Media Contact for This Release: Steve Lightfoot, (512) 389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us

Dec. 6, 2006

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

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

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Easy limits of Canadas have been taken near Dumas, Etter and Spearman. Goose hunters are taking two to three snows per man, too. The cold weather has the birds consistently flying to feeding fields. Lots of Ross’ geese have readily decoyed. Haskell County continues strong for Canadas. Specklebellies and snow geese are scattered in the mix. Duck hunting has been solid for mallards, wigeons, teal and gadwalls. The recent front deposited more mallards to the area. Any playa with water is holding ducks. Outfitters claim the pheasant hunting is as good. Prospects are good.

North Zone Waterfowl: The second split of duck season begins 30 minutes before sunrise* Dec. 9. The first split of duck season was fair in the region. Those on area lakes and reservoirs saw fair action for mallards, gadwalls, teal, divers and shovelers. Lack of rainfall remains a factor. Backwater sloughs and bayous remain dry. The recent front deposited new birds to the region. Mallards, gadwalls, wigeons and teal are holding in secluded areas of water on Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Cooper Lake, Lake O’the Pines, Caddo Lake, Lake Tawakoni and Lake Fork. Most backwater areas of the lakes are dry. Closer to the coast, rice fields with water are holding birds. November was dry in Texas and many ponds are evaporating. The region needs water badly. Prospects are fair in North Texas and fair to good closer to the coast.

South Zone Waterfowl: The second split of duck season begins 30 minutes before sunrise** Dec. 9. More mallards have found the region during the split and expect more on ponds with forecasted cold fronts this week. Gadwalls, wigeons, teal and shovelers have been the mainstays on ponds and in hunters’ bags during the first split. In the coastal marsh, stiff north winds have dropped water levels several feet below normal. Access to shallow, tidal ponds may be tough this weekend. Rockport, Seadrift, Matagorda, Galveston Bay, Trinity Bay and the Sabine Lake marsh look promising for the second-split opener. Goose hunting has been average at best. Since the Nov. 4 opener, goose hunters can count the number of “good goose hunting weather” days on one hand. A high ceiling and light winds have been the norm. Specklebellies are getting tougher to decoy. More Canada geese have moved into the region and hunters have been happily taking the bonus dark geese. The coastal prairie needs rain. Outfitters and wildlife managers will have to pump more water to roost ponds if significant rain does not fall in the next two weeks. Prospects are good.