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

High Plains Mallard Management Unit (Panhandle) — Goose season began with a bang across the High Plains. Lots of geese around Etter and Dumas, and Canadas readily decoyed over corn, milo and plowed ground. Snow geese were a little skittish with the mild temperatures and low juvenile count. Duck numbers are solid throughout. An abundance of playa lakes has ducks scattered throughout the region. Still lots of blue-winged teal in the region. Sandhill crane numbers are outstanding, according to several outfitters. Plowed ground and corn has been best for the large gray birds. Knox City hunters have taken limits of wigeons, gadwalls and teal. Specklebellies and Canadas have decoyed well there, too. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Northeast Texas continues to be plagued by high water in bayous, rivers and sloughs. Though some waterways have receded, many remain too deep to attract puddle ducks like wigeons, gadwalls and teal. Lots of forage on the ground from summer rains, but the ducks have not been able to find it due to the abundance of water. Lots of wood ducks in the backwaters, but many hunters have reported an abundance of snakes with the mild temperatures and flood waters. Canvasbacks and other divers have been reported on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork. Hunting has been best in the North Zone along the IH-10 corridor of the coastal prairie. Lots of blue-winged teal remain in Texas and have been consistent bag-fillers. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: Duck hunters continue to enjoy steady shoots along the coastal prairies of Garwood, Wharton, Eagle Lake, Hungerford, East Bernard, El Campo and Collegeport. The brunt of the bag has been blue-winged teal, but hunters are not complaining. Good numbers of wigeons and gadwalls showed in Texas early last week and readily decoyed on prairie ponds. Pintails have been a bit skittish for some hunters. Redheads finally showed on the bays and shoalgrass flats of the middle coast. Limits of divers were taken in Port O’Connor and Rockport. Hunters reported fewer gadwalls and wigeons in the back lakes. Ducks were scattered a bit on the bay with higher than normal tides – two feet high in some places. Snow geese continue to trickle to the coast, but few huntable concentrations have been reported. Outfitters are holding off on light goose hunting until the brunt of the population arrives. Specklebelly numbers are fair, and some duck hunters have taken limits from blinds. Last week’s weather was not conducive to goose hunting. Prospects are good.

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On the Net:

Hunting Regulations: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/
Migration Observations: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/wtrfowl/migration.php
Submit Your Observations: http://www.ducks.org/migrationmap/