Waterfowl seasons for Texas
Chris Barnes
Rain Improves Prospects for Another Good Season
by BRIAN SULLIVAN
Texas waterfowlers now can finalize their hunt plans. The Texas Parks
and Wildlife Commission has put together the final pieces of the
2001-02 Texas waterfowl-hunting puzzle. At the August 29 meeting in
Austin, Commissioners adopted the late waterfowl seasons as proposed
by staff. The September teal season was adopted at the Commission's
previous meeting. The teal opener on September 15 kicks off another
potentially good year for Texas waterfowlers.
With the exception of a shorter season for canvasbacks, there were few
changes to the waterfowl seasons. Sometimes no news is good news - the
long and liberal waterfowl seasons of recent years remain in place.
The canvasback breeding population has declined for several years, and
waterfowl managers were concerned about potential overharvest.
Canvasback hunting is restricted to 25 consecutive days in the Central
Flyway, and TPW waterfowl managers chose to place those days at the end
of the season. "Canvasbacks are considered a trophy bird, and their
plumage is best late in the season", said Dave Morrison, TPW's Waterfowl
Program Leader.
Several potential changes were discussed by TPW staff and hunters, but
not implemented. Staff had floated a proposal to move the duck zone
boundary, giving North Zone season dates to the upper coast region. The
proposal was dropped due to lack of public support. Morrison said the
Department's Migratory Wildlife Advisory Board recommended keeping the
South Duck Zone season open in early December. The closed period of the
split season has occurred in early December in recent years. Staff will
study the implications of this proposal on duck harvest and hunter
preferences in time for next year's season setting process.
Rumors circulated among hunters this summer that the duck season could be
moved later, closing at the end of January. However, federal rules
remain in place that require all but 3 states to close their duck season
by the Sunday nearest January 20. Only three states (Alabama,
Mississippi, and Tennessee) have a special exception allowing open duck
seasons until January 31. In exchange for the later season, these states
must implement a 15% reduction is season length. Motorized duck decoys
have been another hot topic among hunters. Several states have
restricted the use of spinning-winged decoys for waterfowl hunting, but
the devices remain legal in Texas.
Here is a summary of the 2001-02 Texas waterfowl seasons:
SEPTEMBER TEAL SEASON
Dates: Sept. 15-30
Bag Limit: 4 teal
REGULAR DUCK SEASON
HIGH PLAINS MALLARD MANAGEMENT UNIT
Youth Weekend: Oct. 13-14 (canvasbacks are legal)
Regular Season: Oct. 20-22 and Oct. 27 - Jan. 20
Canvasback Season: Dec. 27 - Jan. 20
NORTH ZONE
Youth Weekend: Oct. 20-21 (canvasbacks are legal)
Regular Season: Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 10 - Jan. 20
Canvasback Season: Dec. 27 - Jan. 20
SOUTH ZONE
Youth Weekend: Oct. 20-21 (canvasbacks are legal)
Regular Season: Oct. 27 - Nov. 25 and Dec. 8 - Jan. 20
Canvasback Season: Dec. 27 - Jan. 20
The bag limit for all zones is 6 ducks, to include no more than 5 mallards
(only 2 may be hens), 3 scaup, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail,
1 mottled duck, and 1 canvasback. Canvasbacks are legal only during
Dec. 27 - Jan. 20, and during the youth weekends. The bag limit for
mergansers is 5, to include no more than 1 hooded merganser.
REGULAR GOOSE SEASON
WESTERN ZONE
Dates: Oct. 27 - Feb. 10
Bag Limit: 5 dark geese (no more than 1 white-fronted goose)
and 20 light geese.
EASTERN ZONE
Dates: Oct. 27 - Jan. 20
Bag Limit: 3 dark geese (no more than 2 white-fronted geese
and 1 Canada goose) and 20 light geese
LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION SEASON
WESTERN ZONE
Dates: Feb. 11 - Mar. 31
Bag Limit: None
EASTERN ZONE
Dates: Jan. 21 - Mar. 31
Bag Limit: None
A brochure detailing all of the late waterfowl season regulations will be
available at license vendors in October.
The breeding duck population was about 36 million birds this spring, down
14% from last year. However, most species are at or above their long-term
average levels, and another good fall flight is expected. Goose
production was good to excellent in eastern Arctic breeding areas, but
fair to poor in western areas. Goose hunters in the Texas coastal region
should see more young geese and better hunting success than last year.
Recent rains have greatly improved waterfowl habitat quality in many areas
of Texas. "Coastal habitat is in the best shape for late August in
several
years", according to Vernon Bevill, Game Bird Program Director for TPW.
Newly flooded areas should especially benefit early-migrating teal. Local
habitat conditions and weather patterns are primary factors that will
determine waterfowl hunting success this season.
BRIAN SULLIVAN is an Austin-based waterfowl hunter, biologist, consultant,
and writer. He publishes a newsletter for waterfowl hunters, available
free at http://www.naturebent.com
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Chris Barnes AOL IM: CNBarnes
chris....@mail.com ICQ: 3581645
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