Nov. 29, 2006

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

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

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Duck hunting has been fair on playas and stock tanks. Mallards, wigeons, teal and wood ducks have been taken, though most waterfowlers are goose hunting. Unseasonably mild temperatures haunted goose hunters for most of November. Decoying action has been fair at best with the mild temps and light winds. Outfitters report geese have been staying on the roost late in the morning and not moving much during the day. Still, there are large concentrations of Canadas and snows near Dumas and Spearman. The cold front forecasted to move through the region mid-week should help decoying action. Crane hunting continues to be steady in corn and wheat fields. Many outfitters have reported limits or near limits of cranes. Prospects are fair to good.

North Zone Waterfowl: The first split of duck season ended at sunset Nov. 26 and hunting during the first 23 days was fair at best in areas of North Texas that had water; however, it continued poor for most of the region for the second consecutive year. Sloughs, ponds, creeks and river beds remained cracked, parched ground. And, where there is no water, there are no ducks. Lakes and reservoirs are holding the only water in the region, but access to boat ramps is tough due to low water levels. Hunters working Wright-Patman Lake scored mallards in secluded holes of water. Toledo Bend was fair for divers and mallards. Caddo Lake was good for ringed- necks and scaup. Closer to the coast along the IH-10 corridor, duck hunting was solid for the first two weeks of the season, then waned the week of Thanksgiving due to mild temperatures and the absence of another cold front to push new migrants to the coast. Specklebellies were bonus birds in many rice field ponds. The second split of the North Zone duck season runs Dec. 9–Jan. 27.

South Zone Waterfowl: The first split of duck season ended at sunset Nov. 26, and most waterfowlers are calling the first 23 days of ducks season nothing short of fabulous. Sure, there were slow hunts, but overall, reports from hunters across the region indicated some of the best shooting they could remember in a long while. An influx of teal along the coast filled bags during the first two weeks. Bluewings cruised the decoys during the first 30 minutes and plenty of greenwings took over later in the hunt. The Hunters Choice option, which allowed coastal hunters to take a pintail from day one, helped considerably in the five-duck limit. Lots of diver ducks stayed on the coastal prairies during the first two weeks, even a better than normal amount of canvasbacks were harvested. Gadwalls readily decoyed as well in marsh ponds with wigeon grass and other submergible vegetation. Though duck hunting was not as fast and furious during Thanksgiving week, great hunts were posted near Eagle Lake, Trinity Bay and Rockport. A few mallards are beginning to show in bags and more should show as the forecasted cold blast passes through Texas this week. Goose hunting continues to suffer due to light winds and high skies. Several large concentrations of snows are being hunted between Eagle Lake and Egypt. Outfitters report not as many young birds as forecasts predicted. Rice fields with standing water have been the ticket for hold geese. The second split of duck season runs Dec. 9–Jan. 27. Prospects for geese are fair to good.