Oct. 11, 2006

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

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

North Zone Dove: Much of the north zone received rain early this week which hurt the dove flight; however, as it dries, expect birds to move back to the plowed ground to feed on waste grain fields and sunflowers. Isolated fields have been steady. Overall, hunting has been fair at best. That should change with the passing front expected this week. A new crop of northern birds should make it into Texas ahead of the first significant cold front of the fall. Water is still at a premium in the north zone, though the Panhandle’s playa lakes look good. Lakes and reservoirs in North and East Texas remain at the lowest state ever. The North Zone season runs through Oct. 30. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: Some parts of Central Texas received copious amounts of rain this week as a front passed through the region. Dove hunting stalled during the moisture. San Saba, Waco, Stephenville and Brownwood has been fair to good over plowed ground and around watering holes. A new shot of mourners hit the region last week and another migration of doves with the forecasted front should help prospects this week. Fields near Uvalde and San Antonio continue to produce steady hunts. Action should get better this week. The Central Zone season runs through Oct. 30, then reopens and runs Dec. 26–Jan. 4. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Dove: South Texas remains steady for dove shoots in Bee, Victoria, Golid, Karnes, Live Oak and McMullen Counties. Best shoots have been around watering holes in the afternoon. The Rio Grande Valley continues to produce solid shoots of mourners and whitewings near Raymondville, Harlingen, Port Mansfield, Laredo and Brownsville. Wharton and Jackson County sunflower fields produced excellent hunts last week. Expect more birds in the region in the wake of the strong cold front this week. The South Zone runs through Nov. 12, then reopens and runs Dec. 26–Jan. 12. Prospects are good.

Waterfowl Migration: New ducks are arriving daily on the coast; and, a major influx should cross the Red River ahead of the stiff cold front forecasted this week. A harbinger of the migration is the first sign of white pelicans on the coast. Many arrived this week; and, traditionally, geese are not far behind. Specklebellies are beginning to show the coastal prairie. Expect a noticeable increase in numbers this weekend. The Panhandle playa lakes are holding adequate water to hold waterfowl; unfortunately, the lakes and reservoirs in East Texas and North Texas are at all time lows. Some homeowners cannot launch boats from boat slips because what was once water below is now mud. Some pintails have been seen on the prairie and on the bays. Everyday that grows closer to November should produce more waterfowl in Texas.