Conditions Shaping Up for Good Teal Season

[Bobcat]

AUSTIN, Texas — Current conditions appear ideal for the Sept. 13-28 teal hunting season in Texas, according to wildlife officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

"There's a bunch of them out there compared to last year," said Dave Morrison, TPWD waterfowl program coordinator. "I think we've had enough rain to put those birds out there. We should anticipate, (depending on weather conditions), a good season, except for the Panhandle, which isn't what it was last year."

Based upon results of this year's aerial census surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along duck breeding and nesting grounds in the northern prairies, the blue-winged teal population increased to 5.5 million.

In order to have a 16-day teal season, blue-winged teal breeding numbers must exceed the 4.7 million population target set in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Last year's index decreased to 4.2 million blue-winged teal and resulted in a nine-day teal season in Texas.

TPWD waterfowl biologist Carl Frentress in Athens noted that good numbers of teal are already making their way across northeast Texas. "By the time the season opens, we should be in full migration. We've got some water this year, not quite everywhere, but enough to hold some birds," he said. "Hunting may not be top-notch, but it should be good where there's water and habitat."

Down along the coast, habitat conditions are shaping up well, according to Todd Merendino, manager of several TPWD wildlife management areas along the central coast. "The marshes are in good shape and we're just waiting for the birds to show up. I don't know if the first week will be jammed up but it ought to be alright by the second weekend."

Sportsmen looking for economical and convenient hunting opportunities for teal might want to consider TPWD's public hunting program. With the purchase of a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit, hunters have access to more than 50 public hunting units covering approximately 600,000 acres, plus an additional 26 public hunting units covering another 10,000 acres of leased private land under the public dove and small game lease lands program.

"If I wanted an inexpensive hunt that was relatively easy to manage, my first choice would be Peach Point WMA," Merendino recommended. "Unlike during the big duck season, we're not really crowded and the habitat is excellent. Mad Island WMA would be my second choice because it always has water in it."

The daily bag limit on teal is four.

Rail and gallinule seasons are set for Sept. 20-28 and Oct. 25-Dec. 24. Common snipe or jacksnipe may be taken Oct. 18 through Feb. 1. The American woodcock season is Dec. 18 through Jan. 31 with a daily bag limit of 3. Please check the Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for daily bag limits and restrictions regarding hunting means and methods.

Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification is required of all migratory bird hunters, so hunters should make sure license clerks ask them a brief series of questions about their migratory bird hunting when purchasing their licenses.

For up-to-date hunting conditions throughout the state, check out TPWD's Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report at

[ICMCumin]

I haven't been yet (durn it!) but am hearing good things about early teal season from some of my friends.

Folks are limiting out on both sides (E & W) of Houston right now. One of my buddies says that the hunting on the W side has gotten better in the past few days. Don't know why, though........

[Bobcat]

Teal hunting reports fair at best

By Chester Moore, Jr. - The Orange Leader

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) waterfowl specialists report rice ponds and flooded flats produced fair to good shoots of teal near Winnie, East Bernard and El Campo.

Guide Gary McElduff reports Los Patos lodge had fair to good hunting last weekend as well. Hunting in the marshes in Orange County was slow according to several hunters I spoke with.

Officials with the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area near Port Arthur said opening day hunts brought in 49 hunters who shot only 48 teal. Sunday's hunt drew 35 hunters that took only two dozen birds.

The area received three inches of rain a day before the opener, which scattered birds; however, by Sunday, the runoff had dissipated and bluewings returned to traditional ponds and watering holes.

TPWD biologists report most teal harvested were drakes; however, expect those females that did not raise a brood to arrive in the next 10 days.

[Bobcat]

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
More Information

Updated Sept. 24, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas — The following migratory bird hunting report was prepared for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by Bink Grimes.

Panhandle: Female bluewings with their broods are beginning to show in hunters' bags. More greenwings have found the region as well. Good concentrations remain on playas and stock tanks near Dumas, Fritch and Etter. Pintails, gadwalls, widgeons, shovelers and a few mallards have been spotted on waterways as well. Dove hunting is fair to good over milo, corn and sunflowers. Prospects are fair to good.

Northeast and East Texas: Teal hunting has been fair to good in the region, according to biologist Carl Frentress. Teal are in spot one day then gone the next. Frentress noted juvenile bluewings and greenwings are beginning to show in hunters' bags. Water supplies are good; however, Frentress noted the region could stand more water in some hunting holes. Good hunts were recorded on Cooper Lake and Lake O' the Pines for hunters willing to work hard to get to secluded coves. Dove hunting has been spotty at best. Teal season closes at sunset Sept.28. Dove season remains open through Oct.30. Prospects are fair to good.

Coastal Prairies: Teal numbers increased throughout the week on the prairies due to a couple of cool fronts. Plenty of water east and west of Houston, and that has bluewings scattered throughout. Constant rain over the weekend, seven inches in some areas of Matagorda and Wharton County, respectively, did hunters no favors. Many hunters reported seeing plenty of teal in the air, but many were too high to work. Too much water could prove detrimental for the final days of teal season. More hunters took female bluewings and greenwings over the weekend, proving the second wave of migrants has arrived. Rain ruined the South Zone dove opener for many, though fields near Danevang did score limits in the soggy conditions. Brazoria, Wharton, Matagorda, Chambers, Waller and Fort Bend Counties are holding good numbers of dove. Prospects are fair to good.

Upper Coast: Above normal tides have scattered teal in the marsh throughout the 16-day season; and, buckets of rain that fell over the weekend did not help matters, either. Before the recent rains, teal hunting was fair in the marsh and better on inland fields. High Island and Anahuac hunts were fair to good. Trinity Bay and its surrounding marsh was fair at best. Freeport was fair to good in fields were water levels can be controlled. South Zone dove hunters saw plenty of birds in the field before the Sept.20 opener; however, those birds scattered with the abundant rainfall. Teal season closes at sunset Sept.28. Prospects are fair to good.

Middle Coast: Hunters at Mad Island WMA near Bay City averaged just less than two birds per man over the weekend. Equinox tides have ponds full to the brink with water. Freshwater impoundments got needed rainfall from the weekend storm. The Guadalupe Delta near Port Lavaca was open despite high water. Hunting was poor, though, with no birds harvested Saturday or Sunday. Brazoria County fields were fair to good. Chinquapin near East Matagorda Bay was fair. Good dove shoots were posted in Jackson, Calhoun and Matagorda Counties despite downpours. Afternoon shoots were better as rain dissipated. Prospects are fair to good.

South Texas: Bee, Karnes and McMullen Counties suffered during the South Zone dove opener. Soggy conditions scattered birds and prompted them to sit tight during the rain. Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron fields are holding good concentrations of mourners and whitewings. Hondo, Uvalde and Del Rio is reporting solid shoots as well, though hunting has been slower north of Uvalde. TPWD public small game hunting leases did well in some areas, though rain hurt bird flight in most regions. Hugo Road, Russell and Drum Point enjoyed good shoots, some limiting by 8 a.m., despite soggy conditions. Afternoon shoots were just as strong. Karnes City, Mound Creek and Farm Road 81 saw poor to fair hunting. Few birds were spotted. Radicha Creek and Kowalski Field were fair under muddy conditions. Teal are working select ponds near Rockport and Port Mansfield. Prospects are fair to good.