Category: Duck Hunting

Good nesting conditions bode well for the upcoming duck and goose hunting seasons in Texas and the rest of the Central Flyway. All reports indicate that a large, fresh crop of ducks will be migrating south this fall. In preparation for what is shaping up to be an amazing year for duck hunting in particular, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved the 2015-16 waterfowl seasons for Texas. Texas should have increased surface water for incoming record populations of wintering waterfowl.

Good news of record-setting waterfowl populations, with nearly all species numbering above the long term goals identified in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, sets the table for the 2015-16 hunting season in Texas. Most species of ducks important to Texas waterfowlers are well above long term averages, with mallards and green-winged teal reaching new all-time highs.

A staggered hunting season openers this fall in the North and South Zones along with a concurrent split will allow duck hunters who wish to hunt across zones in essence an additional two weeks of opportunity. The only change to the daily bag limit on ducks this season is an increase to two canvasbacks.

Changes to this season’s goose regulations include an increase in the number of goose hunting days for white-fronted geese in the Eastern Zone from 72 to 86, with those additional days added to the end of the season framework. Also, the bag limit for Canada geese in the Eastern Zone increases this season from three to five daily, including during the early Canada goose season. The daily aggregate bag limit of no more than two white-fronted geese remains in effect. In the Western Zone, the daily bag limit on white-fronted geese also increases this season to two.

Following are the adopted duck hunting, goose hunting and sandhill crane hunting seasons dates and limits for the 2015-16 migratory game bird seasons:

Texas Duck Hunting Seasons 2015-16

• High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Youth: Oct. 24-25; Regular: Oct. 31 — Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 — Jan. 31; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 9 — Jan. 31.
• North Zone: Youth: Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; Regular: Nov. 7-29 and Dec. 12 — Jan. 31; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 12-29 and Dec. 12 — Jan. 31.
• South Zone: Youth: Oct. 24-25; Regular: Oct. 31 – Nov. 29 and Dec. 12 — Jan. 24; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 5-29 and Dec. 12 — Jan. 24.
• Bag Limit: 6/day in the aggregate to include no more than 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 5 mallards, of which only 2 may be hens, 2 redheads, 2 pintail , 2 canvasback, 1 “dusky duck” (mottled, black or Mexican-like) after the first 5 days. Mergansers: 5/day with no more than 2 hooded merganser. Coots: 15/day. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.

Texas Goose Hunting Seasons 2015-16

• East Zone: Nov. 7 — Jan. 31; Light Geese Conservation Order Feb. 1 — Mar. 20.
• Bag Limit: 5 dark geese, to include no more than 2 white-fronted geese, 20 light geese (no possession limit).

 

• West Zone: Oct. 31 — Jan. 31; Light Geese Conservation Order Feb. 1 — Mar. 20.
• Bag Limit: 5 dark geese, to include no more than 2 white-fronted geese, 20 light geese (no possession limit).

Sandhill Crane Hunting Seasons 2015-16

• Zone A: Oct. 31 – Jan. 31.Bag Limit: 3.
• Zone B: Nov. 20 — Jan. 31. Bag Limit: 3.
• Zone C: Dec. 19 — Jan. 24. Bag Limit: 2.

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Heads up ducks and hunters: For the first time in several years, ducks heading into Texas won’t be landing in the dirt thanks to decent rainfall across much of the state in recent months. It’s a reprieve from the drought duck hunters have been waiting for, particularly in light of reports of record numbers of ducks heading this way. That bodes well for ducks and the upcoming duck hunting season.

Duck populations have now hit record highs in three of the last four years, and in a normal year Texas plays host to 90 percent of the ducks that migrate along the Central Flyway; roughly 10 million birds. But dry conditions in Texas during those record-setting migrations have left waterfowlers high and dry as the ducks have sought out wetter environs elsewhere. That pattern should change this year, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“I would say conditions have improved over most of the state the last couple of months,” said Kevin Kraai, TPWD Waterfowl Program Leader. “Waterfowl are doing well, so conditions are shaping up for what should be a good season.”

Duck hunting gets under way in the Panhandle’s High Plains Mallard Management Unit October 25 and in the remainder of the state November 1. Kraai said conditions have improved significantly in the Panhandle where earlier this year many playa lakes were dust bowls, but have since filled thanks to recent rains and should provide ample respite for incoming ducks.

Likewise along the coast, conditions have improved and should support ample numbers of ducks and geese this winter. Both private and public land hunters should benefit.

“I remain excited about the increase in rice acres in the coastal regions southeast of Houston,” said Kraai. “That should increase the foods available for both ducks and geese in that area, thus improving the populations of both ducks and geese that visit the marshes of the Chenier Plain.” The Texas ducking hunting forecast looks better this year, so I’m definitely looking forward to watching some decoying birds.

Things have changed this year for ducks and duck hunters in Texas. We’ve had some rain, so there will be surface water for our migratory friends from the north! According to Mike Rezsutek, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) waterfowl biologist for the Upper Coast Wetlands Ecosystem Project, the tides have dropped and water levels in the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area are dropping towards their target elevations.

“Chances are good that we’ll have favorable water conditions by the opening day of waterfowl season,” he predicted. “In the rice fields and other inland areas there is plenty of surface water at the moment, but that may change if the clouds stop dropping rain.”

Habitat conditions on the mid-coast range from fair to good depending on recent rainfall events, according to Matt Nelson, TPWD’s Central Coast Wetlands Ecosystem Project Leader, which includes Mad Island WMA. “Most of the mid-coast has received adequate rain over the past two months but there are still some key areas in need of additional precipitation,” Nelson noted. “Tides have been running high lately and have most of the coastal marsh full to capacity and the wigeon grass is starting to respond positively.”

Nelson went on to report the early teal season hunting on the mid-coast WMAs was slowed by lagging migration, but observations of large groups of blue wings using the marsh and large groups of pintails and gadwall arriving after the last cool front have him optimistic for the opener.

“We are starting to see some white-fronts on the coast as well,” he said. “In short, we could still use some rain in key areas along the coast but overall habitat conditions are fairly good. Now we need the birds to cooperate and migrate through.”

Additionally, the lower Texas coast south of Corpus Christi has received much needed rain in the last few weeks that has greatly increased the available fresh water on the landscape. That’s good news for redheads and pintail ducks that require frequent visits to fresh water after foraging on the sea grasses on the Laguna Madre.

In the eastern regions of Texas, things are also shaping up well, according to Jared Laing, TPWD waterfowl biologist. “We had well-timed rains that produced great food resources on most North Texas reservoirs,” said Laing. “Natural marshes are in decent shape, but some stayed too wet to grow adequate plants that waterfowl prefer. Managed wetlands are good to excellent, but due to the very wet growing season, some areas are late with food resources.”

Pineywoods reservoirs are another story, Laing noted. They stayed full all spring and summer for the most part and many are now covered with invasive aquatic plant species. Bird use on these should increase as winter progresses, vegetation decomposes, and open water becomes more available.

“Of course, as always, the quality of our season and bird densities on the landscape hinges on the amount of water on the landscape,” Laing pointed out. “Right now we’re sitting fair; we just need a good 4-6 inch rain event to boost North and East Texas wetlands as the birds arrive.”

Duck and goose season is just around the corner and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is offering a Waterfowl Wounding Loss Workshop at San Angelo State Park on October 11, 2014. Registration for the workshop will begin at 8:30 am and the workshop will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hunters will learn shooting techniques to minimize the wounding and loss of birds.

Staff from TPWD Hunter Education will be teaching the class. here will be some classroom instruction on basic hunting, while the rest of the class will be conducted outdoors. So dress and be prepared for all adverse conditions pertaining to the outdoors. Outdoor activities will consist of: Shooting and Shooting Techniques; Judging Distances (Subtending); and Shot Patterning.

All participants must provide their own shotgun(s), as well as their own matching gauge ammunition (steel shot only) that he/she will be using while hunting waterfowl. Seating is limited to 20 and there is no charge for the course. For more information about becoming a better duck hunter as well as more information or to register for the workshop, contact Kurt Kemp at 325-947-2687.

If you like your birds fast and furious then teal hunting season is right for you. Waterfowl biologists agree that habitat conditions across the majority of Texas are much better than years past, and teal populations are up. Late summer rain has improved habitat found along coastal marshes and prairies. More “sweet water” means better conditions along the coast and directly translates into more flooded habitat.

In Eastern Texas, the ponds, lakes, and reservoirs could use some additional water, suggest waterfowl biologist, but waterfowlers that seek out the shallow waters of many of the water bodies that remain will likely encounter many of the migrating teal leaving the breeding grounds moving though the area daily. Heading westward, playa wetlands of the High Plains also received good rainfall early in the summer and some are still holding water that will attract early-season teal.

Source: Texas duck hunters should see more action during the upcoming early teal season, Sept. 13-28, thanks to near record numbers of birds and an anticipated typical migration pattern. Prospects for early teal season are looking very good, especially compared to the last few years, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Waterfowl Program Leader Kevin Kraai.

“First, blue-winged teal populations are near record high and production reports are excellent. Additionally, unlike last year’s very late spring, nesting efforts were more on time this year and thus should result in a timely migration that will overlap better with our teal season dates.”

Some weak fronts are evident and blue-winged teal are already along the coast. Teal hunting can be hit or miss, but this year looks to be good given habitat conditions and the fact that birds are cooperating. Look to traditional wetlands and the shallow ends of reservoirs to put birds on your strap.

Texas hunters can take up to six teal daily during the 16-day season. The possession limit is three times the daily limit, which cannot be applied before the third day of the season.

Teal season in Texas is about to kick off and new regulations this year allow hunters to take up to six teal daily, an increase in the daily bag limit of two from previous seasons. The possession limits for all migratory game birds has also increased and is now three times the daily limit. For ducks, including teal during the early September 14-29 season, the possession limit is 18, which only works after the third day into the season. So what does teal hunting on the Texas coast look like this year?

“I never get nervous about teal season, retorted Jim Sutherlin, TPWD’s Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project Leader based out of the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA). “Our early bluewings are about a week or so late, possibly an effect of the late cool spring weather we have experienced.” Sutherlin said blue-winged teal finally showed up on the Big Hill Unit of the Murphree WMA early last week. “We will have teal to shoot on September 14, but teal numbers will likely improve on the Upper Coast as the season plays out.”

Similar reports have been coming from the middle coast.

“We are seeing a few birds on the mid-coast WMA’s but nothing to get excited about just yet,” added Matt Nelson, Mid-Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project Leader. “As Jim mentioned, nothing to get nervous about; they’ll be here at some point.” Nelson provided a brief synapsis of duck habitat conditions on the three popular wildlife management areas along the middle coast:

Water conditions at the Hurst WMA are fair with very shallow water available in the tidal marsh and little to none in the freshwater impoundments. Mad Island WMA is in a little better shape as it has received a decent amount of rain over the past two weeks and currently has water in the tidal marsh and its impoundments. Guadalupe Delta WMA has a good amount of water in the marsh.

“I expect the crowds to be large at all three areas opening weekend of the teal hunting season as the hunters have been burning up the phones,” predicted Nelson. Hunters can access all of these high quality duck hunting hot spots by possessing an Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit.

Duck Hunting Looks Strong in Texas

It’s September and the first cool fronts will upon us soon, pushing down a wave of blue-winged teal. These small, fast flying ducks are the first to make their way down the Central Flyway each year. Like most waterfowl species, they prefer freshwater, shallow wetlands for feeding. And on the feed is where you should always be when duck hunting anywhere. Find shallow water areas with food and the ducks literally come to you (and that’s exactly the way it should work, right?). If you can’t find it, you can build it.

Source: NORTH-CENTRAL U.S. In May, heavy rainfall improved wetland conditions across large areas of Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Waterfowl nesting efforts are strong, and with improved wetland habitat, brood survival should be enhanced. While habitat loss remains a serious concern, good waterfowl production is expected in this region.

Flooding Fields for Duck Hunting

Field crops offering the most energy for waterfowl include corn, milo and soybeans. However, some grains deteriorate faster than others when flooded. After 90 days of flooding, 86 percent of soybeans, 50 percent of corn and 42 percent of milo is deteriorated. Keep this in mind when flooding fields for duck hunting. After a certain period they become devoid of the good stuff. Milo and corn last longer and produce high energy so they are the fields you should focus on.

To prevent early seed deterioration, fields should not be flooded well in advance of waterfowl arriving. Also, fields should be flooded gradually over a several week period to provide food and habitat over a longer period and helps ensure the food and the hunting do not run out before the duck season is over. Ideally, more than one field should be flooded to provide another crop or to make food available over a longer period.

Flooding larger fields or more of them will attract more waterfowl and can only improve hunting. I understand that this is easier said than done, especially if you do not own the land that you are hunting. Find landowners or farmers that are willing to work with you will be a must if you are not the landowner. Another option that can attract birds and increase duck hunting opportunities is to implement most soil management for a variety of waterfowl species.

There are a lot of ducks that will be headed south soon. Best of luck to all that chase them.

It may still be hotter than hell outside but that’s no reason why to not think about the upcoming Texas duck and goose hunting seasons. All indications suggests that the duck hunting action should be as good as ever. Almost all reports have indicated that breeding and nest success are up, up, up. In fact, for the first time in a half century, Texas waterfowlers can take two canvasbacks daily under migratory game bird seasons approved for the 2013-14 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The bag limit increase for the upcoming hunting seasons comes with news of healthy waterfowl populations, with all species except pintail and scaup numbering above the long term goals identified in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. “Overall, waterfowl are doing quite well,” Kevin Kraai, Waterfowl Program Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department told commissioners. “We’re near record levels and in some instances in the glory days for ducks.”

The commission also adopted a staggered duck season split between the North and South Zones to allow for the opportunity of an additional week for those waterfowlers who travel between zones. In another change to the season framework that should be welcomed by hunters, the possession limits for all migratory game birds is now three times the daily limit. For ducks, including teal during the early September 14-29 season, the possession limit is 18.The only decrease in bag limit configuration involves scaup, with a reduction to three daily.

The Texas Teal Season is already looking good with bag limits going up. Texas bird hunters might consider need a little more ammo this fall to take advantage of increased bag and possession limits and expanded teal hunting opportunities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved for Texas this year an expanded Special White-wing Dove Area (SWWDA), a six bird daily bag during the September teal season and increased possession limits for all migratory game birds.

Also new this year, teal hunters will be able to take up to six teal daily during the statewide September teal season, set to run September 14-29. The higher possession limit will be especially helpful for the thousands of waterfowl hunters who travel for duck hunting trips each year and want to take their birds home with them. For hunters that take week-long trips across the country to harvest waterfowl, this change will make a difference.

The early Canada goose season will also run September 14-29 in the Eastern Goose Zone with a daily bag limit of three Canada geese. Under new rules, the possession limit for all migratory game birds is three times the daily bag.

Blue-winged Teal Fall Season Migration

Source: “Blue-winged teal are generally the first ducks south in the fall and the last north in the spring. They migrate from the Prairie Pothole Region to wintering areas in Florida, the Caribbean Islands, the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, Mexico and Central and South America. Wintering habitats are diverse, including mangrove swamps, fresh and brackish estuaries and shallow wetlands. In the United States, the highest winter densities occur in southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Blue-winged teal are common in winter from Central America, the Caribbean and South America south to Peru and northeastern Brazil. They also stay regularly in small numbers in the Galapagos Islands and are vagrants to Chile, southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.”