Category: Duck Hunting

This duck hunting season is shaping up to be a dry one, but the crazy thing is that there are tons of ducks! Hunting in areas fortunate enough to have retained water and preserved habitat should provide excellent duck hunting during the early part of the duck season, but may not be sustainable through the winter. Two great public hunting areas are the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Guadalupe Delta WMA. But will they produce this year?

Texas provides a winter home to 90 percent of the Central Flyway’s ducks, roughly 10 million birds in an average year. Unfortunately, this year is an exception as extremely wet conditions in the prairie pothole waterfowl breeding grounds in Canada and the Dakotas bolstered production and near record fall flights are headed this way. The bulk of incoming ducks winter along the Texas coast and rely on a number of wildlife areas, and a lot of duck hunters do, as well.

Matt Nelson, Central Coast Wetlands Ecosystem Project Leader with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, stressed the mid coast Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) have very little freshwater available and all wetland impoundments and fresh water ponds are dry. Currently the only water on the Justin Hurst WMA and Mad Island WMA are tidal water. The inland, freshwater ponds have no water and currently do not serve as duck habitat.

The Justin Hurst WMA has historically provided good duck hunting for folks in the Houston area, but it looks to be slim pickings this year. “It’s very salty at the moment and these tidal marshes are pretty much void of any submergent vegetation too, which our migrating friends are dependent upon,” Nelson said.

Guadalupe Delta WMA is in better shape as its marshes have maintained a decent amount of fresh/brackish water throughout the summer and has produced a fair amount of groceries for the ducks. “Unfortunately it’s the only area along the mid-coast at the moment with decent habitat and considering the high number of migrating birds headed our way I predict what submergent vegetation is remaining will be consumed quickly,” Nelson predicted. “I don’t know where the birds will go but I feel that they won’t be in very good shape when we send them back up north.” The duck hunting will should be hot for the opener, but let’s hope the habitat improves.

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Fast and furious duck hunting action is about as fun as it gets, and the Texas Panhandle can offer some real barrel-heating action at the right times. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit duck hunting season runs October 29-30 and November-January 29, 2012. The good news is that’s not far off, the bad news is that few, if any, playa lakes are holding water, so most ducks are working cattle feed lot tanks at this time.

Sandhill cranes are showing in the Panhandle along with a few Canadas. Teal, pintails, shovelers, gadwalls and wigeons are solid on wet ponds along the coastal prairies. Ducks are concentrated on limited water, which should be a boon for hunters when the duck season opens November 5 in the North and South zones. Strong numbers of specklebellies are showing in cut rice fields.

Many duck hunting reports from along the coast have stated seeing more ducks on saltwater flats earlier than normal this year, probably due to the lack of water on high ground inland ponds. This will will boast full straps for those duck hunting along the coasts, but may mean tough sledding for hunters more inland. The duck hunting season in the North and South zones runs from November 5-27 and then December 10-January 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6. With surface water in short supply, the duck hunting should be red hot anywhere a hunter can find water.

With the Texas duck season getting closer by the day, the duck hunting reports are getting better! The hatch was really good up North this year, so we just needed the right conditions to get the birds moving our way. Habitat conditions across the U.S. and Canadian prairies were generally good. During the waterfowl nesting survey and into early summer, many of the areas important to breeding ducks received significant precipitation, which increased later breeding efforts and ensured brood survival.

A strong cold front combined with a full moon last week to deliver a noticeable number of new ducks to the Texas coast. Coastal scouts reported seeing pintails, shovelers, redheads and teal on the bays in larger numbers. Duck hunters positioned on the coastal prairies with ponds with water are holding impressive concentrations of puddle ducks and white-fronted geese.

East Texas reservoirs are holding teal, gadwall and wigeon in shallow coves and creeks with submergent vegetation, but many access points (boat ramps) have been closed due to low water. The Texas Duck Season and goose season opens on November 5 along with the General White-tailed Deer Hunting Season. Many ponds across Texas are dry, and much of the coastal waters are quite salty, but I suspect hunters that can find any water will have report a strong duck season. Look for creeks with water and rivers full of submergent plants to provide some solid duck hunting this fall.

The weather has warmed up along the coast this week but the blue-winged teal are still here! The season started off with a bang and some cool weather earlier in the season help the hunters and the birds. But despite the warming weather, teal hunting in Texas is holding up well. A small push of cool weather made it down the Central Texas today, so a few new birds should be in the area. According to the latest duck hunting report, teal season along the coastal prairies was arguably the best most hunters could remember. That is, if you had ponds brimming with fresh water.

Many duck hunters reported seeing more teal than ever throughout the entire 16-day season. A new wave of bluewings arrived last week which made the last weekend of the season just as fast as opening weekend. The largest concentration of teal were seen in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties. These counties are the historic rice growing counties of the central coast, and the birds still love them.

Marsh hunting suffered due to low tides and a hypersaline environment brought on by the drought. Teal do not like super-salty water and that never bodes well for these birds. The first tiny flocks of specklebellies appeared this week on the coast, as well. The Big Hill Unit of J.D. Murphree WMA faired well. In addition, teal hunters said they saw noticeably more big ducks like pintails and shovelers during teal season. With regular duck and goose season kicking off November 5, some serious duck hunting is not all that far away. Again, if you have the water you will have birds!

When it comes to bird hunting, September is one of the best months in Texas. Dove hunting and teal hunting seasons cranks up this time each year and things look pretty good for teal birds thus far. Coastal prairie hunters reported seeing more teal the second weekend compared to the opener. More hens and their first-of-the-year birds showed mid-week, along with a noticeable number of greenwings. Many duck hunting reports showed quick limits continued in Wharton County fields.

Some seasoned teal hunters have said can’t remember seeing this many bluewings during the early teal season. Lack of water in the marsh and on the prairies has definitely contributed to larger flocks on fewer ponds. Strong teal shoots have been had near Eagle Lake, Lissie, El Campo and Port Lavaca. Marsh hunters near Collegeport and Palacios have enjoyed half-limits of teal, as well.

Trinity Bay hunters took half-limits of teal as well, with a few filling their straps. The Justin Hurst WMA near Freeport has averaged less than a bird per hunter due to limited hunting sites due to the drought. Mad Island WMA near Bay City has seen fair results, again due to limited ponds due to the drought along with low tides that have not allowed tidal ponds to hold water. The teal season ends at sunset September 25. Find some fresh or brackish marsh along the coast and you will find the teal. That’s all for this weeks duck hunting report.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently approved the Texas Teal Season for 2011-12. The fall waterfowl hunting season includes a 16day early season for both teal and Canada geese. The 16 day early teal hunting season will run from September 10-25 across all waterfowl zones and includes a daily bag limit of four birds. Also, for the first time in there will also be the additional goose hunting opportunity during the early Canada goose season in Texas’ eastern goose zone that will also run September 10-25.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has observed growing populations of resident Canada geese throughout northeast Texas. Wildlife biologists determined an early Canada season would be appropriate since Texas has available hunting days within the federal framework for goose season in the eastern goose hunting zone. The bag limit on Canada geese is three per day.

“The framework for Canada geese is 107 days and we’ve never taken full advantage of those days,” said Dave Morrison, TPWD small game program director. “Because we have them and are allowed to take them, we will run a Canada goose season concurrent with the early duck hunting season. There are some geese in northeast Texas that could provide an additional opportunity for Texas hunters to get a big and little combo during teal season.”

During the Texas teal season of 2011, possession limit is twice the daily bag for all migratory game birds, except light geese and sora and Virginia rails. Many Texas lakes, tanks and rivers are low on water, so many blue-winged teal will likely be heading straight for the coast. Hunters that have water should have birds and good duck hunting, so let’s hope we get some cool fronts to keep those birds moving south. And besides, it’s awful hot around here.

It takes a lot of work in some cases, but it’s usually well worth it. It’s one of the activities I look forward to every fall—duck hunting! With the duck season still some time off, I can’t help buck think about duck hunting in Katy, Texas, with the news that has just been released. It appears the 78th Federal Duck Stamp goes on sale June 24 with an official ceremony held at 9 a.m. at Bass Pro’s Outdoor World located in the Katy Mills Shopping Center in Katy.

The artists of this year’s duck stamps will be on hand to sign copies of their work. In addition, it is reported that Texas Parks and Wildlife Director Carter Smith will also attend the event. Speakers at the event include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials and the Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp artists. Of course, affiliated vendors will have items for sale before and after the ceremony.

Although it is usually referred to as a “duck stamp” the stamp began functioning as a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation product originally used to denote those with a federal license to hunt migratory waterfowl. Those that go ducking know that it’s needed, whether you are duck hunting in Katy, Port O’Conner or Port Arthur, you could face a hefty federal fine.

Today 98 cents out of every dollar raised by the stamps go toes the purchase or lease of wetlands around the country. This locks up valuable habitat and allows biologist to implement wetland habitat management for improved duck production. But wetlands are not just for ducks and geese. It is estimated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that one third of the nation’s threatened species live in these places. Since 1934 over $500 million has gone to over 5 million acres of wetland habitat. Something to think about as you buy your stamp and head out duck hunting!

The J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is well known by public hunters for the fantastic duck and alligator hunting that it offers. This state-owned gem of a wildlife management area is chockerblock full of wintering waterfowl during most years—especially during really cold winters—making for excellent opportunities to get out in Texas’ coastal marsh for some fast-action duck hunting. But the great hunting that occurs there is not by accident, it’s because of sound habitat management for ducks and other water birds.

The J.D. Murphree WMA manager Jim Sutherlin will be recognized for his work in wetland habitat conservation at this year’s Ducks Unlimited (DU) State/Provincial Wetland Conservation Achievement Award presented during the 76th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. DU’s Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and conservation of North America’s wetlands and waterfowl. During the past three years, Sutherlin has worked with partners to successfully secure nearly $1 million in NAWCA grants and another $2 million from other grant sources to improve habitat management capabilities and habitat conditions along the Texas Coast for nesting and migratory waterfowl.

By understanding how waterfowl use resources, managers are able to attract and hold waterfowl on managed habitats. Where man-made or modified wetlands area managed, manipulations that emulate natural wetland complexes and water regimes provide diverse habitats for a variety of waterfowl, which creates awesome duck hunting opportunities. Congratulations to Jim Sutherlin for helping create better habitat for ducks, geese alligators, and for helping to provide a high quality public hunting opportunity. If you have not been out to the Murphee WMA for a hunt, I highly suggest giving it a shot during late December or January.

The Texas Panhandle is always a hot spot for a number of hunters that chase winged-fowl in this unique part of the state. And as of today, the 2010 season is shaping up to be a good one. The Panhandle has good numbers of playa lakes brimming with water thanks to good rainfall earlier in the year.

The Texas coast, on the other hand, has adequate water but is drying up and starting to fade. Guides along the coast are reporting that pintail, shoveler, teal, gadwall, wigeon and redhead are showing up down there along the prairies. More specklebellies and ducks should show up with the front that blew through last night.

But back to the Panhandle. Word on the street is that the Panhandle is loading up with teal, pintail, gadwall and, of course, wigeon. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit duck hunting season is open on October 23 through 24 and again on October 29 through January 23, 2011. The North and South duck hunting zones open October 30. Stay tuned for more goose and duck hunting reports as the season begins.

With waterfowl season just around the corner here in Texas, it’s nice to see that some ducks and geese are finding there way south into Texas. I look forward to heading out to do some duck hunting and goose hunting each year, so I can’t help but smile when I hear the birds are here.

Guides are reporting more specklebellies (white-fronted geese) have arrived with the recent cool front. In addition, scouts are reporting that cut rice fields are holding the majority of the birds around Wharton, El Campo, Garwood and Eagle Lake, but tese areas are always go-to places for goose hunting in Texas.

Pintail, blue-winged teal, shovelers, gadwall and wigeon are beginning to fill coastal marshes and ponds scattered across the Texas costal prairie. More bluewings arrived with the front, as expected. There is a good amount of freshwater along the coast and that has kept duck habitat in good condition.

In East Texas, wood ducks, gadwall and wigeons are beginning to show up on the big reservoirs, but there have been no reports of mallards. The duck hunting and goose hunting season in Texas opens on October 30. Get your guns out and go stock up on ammo because I think this year is going to be a good one.