By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is forecasting a “fair” teal hunting season this fall. The statewide season opened Sept. 10 and runs through Sept. 25.
“Recent rains have provided a much-needed boost to habitat conditions heading into opening day, so I am expecting a fair teal season this year,” Kevin Kraai, TPWD waterfowl program leader, said. “Things can change, but I hope the forecasts continue to look favorable for more rain in the next few days.”
In August, when teal started migrating into Texas, conditions across much of the state were exceptionally dry, which could have had a negative impact on waterfowl hunting.
“(Waterfowl) are going to be looking for any fresh water they can find,” Kraai told the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “Without question, in years of drought, we see fewer ducks in Texas. Ducks have wings for a reason, and if some of our neighboring states have better habitat conditions, they most certainly will go there.”
Fortunately, over the past few weeks, parts of South Texas and the Gulf Coast received 400 to 600% of their normal rainfall in the past month.
Areas of northeast Texas received record rainfall, causing rivers and reservoir levels to rise, which increased the amount of available waterfowl habitat.
That’s good news for duck hunters.
“(Ducks) have an uncanny sense of knowing where new water is,” Kraai said. “They’ll fly hundreds and hundreds of miles in a given day just because they somehow sense there’s new water on the landscape.”
The Playa wetlands in the Panhandle also received some much-needed rains over the past few weeks, allowing the area to provide good stopover habitat to teal that continue to migrate.
Unfortunately, much of Central and East Texas is still very dry and rainfall is needed.
The number of ducks in those areas may be lower than in areas that received more rainfall.
“All of our reservoirs in East Texas (were) very, very low,” Kraai said. “That can actually be a good thing because when the water levels are low throughout the growing season, a bunch of good terrestrial vegetation grows around the edge where the water receded.”
Then, when the area receives rain again, and water levels rise, it will flood the vegetation that grew this summer.
“That’ll be really good actually,” Kraai said. “There’s one of those bright little pieces there. Sometimes drought is important to do good habitat work and allow certain vegetation to grow, but it certainly requires follow-up from Mother Nature.”
Conditions in Texas aren’t the only factor that impacts the number of ducks hunters will see this year.
The habitat in the Dakotas and Canada, where the ducks breed, are also important.
“We’ve been on the heels of a couple of years of drought in the prairies, and due to COVID, our annual breeding population survey has been cancelled the previous two years,” Kraai said. “This year, we were able to perform that survey again. The good news is, for some areas of great importance to breeding ducks especially, it got very, very wet.”
The Eastern Dakotas received a significant amount of rain this spring that increased duck productivity and the duck population.
The survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates blue-wing teal numbers increased 19% from the 2019 survey.
“Blue-winged teal saw some excellent production that will add lots of juvenile birds to the already healthy population that is winging their way south now,” Kraai said.
Blue-winged teal are the second most abundant duck in North America, per TPWD. They are the most prevalent duck in Texas during the special early teal season.
In Texas, hunters can bag blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and cinnamon teal. The daily bag limit is six birds. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
Waterfowl hunters are required to have a valid Texas hunting license, Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, a valid federal duck stamp and Harvest Information Program (HIP) Certification.
Hunters born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 must also carry proof they have completed Hunter Education or have proof of an approved deferral.
Teal hunting regulations are available in the print Outdoor Annual and here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animals/blue-winged-green-winged-and-cinnamon-teal.
The rail, gallinule and moorehen hunting season also opens statewide Saturday and runs through Sept. 25. It then reopens Nov. 5-Dec. 28.
Details are available here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animals/king-and-clapper-rails.
The Early Canada Goose season in the eastern part of the state also opens Saturday.