**Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report - 9/10/2008

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Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report - 9/10/2008

Steve Lightfoot, 512-389-4701, [email protected]

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North Zone Dove:

Best hunts have been had over plowed sunflowers and cut milo fields. Hunts near Amarillo and counties north have taken good numbers of dove over watering holes in the afternoon. The region received enough rains in August to fill some dry playas. Areas north of Abilene have been solid over row crops and water in the afternoon. Fields north of Fort Worth have seen scattered birds since the opener. A few new birds arrived with the north winds last week. Lamar County saw better shoots in soy beans. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove:

The northern region of the zone is still holding huntable numbers of mourners. The front last week deposited new birds to the area. Harrison, Gregg and Marion county fields have seen best shoots around water in the afternoon. Comanche County fields of sunflowers have been best in the afternoon around water. Best flights of whitewings remain in the San Antonio corridor around Castroville and Hondo. Uvalde hunts have been steady as well. Outfitters have reported better flights in the afternoon. Doves are scattered along the southern end of the zone. Good hunts have been posted near Dayton, Liberty, China and Devers, but since the opener, dove hunting has been fair to good. Outfitters said they lost most of their birds with the rains in late August. Prospects are fair to good.

Special White-Winged Dove Area:

Last weekend saw good shoots in corn, milo, sunflowers and plowed fields. Those able to hunt water saw great afternoon shoots. Saturday and Sunday are the last days of the special season. As a reminder: afternoon-only hunting is permitted. Rains and winds associated with Hurricane Ike could put a damper on the flight, especially if South Texas receives a direct hit.

Teal Prospects:

Teal prospects are simple: if you have water, you should have birds when the season opens Sept. 13. Coastal anglers have another variable — where is Hurricane Ike, forecasted to come ashore sometime Saturday, going to make landfall? And, if winds blow at hurricane force, what will that do to the teal in the area for the remainder of the season? Good numbers of teal have been reported along the coast, but water is scarce, especially along the coastal prairies. Some outfitters say they cannot get water from canal systems since farmers are using so much water to pour over second-cropped rice. Those with wells have water, but they paid a heavy price to pump it with farm diesel still hovering around $4 a gallon. Tides have risen on the coast and should rise even more with the approaching storm. That should push new water to barren tidal flats and ponds. Prospects are good for those with water, unless, of course, the hurricane hits somewhere along the middle or upper coast.