Passport to Texas

Texas Drought and Teal Season 2011 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Here’s good news: Teal season begins September 10 and runs 16 days this year, because survey says:

06— This year blue wing numbers are at 8.9 million, and that’s rivaling mallard numbers, which is really unheard of.

Dave Morrison, small game program director at parks and wildlife, says teal breeding grounds up north are as wet as they’ve been in decades.

13—And, so you look up there….more water…there are flood conditions all through the Dakotas…setting up for a great season next year with respect to breeding. You move south to Texas and ducks are going to have to bring their own water…because we don’t have any water down here.

That’s not the end of bad news. Even if we receive substantial storms between now and the season opener thus breaking drought conditions, challenges remain.

11—Even if we do get storms that drop water—there’s no groceries. So, it’s going to be a tough season this year. And, you know, shoot, those teal may get up there, look around, and say ‘Hey, I’m done; I’m moving on to Mexico.’

What advice does Dave Morrison have to offer hopeful hunters?

14—Find you some water. Because, if you’ve got water that’s fresh, and you’ve got some groceries, you’re going to be in a premier spot, because you ought to be able to find some birds sitting n that water. Do you have a secret spot with water that you can tell us about? No ma’am. That’s my secret!

Find hunting information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The SFWR supports our series…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.