So possibly, there has been no decline at all. Roberson said the spring survey conducted at the same periods and locations year after year was most valuable as a trend indicator. This year's decline would only become cause for concern if it became part of a long-term trend. At the peak, there can be between 15 and 20 million doves in the Brush Country. The irrigated region is rich with milo, corn and sesame seed fields, as well as fallow fields of sunflowers and croton.
Doves concentrate here.
Hunters in that area generally enjoyed good afternoon dove shoots when the Central Zone dove season opened September 1. For much of the South Zone, there has been enough rain to foster widespread growth of sunflowers and croton, as well as to sustain grain crops. Where food supplies are widely and evenly distributed, so are the doves. That appears to be the case for the Hebbronville area, based on reports from last weekend. On the other hand, dove numbers are usually in higher concentrations where food sources are especially abundant or where the supplies exist as oases in a relatively barren area.