By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
The shift from late summer to early fall signals the start of the early teal season.
It is estimated 40,000-45,000 hunters participate in teal season each year in Texas, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) Waterfowl Program Director Kevin Kraai.
The statewide season runs Sept. 11-26, offering waterfowl hunters 16 days of exciting opportunity to harvest the small member of the duck family.
“Early teal seasons are a really big deal to waterfowl hunters, especially in the state of Texas where we by far have the highest participation,” Kraai said. “There are three species of teal in North America: the blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal. The blue-winged are early migrators, and that’s largely what the harvest is made of during our early season here.”
Although TPWD estimates the overall teal population will be down this year due to ongoing drought in their Dakotas breeding grounds, he said Texas hunters will likely not notice a difference in the number of birds in the area.
This is due to the unusually wet spring and summer across much of the Lone Star State. Gulf Coast rice fields, marshes and estuaries—prime staging areas for blue-winged teal—will host hundreds of thousands of birds heading south for the winter.
The High Plains and Texas Panhandle should also have a good turnout this year, thanks to the moisture. Kraai noted playa lakes and shallow waterways across the region are full for the first time in several years, providing plenty of water and food for the migratory teal.
“We’re looking at a really good opportunity here for waterfowls for sure,” he said.
He reminded hunters to be sure their hunting license is renewed for the 2021-22 season and that they have purchased the Texas migratory game bird endorsement before heading out. Teal hunters 16 years of age or older also must have a valid Federal Duck Stamp and Harvest Information Program (HIP) Certification.
Bag limits are six per day per person with a possession limit of 18 birds. Legal shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Hunting licenses and permits may be purchased online.
For more information on teal and other hunting seasons in Texas, view TPWD’s Outdoor Annual.