9/2/05
Teal numbers up, habitat trends promising
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| Missouri's 2005 teal season outlook is fairly bright. Blue-winged teal numbers are up, and recent rains have bolstered Show-Me State waterfowl habitat conditions. Moderate rain over the next two weeks could create conditions that encourage teal to linger here during the early teal season Sept. 10-18. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
Show-Me State teal hunters' success depends heavily on weather
JEFFERSON CITY-Numbers of blue-winged teal are up, and Missouri's nine-day
early teal season is back for the second year in a row. The ultimate success
of that season, however, will depend on weather and the timing of this
year's teal migration.
Blue-winged teal are among Missouri's earliest-migrating ducks so they offer
waterfowl hunters the first opportunity to pursue their favorite outdoor
activity. This year's season runs from Sept. 10 through 18.
Counts of teal on their breeding grounds in the prairie pothole region of
the north-central United States and south-central Canada showed that numbers
of blue-winged teal increased from 4.1 million last year to 4.6 million this
year. Abundant rainfall in much of their breeding range beginning in late
May boosted young teal's prospects for survival, so the fall flight could be
a strong one. As always, though, hunters' experience will depend heavily on
when that flight occurs.
Teal begin arriving in Missouri in August each year. Their migration
typically peaks in mid-September. The hunting season is set in the hope of
getting hunters in the field during this south-flowing teal tide.
The timing depends on weather. Even a mild cool spell can chase hundreds of
thousands of teal southward toward Missouri. If they arrive here during the
open season, hunters will have good shooting, at least for a few days.
If the birds find warmer weather, abundant food and plenty of shallow water
in Missouri, they may linger here through much of the nine-day season,
leaving hunters exhausted but ecstatic. However, a cold snap can move them
farther south quickly, giving hunters little opportunity to pursue them.
Teal also tend to head south in years when food or shallow wetland habitat
is scarce.
This year's prospects look much better now than they did in early August,
when Missouri was in the throes of a scorching drought. Resource Scientist
Dave Graber with the Missouri Department of Conservation said recent rains
have changed the picture dramatically.
"The extended dry spell meant there was less shallow-water habitat to draw
in birds and hold them," said Graber. "Abundant rainfall during the last
half of August helped quite a bit with that situation."
Hot, dry summers tend to favor cocklebur and other undesired plants over
those, like millet, that produce seeds ducks like to eat. However, Graber
said wetland area managers report surprisingly good seed production from
native marsh plants this summer despite the drought.
Graber noted that Missouri wetlands were parched in August 2004, but heavy
rain late that month and in early September actually became a problem,
reducing the growth and availability of wetland plants. He said moderate
rainfall during late August could ensure favorable native seed production
and water levels.
"The bottom line is that we will have to wait to see what the weather does
in the next two weeks," said Graber. "That is always true with teal season,
but it is especially true this year."
The daily and possession limits for teal are four and eight, respectively.
This includes blue-winged teal and their less-common relatives, green-winged
teal. Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset.
Other ducks are present in Missouri in September, and it is hunters'
responsibility to identify their targets before shooting.
-Jim Low-
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