EARLY TEAL, 2: The early hunter gets the teal ... that is
 ... providing Mother Nature cooperates ... we'll explain on Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

They pass through Texas heading south, early, and then 
return north, late. That's the nature of teal -- a migratory 
waterfowl that's a favorite of Texas hunters. If not for early
teal season, many hunters wouldn't have a chance to harvest 
these birds.

"They're not as available during the regular duck season. 
A lot of times they're already through here and gone."
Dave Morrison is waterfowl program leader for Texas Parks 
and Wildlife. Early teal season can last nine or sixteen days. 
This year's season is September 17th through the 25th.

"One of the things you have to look at for September teal season 
is population estimates. We have triggers. This year, we fell at 
four point six million. The trigger for the sixteen day season is 
four point seven. So we're on the high end of that for the nine 
day season."

And while that means the season should be productive, 
Nature can still play the wild card. 

"If we get the right weather conditions, and we get the right weather 
patters, we should have a good teal season. But, Mother nature 
is the one part of this puzzle that we never will understand. If we 
get an early cold front, or we get something that happens between 
now and then, the birds blow through early, say, it stays warm north 
of us, and they have more of a staggered migration, then people 
will say 'well, it's not very good,' despite the fact that, I think, that 
with numbers being up, with conditions like they were, we should 
have pretty good production."

And if you harvest a banded bird, remember to report it.
That's our show. Made possible by a grant from the Sport 
Fish and Wildlife restoration Program ... for Texas Parks 
and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.