Nov. 19, 2008
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: The front brought new
birds to the region but mild temperatures quickly returned.
Outfitters have said temperatures in the 70s have not prompted
geese to feed heavily, which has hurt decoying action. Many
outfitters have said there are plenty of Canadas and snows to
hunt; but, weather has been the ingredient to harvest them. Duck
numbers look good on playas and feed lots. More mallards showed
with the front. Knox City and Haskell County hunters have taken
limits of wigeons, teal, gadwalls and a few mallards. Water
conditions look better in the northern region of the Panhandle
compared to the southern. Sandhill cranes numbers are strong and a
few good hunts have been posted. Again, mild conditions and high
skies have limited hunters. Prospects are good.
North Zone Duck: More ducks showed with the front.
Gadwalls, teal and woodies continue to be most consistent in bags,
but more mallards showed this week. Lots of woodies have been seen
early in the river bottoms. Locales say they are seeing many more
wood ducks than a year ago, probably due to better water
conditions. Area lakes and reservoirs are holding more divers than
normal. Divers like scaup and redheads are late getting to the
coastal bayfronts, but many have begun their migration since the
front. Lake Wright-Patman has been fair for gadwalls, teal and a
few divers. Lots of ringed-necks on Caddo Lake. Power plant lakes,
where hunting is prohibited, are holding large concentrations of
birds. The river bottoms have water but could use another doze of
soaking rains. Fields in Brookshire, Winnie, Nome, Sealy and Katy
received rain that recharged duck ponds. Second-cropped rice
fields have been best for teal, gadwalls, shovelers and mottled
ducks. Many hunters have reported seeing more mottled ducks on
inland fields on the east side of Houston, probably due to
deteriorating marsh conditions brought about by Hurricane Ike. The
first split of duck season runs through Nov. 30. Prospects are
fair to good.
South Zone Duck: Duck hunters have seen consistent action
on prairie ponds, especially since three to seven inches of rain
fell last week. The recent front deposited new birds to the
region, including more green-winged teal. Lots of bluewings still
hanging around, especially in the marsh near Collegeport. Wharton,
Garwood, Eagle Lake, East Bernard and El Campo ponds have been
steady, with the odd specklebelly being taken out of duck blinds.
Action on local wildlife management areas had been slim, but
action picked up with the front and new water to fill freshwater
compartments. Port O'Connor and Rockport hunters saw an influx of
redheads, scaup and pintails. The hard north wind associated with
the front blew some of the pintails from the prairie to the marsh.
A stiff southerly wind should send them back, quickly. Goose
numbers continue to build. The front pushed many more snow geese
to the coast which hit fresh cut second-cropped rice fields. Good
hunts were posted with a little fog and south winds that blew
before the front. A good ration of young to old birds has helped
decoying action--the same can be said for specklebellies. No
reports of Canada geese, yet. The first split of duck season runs
through Nov. 30. Prospects are good.
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