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

Sept. 20, 2006

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

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

Teal Season: Teal hunting slowed a bit during the second week; however, hunting success remains above average on the coastal prairies and marshes. Eagle Lake, El Campo, Garwood and Wharton all posted solid straps, though many hunters reported birds were flying high over the weekend. Winnie and Devers reported good hunts as well, though birds were not as concentrated compared to opening weekend. The High Island and Anahuac marsh was solid in some spots. Hunters setting up in the Trinity Bay marsh saw average hunting at best. Hunters in East Texas and North Texas saw mixed results. Heavy rain fell early in the week which helped put water in some ponds; however, best results have been on established waterways such as large lakes and reservoirs. Public hunters on TPWD wildlife management areas continue to get the best bang for their buck. Peach Point WMA near Freeport reported 75 hunters took 3.4 birds per man Saturday, and 72 hunters took 2 bpm Sunday. Mad Island WMA near Bay City saw 16 hunters take 3 bpm Saturday, and 14 hunters took 3.9 bpm Sunday. Guadalupe Delta WMA near Port Lavaca reported poor hunting success, as did the McFaddin Refuge near High Island. The cool front that blew through Texas early this week should push new birds to the area. Habitat conditions remain good on the coast. Teal season closes at sunset Sept. 24. Prospects are good.

North Zone Dove: The good news is the Panhandle region is beginning to "green up" as a result of heavy rains during the past three weeks. The bad news is the rains have scattered doves across the region. Best hunts have been in milo fields. Playa lakes are holding water as a result of the recent precipitation and doves are watering there in the afternoon. Rains early this week put a damper on dove hunting in North Texas, but residents there are not complaining. The region has been dry for two years now and any water from the sky is a welcomed sight. Afternoon hunts around watering holes continue to be the best odds for success. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: Uvalde, Sabinal, Hondo and San Antonio continue to be the locales coughing up solid dove shoots. Hunting slowed early this week when the region received hours of drenching rains. The rains scattered doves for a bit, but expect concentrations to trickle back to feeding fields as the weather stabilizes. Hunters close to the dividing line between the Central and South Zones have taken half-limits around Sealy, Winnie, Devers and China. Hunter participation has waned recently. Most hunters positioned close to the South Zone are choosing to wait until the South Zone opens Sept. 22 since most of the birds are congregated in the South Zone due to lack of hunting pressure. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Dove: Conditions look favorable for a solid South Zone dove opener Sept. 22. Early week rains might have scattered concentrations a bit; however, high pressure is expected to set in after the early week cool front and prove for perfect hunting conditions. Fields near George West, Three Rivers, Harlingen, Laredo, Harlingen, Port Mansfield, Freer, Uvalde, Tilden and San Antonio should produce strong shoots. Matagorda, Wharton, Brazoria, Chambers, Jefferson, Jackson and Calhoun County fields are holding lots of doves in agricultural fields and on high lines. Lots of whitewings should be taken with mourning doves. Prospects are good.

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On the Net:

Hunting Regulations: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/
Avian Influenza: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/birdflu/

BG 2006-09-20

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