GADWALL: Though not much to look at, this dabbling 
duck is popular with waterfowlers ... details are ahead on 
Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

(SFX: GADWALL CALL) :16 ... ESTABLISH THEN PLAY 
THROUGH UNTIL SFX ENDS

A rather non-descript gray colored bird with black rump 
and telltale call is the most harvested waterfowl species 
in Texas.

"The number one duck that we harvest would be gadwall 
followed by green wings and mallards."

Dave Morrison is the Waterfowl Program Leader for Texas 
Parks and Wildlife. He says gadwall is a late nester, and 
breeds in the prairie pothole region before making the 
trek to Texas. 

"Gadwall typically start moving into Texas sometime late October 
early November, and there are some earlier arrivals."

He adds that this dabbling duck eats only plants.

"Gadwalls are vegetarians. And anyone who's hunted gadwalls 
much, know they like lots of grass in the ponds. You want open 
ponds with a lot of submerged vegetation in them."

Morrison tells us where to look for gadwall this upcoming 
duck season ... 

"Wherever you can find them. You see them sometimes in 
wooded areas, but not as much. They tend to like open areas, 
although you do find them in flooded timber. But probably the 
coastal areas would be the best place, rice fields and places like 
that."

For information on duck hunting in Texas, visit the Texas 
Parks and Wildlife web site: http:www.tpwd.state.tx.us

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.