’d see Celina turn into what it is today, much less in just ten years. What used to be our go-to field for dove opener with zero worries about the next season is now a year-to-year spot. For next season, it’s still up in the air... it really comes down to what fields are left that haven’t been developed,” Hollis Blanks said.
As development consumes farmland along the suburban edge, some hunters are looking farther east for places to hunt. James Chesnut, founder of ETX Outdoors, said Wood and Smith counties are seeing increased interest from hunters displaced by development on the Metroplex fringe.
“As Collin and Denton counties keep developing, hunters are having to look farther east for land and places to hunt. My biggest concern long term is simply keeping enough of East Texas rural and accessible for the next generation,” Chesnut said.
Chesnut said protecting East Texas wildlife habitat also requires attention to regional water allocation as the Metroplex expands.
“East Texas is constantly having to fight to keep our water here while the Metroplex continues looking east to support its growth. Those lakes, rivers, and wetlands aren’t just water sitting there waiting to be piped somewhere else. They’re part of our wildlife habitat, fisheries, timber, farms, and the outdoor way of life,” Chesnut said.
While long-term hunting access remains uncertain in developing areas, early-season bird movement has been strong in the fields these hunters have visited.
“We had plenty of birds moving and Bear, my chocolate Lab, worked his tail off retrieving. He was absolutely worn out by the end of it,” Chesnut said.