10/3 Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

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Oct. 3, 2007

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

North Zone Dove: Hunters are taking limits to half-limits in sunflowers and milo fields in the High Plains region. Better shoots have come around water in the evening. Northeast Texas has been dry for three weeks, which has dried up shallow flats where mourners have been watering. Half-limits have been taken in the afternoon around Terrell, Marshall, Bogota, Palestine, Mesquite and Mount Pleasant. Hunter participation has waned since the opener. Expect a new wave of birds as the first significant front of the hunting season approaches. Prospects are fair.

Central Zone Dove: Best hunts have occurred around Uvalde, San Antonio, Hondo, Sabinal, Waco and San Saba. Those able to scout have enjoyed better shoots by patterning dove flights. Those able to rotate fields have done better as many doves have moved out of fields with heavy pressure. Best hunting scenarios have been around water in the afternoon. Whitewings have been steady close to San Antonio in the evening. Fewer hunters are in the fields. A few birds have moved in near Brookshire, Sealy and Columbus. Hunters are hoping for new migrants with the forecasted front expected to move through Texas this weekend. Prospects are fair.

South Zone Dove: Best hunts have come from the Rio Grande Valley area. Cameron and Willacy County fields have been good for mourners and whitewings. Del Rio, Laredo and Uvalde has been fair to good around watering holes in the afternoon. Fashing, George West, Three Rivers and Freer have seen better shoots in the afternoon around water. Plowed ground along coastal counties have been fair to good for limits and half-limits. Matagorda and Wharton County hunters have taken half-limits lately, though better hunts have been had in nearby Pierce. Harvested cotton fields along the coast have produced a few good shoots. Prospects are fair to good.

Teal Recap: Teal season ended at sunset Sept. 30 and results across the coastal prairies and marsh were fabulous. Flights of bluewings remained steady throughout the 16-day affair. A trio of fronts pushed new birds in the area and rejuvenated the flight during the past two weeks. Though water was available everywhere on the coast, there seemed to be huntable numbers of teal on every watering hole. Some waterfowlers are saying this is the best teal season they can remember, even better than a year ago.

Waterfowl Migration: Blue-winged teal remains the most abundant specie of waterfowl in Texas now. Pintails are beginning to show in force along the bays and on the prairie. Some shovelers and a few wigeons have been spotted as well. Reports of small flocks of specklebellies were seen on the coastal prairie this weekend by teal hunters. A dozen or so snows were reported as well. Specklebellies normally hit Texas in force sometime during the next two weeks; however, they could be a few days early with a cold front forecasted for this weekend. Snow geese usually show at the end of October or the first part of November. Flights of white pelicans were seen during the weekend which normally announces a significant migration is approaching. The North and South Zone duck and goose season opens Nov. 3. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit opens Oct. 20–21. Lots of ducks have been reported near Knox City and the Panhandle.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20071003a