Jan. 11, 2006
Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
High Plains Mallard Management Unit/Panhandle: Outfitters are claiming this season has been one of the most consistent on record. Temperatures have been unseasonably warm, but decoying action has remained steady. There have been a few expected lulls in the season; however, a few days later the hunting gets hot, again. Most goose hunters setting dark goose spreads are getting their birds near Spearman, Dumas, Amarillo, Lubbock and Knox City. Duck action remains steady on those playas with water. Lots of mallards and green-winged teal showing on straps. Snow geese are cooperating with a little wind and weather; however, Canadas are decoying despite the conditions. Duck season runs through Jan. 29 and the regular goose season ends Feb. 7. Prospects are good.
North Zone Waterfowl: Another week of dry conditions befuddled the region this week. River bottom hunters are saying mallards are decoying over puddles of water no larger than cars. Low water has made many established duck hunting coves on lakes and reservoirs mere mud flats. Boat access is limited except through marked channels. The bright point is: those who have water have ducks. However, unless you have access to a water well and pump, most private duck ponds have dusty bottoms. Canvasbacks, scaup, ringed-necks and mallards are good on Toledo Bend. Deep tanks, normally used to hydrate cattle, are duck magnets this year with the dry conditions. Along the IH-10 corridor, many water pumped flats are going dry; and, with less than three weeks remaining in the season, most wildlife managers cannot afford to turn diesel-driven pumps back on with rising fuel costs. Expect fewer and fewer ducks to linger in the area unless a soaking rain recharges ponds. The season on specklebellies closes at sunset Jan. 15. Prospects are fair.
South Zone Waterfowl: Prairie ponds lost lots of water this week to evaporation due to bright skies and unseasonably warm temperatures. The region needs significant rainfall to sustain waterfowl throughout their stay into February and March. Most outfitters and wildlife managers are opting to wait for rain instead of digging deep into their pockets for fuel to run water pumps. With that being said, if the prairie does not get rain soon, the last three weeks of duck season will suffer. Last week, duck hunting was fair to good with hunters taking at least half-limits. With the lack of water on the prairie, many ducks are moving to coastal estuaries along the bay. Tidal marsh ponds have been barren as well with the lowest tides of the year occurring during the past two weeks. Peach Point WMA near Freeport has been slow throughout the year with the drought-like conditions. Freshwater impoundments on Mad Island WMA near Bay City are dry as well and marsh ponds have little water, too. Pintails, redheads and bluebills are good in Port O’Connor. Freshwater ponds near Seadrift are taking limits of gadwalls, wigeons and pintails. Rockport is very good for pintails and redheads. Redheads, scaup and pintails are good in the Laguna Madre. Geese are feeding in green fields. Wheat or rye grass fields have been hot this week. More Canada geese have hit the region. Specklebellies close at sunset Jan. 15. Prospects are fair to good.
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