Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
brian j. donovan
Field Editor

North Texas 07-30-2009 09:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
TP&WD is currently conducting a survey of waterfowl hunters seeking input on the proposed season frameworks and elimination of the Hunter’s Choice program. You can find the survey here:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/200908_late_migratory.phtml

Posted By:
brian j. donovan
Field Editor

North Texas 06-29-2009 08:00
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
DOVE, TEAL SEASONS SET

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SRC (Service Regulation Committee) has approved the 2009-2010 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide, and a 16-day early teal season.

Additionally, the SRC approved moving the Texas South Zone dove season opening the Friday nearest Sept. 20, but no earlier than the 17th. This year the season will open Sept. 18.

Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 25 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 9, with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

The South Zone dove season will run Sept. 18-Nov. 3, reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 17 with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

Possession limit is twice the daily bag for all migratory game birds except light geese, which currently does not have a possession limit.

The Special South Texas White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September running from Sept. 5-6 and 12-13 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 18 through Tuesday, Nov. 3 and again from Saturday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Jan. 13. The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area most close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. The daily bag limit is 15 birds, not more than four mourning doves during the first two weekend splits and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

The Service also approved a proposal to give TPWD the option to adjust a portion of the boundary of the Special White-winged Dove Area. This change would remove portions of Jim Hogg and Starr counties.

Texas’ 16-day September teal season will run Sept. 12-27.

The season for rail and gallinule is Sept. 12-27 and Oct. 31-Dec. 23; for snipe, Oct. 31-Feb. 14; and for woodcock, Dec. 18-Jan. 31.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Hubbard 01-24-2009 18:35
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted the Hubbard area for the first time ever. I was surprised with what I saw. The area has about 5 or 6 major flocks of snow geese that probably total around 75,000.
For central Texas, that’s a pretty fair number of geese.

We’ll try them again during the electronic call season in February.

Interested: Try www.HOTguidedhunts.net

Posted By:
rdwaterdog
Guest

North of Kemp,TX 01-13-2009 14:32
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
high NW winds from the front that hit on Friday night, we didnt think we were going to do that good on a private ponds we have been hunting all season. Turned out we got two out of the three limits just had to be sitting in the right spot(we moved once to get in a better position). We have been killing a consent 9 or 10 birds in the split season. Before the break we were taking 4 limits of widgeon, woods, gadwalls and mallards. Now were are just taking ringnecks, goldeneyes and gadwalls. Have not seen any widgeons for three weeks. A first time was a black bellied whistling ducks came thru with two passes we took three of the four.

We have not been putting much repeated presure on these ponds, not more then once a week and I think this has been keeping the birds in there.

Good luck
from East Texas

Posted By:
brian j. donovan
Field Editor

North Texas 01-09-2009 17:16
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Sorry I’ve been scarce this season, but there hasn’t been a whole lot to report.

North Texas has been feast or famine for the majority of the season, with current conditions leaning rather heavily towards famine. While large numbers of mallards were present on area lakes (and all over North Texas, for that matter) after the second split opener, those numbers have steadily dwindled over the course of the last month. The bird of the hour is the gadwall, which has been the staple duck on both large and small water for a number of weeks now. The one bright spot is the number of pintails being taken in the area for the last two to three weeks. Many pinnies appear to have short-stopped on their way to the coast to enjoy the mild weather we’ve been having. What birds remain in North Texas are extremely stale and the best bet is a small spread on a small piece of water with little to no calling.

To delight of winter wheat farmers and the irritation of hunters, snow geese have failed to congregate in the Whitesboro to Dorchester corridor the way they have for the last couple of seasons, though there are a few more Canadas around than there have been. On the whole, the goose outlook is dismal right now and absent some very heavy snowfall in the middle Plains states, the conservation season may be a bust in this part of Texas.

Low water conditions persist in near West Texas and have limited duck hunting opportunities for many hunters in that area. There are, however, good numbers of geese with heavy straps being taken both in the fields and over water. Large numbers of sandhills are also being taken from Benjamin all the way up through Lubbock and beyond.

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Cedar Creek 12-28-2008 11:21
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
You couldn’t have had more of a blue-bird day. My last time to hunt this spot was 1 week ago. There were lots of birds last time but there wasn’t ANYTHING to speak of expect for one area about 1000 yards away from us bird were going in a straight line to the area and I had my ideas.

We only shot at 1 group of mallards (8 total in the flock) and missed. I scouted after the hunt in the area I saw all the birds flying to. It was loaded with ducks. I didn’t disturb them so that so pay big dividends. I’ve thought that a couple of times this season so I better be due.

This year has been awful. I know this year they said the bird numbers are down but they seem way down to me. I’ve hunted many spots and it’s close to the same story in all the areas I’ve hunted.

I’m headed down to Choke in a couple of weeks. It’s been about 6 years since I’ve had the chance to make the drive from Dallas down there.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

Crowell Tx 12-26-2008 19:32
– – –
Anybody read posts on this state.?Anyone that hunts have any information on Water conditions and birds in Cromwell area.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

Crowell area 12-22-2008 16:25
– – –
A few years ago,when I had son living in Wichita Falls Tx.,my sons and I would get together every January and hunt that area.Always had fairley good success.Sayed at the Motel in Crowell.How has the water conditions been in that area?Are birds using the area?May plan a trip later in January.Any information would be appreciated,my friends and I will driving from Missouri,helpful if we had some information on the area.

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Cedar Creek 12-21-2008 13:24
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 60-65 Degrees
Really warm and foggy morning. There was consistent bird activity all morning, but the birds were very wary.

I like the area we hunted, but even being as concealed (camo-wise) as we were, we still stood out too much. There’s just no cover where we were at. I’m going to have to build out a natural blind as that would have paid very big dividends yesterday.

We only managed to scratch out a greenhead and a hooded merganser. If I would have had a blind made we probably would have been able to get our limits.

I was surprised that we didn’t run into any other hunters. I guess many folks have given up on this season.

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Cedar Creek 12-16-2008 20:01
Arctic Blast – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Many more birds in an area I have hunted in 3 weeks. I need to get back out there for the morning hunt. There are such goods numbers that I should be in for a good hunt next go round.

The weather is just perfect for it. I really should have gone out there this morning.

I took some shots tonight but they were passing shots. I had my full choke in for that very purpose but I wasn’t hitting squat.

Concealment will be the key for the morning hunt. They are pretty wary. A few minutes building out a temporary blind will go a long way. The next two mornings should prove productive will all of the cloud cover.

There many more mallards than last time. I would say that was the predominant duck. Widgeons, wood duck and teal were out there too.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Zapata, Texas 12-10-2008 20:43
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Just got back to work this morning and every tank in the ranch was covered in ducks. Looks like the front last knight brought in more than sleet. I have never seen so many gadwalls in one place. Gads make up the majority of the birds but I also saw Canvas Back ”they have been down here since early November” blue and green wing teal, widgeon, blue bills and pintails. I could actually see ducks dropping in all day to the tanks from the rig floor. I think these birds are roosting in the big water at night on nearby Falcon and coming to the tanks in the late morning and through out the day.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

12-07-2008 14:52
– – –
Muddy Bud, that’s the problem this year, little or no pressure translates into the birds forming massive feeding colonies.

I had breakfast with a biologist for the state yesterday morning. He doesn’t work directly with the ducks and geese, but many in his department do. He told me the hunting pressure on waterfowl in Texas is off over 60% so far this season. Said they bought the licenses back in September, hunted the doves early, but have not shown interest in the ducks and geese.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Ricardo Texas 12-07-2008 11:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
We went out and hunted a partially cut winter peas field in northern Kleberg county on Sat. morning. The morning sounded promising with a large number of geese roosted up on a huge lake on the nearby King Ranch. We had a spread made up of about 150 dekes most of which were rags. About 07:00 the geese decided to come off the roost at the same time as so commonly done down here. Well any way they came right over our spread on the fringe of our shooting range, so we waited to see if we had some younger ones circle lower. We did and dropped 4 snows and 2 blues. The next flight was a few specks that came over about thirty minutes later and we got two. The wind had completly stopped by this time and flare after flare continued till 10:00 when we decided to call it quits. But over all this is a typical hunt for South Texas. There lots of geese down here but they are staying together in huge numbers.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

12-06-2008 15:04
– – –
Here’s a possible idea for you and I think you would find the landowners agreeable.
Think West. Stephens & Throckmorton Counties have tons of tanks on the varoius farms & ranches. They are usually loaded with ducks, as most of these farmers/ranchers plant winter wheat.

They do hunt quite a bit, but ducks are not on the adgenda. They hunt deer, turkey, hogs, but mostly quail. Getting permission to hunt these tanks usually only takes a visit with the landowner. As long as you leave the quail alone, they say “have at it.” We took over 200 last year, and the local game warden said that probably made up 90% of the total kill. People just don’t hunt them up there.

With little or no pressure on them the ducks almost become barn yard animals.
It’s a 3 hour drive from the Metroplex, but well worth it.

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

12-06-2008 09:40
– – –
I appreciate the candid feedback and it all makes sense to me.

Thinking back on it (circa 2002) there used to be many reports that would come out of Devers and SE Texas, so I certainly concur with you there. Not only that, but I used to see reports from all over the state.

Somebody must be asleep at the wheel if they aren’t responding to your applications to be a Field Editor. That’s disappointing.

I can understand how money issues can create problems but duck huntes like us who take the time to post for our fellow hunters doesn’t cost anything. I enjoyed some of the other perks of the site but this section is the main driver for why I became a member. If this aspect of the site was “healthy” then I would still frequently visit and post.

This has been a down year. I hunt around the DFW area and there are very few places holding “ducky” water. Every lake in the state is low. I have been able to find some flooded back areas that have managed to retain water and those spots have proven to be the most productive. Big lake hunting (at least up here) is the worst I’ve ever seen. Ray Bob used to be decently productive and it’s a ghostland this year.

Scouting goes a long way in a year like this. Find back-water areas with food and you’ll find ducks. There’s not many spots like that but the upside there is that there’s a higher concentration of birds in those areas because of the limited availability of such places. It can be a good problem to have because we all know how too much water spreads birds out.

Ducks are so much smarter than people like to give them credit for. There’s a reason why you see them stacked up on tanks and farm ponds but then you go to a big reservoir 5 minutes down the road and you don’t see squat. Someday I will transition to private hunting because that’s where it’s at. Again, that’s my perspective for the areas I hunt. I have seen there decline over the years. There are still some prime public opportunities but I’m realizing you’ve got to pay to play.

Yeah, I agree with folks that say you don’t have to kill a duck every time you go out, but I know this much. If I went out every time and didn’t kill a duck I’d quit going out. We’re called duck hunters for a reason. If it was just/all about the experience they should call “experience hunters”.

Well, hopefully people will start chiming in more. There’s an old adage that says “you’ve got to give…to get.”

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

12-05-2008 16:39
– – –
Two possible reasons come to mind. I don’t have all the facts, but these two rank pretty high.

1. Hurricane Ike did a number on Duck & Goose hunting in the SE Corner of the state. For years, it’s overall been the hot side for hunting and posting on this site.
Salt water and ducks don’t get along too well when it comes to their food chain. On top of that, SE Texas (usually the wet corner of Texas) has been in a dry spell for months. They need the rain to flush out the salt deposits in the marshes. Without it, the recovery will be delayed. Hunting year 2008-09 is a bust for waterfowlers.
No way around it.

2. With SE Texas hunting slowed, I’ve visited other states on this board. There is much talk that this site is not delivering on all the perks and updates.
Many are saying it’s financial.

Either way, you are correct. The site is way less than it used to be. That’s sad. I really enjoyed coming here for years. It was a real asset and fun to visit. The only way it makes it is for the owners to get with the program. I don’t think Brian has posted in over a year now. I know that many other states are experiencing the same problem. I offered to help out as a field editor, and applied 4 times. I never got an answer back.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-12-05 16:43]

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

12-02-2008 12:22
– – –
Is Brian Donovan still our Field Editor? He used to contribute frequent and insightful reports.

The number of posts in general is way down this year. This used to be a very productive discussion board. Any ideas on why it’s fallen off so much?

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

near the Trinity River in north Texas 11-30-2008 19:44
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Got my woodie limit which is always a great day for me. I completely blew an opportunity on two green heads that on jumped up as I approached my hunting area. I should have anticipated there being something other than woodies in the area I was going to hunt. It was a complete rookie mistake and I’m being hard on myself because I’ve yet to shoot a mallard this season.

I wasn’t going to do the evening hunt but with the split coming up I wanted some birds for some gumbo while I could still get them.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Laguna Madre 11-23-2008 09:41
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
Since I couldnt find any ducks in Port Bay I hunted some spoil islands north of the JFK bridge yesterday afternoon. One thing was evedent the major numbers of red heads and blue bills are not here yet but the ones that are here are decoying great. I did manage a limit with two Red Heads,one pintail and one green wing and a widgeon. The number of ducks seen was not the sun blocking clouds of birds that usually gets up during the last hour of shooting but it was steady. There will be huge numbers of Reds here after the split. If youve never witnessed the evening flight over the Laguna Madre in mid to late December and you love watching ducks you need to see this.

[Edited By Muddy Bud on 2008-11-23 09:44]

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Port Bay Near Rock Port 11-23-2008 09:25
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted the back of Port Bay Saturday and the duck action was pretty slow. We did manage to shoot two snows geese that drifted in off the bay right at us. We probably would have dropped a couple more but my gun jammed after the firt shot and my son was shooting a 20 gauge in 4 shot. One pintail and a ring neck was about the extent of our duck shoot. Those were the only 2 ducks seen all morning.

Posted By:
srdc/caller
Guest

Pierce Ranch/Wharton/El Campo area 11-21-2008 11:17
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
6 of us hunted with WS Sherrill at the Pierce Ranch for three days this week. He has lots of pumped water and rice so he has the birds. No weather at all, pure bluebird golf weather. Limited on ducks every day. Only tried the geese one day..all our specks and 2 snows. His Phone # 979 532 1789, bookings are way down due to economy, lots of young snows, but you still need wind and clouds!! good hunting!!!

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

near the Trinity River in north Texas 11-19-2008 22:15
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I knew what I was getting in for…wood ducks. I just love’m. Great looking and great tasting.

They started coming to roost about 20 minutes before sunset. I got my 2 bird limit pretty quickly. The birds just kept coming in. It was nice watching all the activity. I was wading out to the middle of this 100 yard long/10 foot wide slough to grab my ducks and the birds didn’t mind me. They kept on coming in.

I had a feeling I was in for it though. I knew it was going to be too deep to get my ducks. I wasn’t about to let two prized beauties like that go to waste so I stripped down and went for a swim. Thank the good Lord it wasn’t January or it would have been more uncomfortable than it already was. That’s the second time I’ve had to do that in my life and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I absolutely hate losing a duck.

I did see a few hooded mergansers. The were perfect specimens. I like to look at them but they aren’t worth a darn for eating so I pass on them. I was surprised to see diving ducks up in a slough like that. I have noticed that with hoodeds’ from time to time. That’s unlike what I’ve observed from other diver ducks.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Zapata, Texas 11-17-2008 20:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Got a break from work this morning and got a chance to run and check out Falcon Lake this morning. While observing from the bank I ran in to a local game warden and asked him about duck hunting on the lake. He told me hunting pressure down here was extremely light. He also stated that the duck numbers are realy high and I believe him. From the bank we saw huge morning flights of teal, pintails and gadwalls. Wave after wave of ducks flying in from North to South. I might bring my boat down here when I come back and hunt the second split before going back home.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

11-15-2008 11:15
– – –
They do the late season hunting about half way between Waco and Dallas.
It’s done in Winter wheat fields.
The vast majority of these bitds arrive after Christmas thru January.
There is very little hunting pressure in the area and the birds really ‘settle’ in.
The even do cow boarding, which is a blast.

Look under goose hunting at this site for information.
http://www.hunting-in-texas.com/hot.htm

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-11-15 11:18]

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

11-14-2008 07:31
– – –
dwill, I think you said most of their special conserv. hunting was done i Central Texas. Where about in Central Texas do they offer there late season hunting, when I asked my guide about their goose hunting he metioned the Bay City area and Waller County Texas. I have hunted around the katy area on a couple of occassions in the past 2 years with 2 different outfitters one of whom of which is very well known but I wont mention there name. Any way The first time I was there in 2006 on a two day hunt we shot seven geese, the next year with a different outfitter also a 2 day hunt we saw thousands of geese but we only shot 4 on a flurry sky bust. We shoot more geese than that down here in South Texas on a morning hunt. But if you say Central Texas conservation order hunting is better then I sure would like to look in to it. How have ya’ll done on past hunts to this area?

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

11-13-2008 13:59
– – –
Muddy, you need to give 1A’s goose hunting a shot. It’s the real deal. Especially in the extended season.

http://www.hunting-in-texas.com/hot.htm

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-11-13 14:02]

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Port Bay Near Rock Port 11-13-2008 10:33
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
On Sunday morning my son and I hunted the south end of port bay and shot our limits in a couple of hours. Blue bills and Red heads being the majority of ducks coming in. We did shoot a few teal and two pinnys. The big bulk of divers that usually hangs around have not arrived in full yet. But the geese are increasingly making themselves more present. I will have try and hit them when I get back in. Right now I am working down in Zapata County and driving down the ranch road to the rig I passed several stock tanks that are just covered in ducks. They were not here two weeks ago. Man I wish I had permition to hunt one of these tanks.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Choke Canyon Res. 11-13-2008 10:19
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Sorry I couldnt get my report in earlier but I just moved into a new house and my computer is not set up yet, so I had to wait til I got back to work. As stated in my last post a couple of weeks ago I finally made my hunt on Choke With 1A guide service on the 7th of Nov. I was outstanding. we had four hunters and 4 limits with in 1 hr. after the first shot was fired. We had a real cornacopia bag. 1 woodie, teal, widgeon, gadwall, and a couple of blue bills. Our guide Shannon Dubois with 1A really does his home work. As a matter of fact he’s made Choke his home for next three months. There were other hunters on the lake but I didnt hear them shoot as much as we did. If you are planning a trip to Choke and have never been there, I recomened the boys @ 1A they have years of experience on the lake and they know where the ducks are. The lake can get pretty dangerous when the winds kick up and there are thousands of submerged stumps and timber through out the lake. The hunting is great, the dog work is good and you can even bring your own dog if he is well mannered. Oh. yeah and the prices are very reasonable.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Northwest of Waco 11-13-2008 09:33
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Did a little tank jumping this morning just outside of Valley Mills. The gadwalls and mallards have arrived!

Only jumped 5 tanks but probably saw 300 ducks. We’ll decoy-hunt them next week.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-11-13 09:33]

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Ray Roberts 11-12-2008 16:54
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted Ray Bob yesterday morning. It’s was absolutely pathetic. That will be my last hunt there. I’ve hunted there over the years and it just seems to get worse and worse.

We saw literaly maybe 3 small groups of ducks flying way off in the distance. We had one group decoy and they turned out to be all shovelers. It was my bud’s first hunt and he at least got his first bird, but it had to be a shoveler hen. That sums up the days hunt.

They should change the name of Ray Roberts to the Dead Sea.

Posted By:
GANSAL
Web Member

Mexico (50 miles south of brownsville) 11-11-2008 13:36
– – –
I hunted last weakend and it was just great..
we made 2 hunts the firt we kill 53 snows and some speks and on saturday 71 also with snows, ross, speks, and blues……. there are thousands of geese down here.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

11-11-2008 08:46
– – –
The snows are barely beginning to trickle in! I saw the first few flocks riding the winds and heading south this morning. The front due in Friday should really put a few in the rice fields.

Posted By:
rdwaterdog
Guest

South of Canton 11-10-2008 10:49
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Saw 9 birds before LST and 6 more high flying after sun came up. We quit early because there was nothing flying. We still need more cold up north.

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Richland Chambers 11-09-2008 20:08
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted the middle of cove that’s used as a flight lane. I stood against and old dead oak tree that ran right next to the creek channel because I figured I’d get more passing shots at birds going straight up and down the cove.

There weren’t many birds using the cove I was in but I was perfectly positioned for the ones who did. I took 1 hooded merganser. I haven’t shot one of those in years. Beautiful bird but not the tastiest of ducks.

Looking out on the big part of the lake I noticed many flocks of teals all heading in the same direction. That started around 5 and lasted about 15 minutes.

Headed back out Tuesday AM. Going to hit Lewisville. Looking forward to hitting up a new lake.

Posted By:
Dabble
Gold Sponsor

ND 11-08-2008 18:37
– – –
Snows are on their way with all the big wind in ND. Enjoy www.waterfowljunkie.com

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Richland Chambers 11-08-2008 16:01
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Took one gadwall hen. Defintely not a “ducky” day weather wise. I’m seeing pretty much only gadwalls and green wings.

Did see 5 Canada geese. That was a first for me in this part of the state. That would have made my day to have a chance to take a crack at them but they were about 70 yards away.

We still need a true norhtern to blow
through to build up the numbers and variety of birds.

Going back out tomorrow. I’m not expecting much but still want to get out.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

11-04-2008 08:40
– – –
Muddy, talk to the 1A guys about their goose hunting. They do a nice job. Have a super hunting lodge near the lease. There geese show up in numbers in January.

I know it sounds crazy, but their goose hunting is in Central Texas. We have a group of 8 booked on the 3rd weekend of January. I think he said his weekends are now sold out, but he has some weekday hunts left. They offer cow board hunts in the Spring season and average around 80 snows a day.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-11-04 08:41]

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Choke Canyon Resevoir 11-03-2008 21:34
– – –
I just spoke to the guide I will be hunting with this Friday at Choke Canyon and the report he gave me for the opener was good. They had two parties of four on Sat. and limited out with in 45 minutes. Sunday him and 2 hunters limited out in about the same amount of time. They had a mix bag of birds teal,widgeon,black bellie whistler,woodies and gadwall. He also mentioned a group of mallards that came in before shooting hours on Sunday. I hope they hang around a few more days. I am sure looking forward to it since I have never shot a mallard.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

11-03-2008 13:32
– – –
Guys, just be glad you are in Texas.
Those poor smucks out in California are so ram-rodded by State regulations, you are lucky if you can have a 5 bird day. Their State control is so bad, that you must draw for approved hunting areas controlled by State mandates.

There are no 75-100 goose kill days in California. If a left-coaster gets a dozen geese for the YEAR… he had a hell of a season.

Their State controlled hunting just flat sucks.
Texans will kill more geese in a weekend, than Californians will kill in a season.
It’s pitiful.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-11-03 13:37]

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Richland Chambers 11-02-2008 21:30
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – Over 70 Degrees
We were paddling in the canoe towards our spot and jumped up probably a few hundered total (many seperate groups)of maninly gadwalls. It was mainly a scouting trip but we didn’t hunt the last hour and a half before sunset. We shot at one gadwall drake and that was it. It would have been a excellent spot to hunt this morning. I expect that area to get better as the season progresses. We need a few more fronts to blow through.

Let’s start getting the discussion boards going now that the season is open. It would be good to hear from some others in the state.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Corpus Christi, Tx. 11-02-2008 13:19
– – –
Sorry to hear how slow the hunting is going. I was just checking in to hopefully see some better reports. But thats duck hunting in Texas. I am at work at the moment but will be returning home on the 5th. I have booked a trip to Choke Canyon with 1A guide service on the 7th. I hope the front blowing in on Thursday will bring some ducks with it.

[Edited By Muddy Bud on 2008-11-02 13:21]

Posted By:
tylersmcdaniel
Guest

Ray Roberts 11-01-2008 16:57
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted Ray Bob for the opener. It was the worst opener of my life. Didn’t hardly see any birds. We still all enjoyed just being out there, but I have to admit I was quite surprised at the lack of activity. We didn’t fire a shot. We had one group of 4 drake mallards and 1 hen buzz our dekes but they were just out of range. We didn’t hear much shooting on the lake in general.

Planning on hunting either Aquilla or Richland Chambers in the morning.

Longhorn31

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Upper Texas Coast 10-25-2008 16:02
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Man, it’s a sad sight to see.
The salt water is now killing all the vegitation along the upper Texas marshes.
Even the 4 legged wildlife is beginning to die off. First the grass, now the rats and fish… I guess the gators are next.
It will take a while for the reguges to get back to normal in these parts.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

10-24-2008 09:21
– – –
Those boys up North got smart.(Neb., Kansas)
They learned how to “shortstop” the big guys with crops and flooded fields. A good many Canadas never even make Oklahoma any more.
Give them food and they will stay.

Posted By:
GANSAL
Web Member

laguna madre mx 10-22-2008 12:11
– – –
I have hunted south from the border of Brownsville TX since the past 22 years, like 30 miles south of Matamoros Mexico (laguna madre).
There I remember 20 years ago it was common to kill 2 or 3 canadas every day, but that was back in the end of the 80´s.
Today is very rare even to watch a Richardson´s Canada Geese.
¿what happened?
By the way there are some small flocks of specklebellys allready down here.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

10-22-2008 08:32
– – –
Outside of the Panhandle and/or very late in the season, most any form of Canada’s is considered a real plus. To answer your east Texas question, I would say it’s pretty unique.

Where exactly are you? At the top of your post it says… Brownsville. But then you refer to Southeast Texas.

Beaumont, Winnie, Dam-B area is my old hunting grounds.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-10-22 08:34]

Posted By:
GANSAL
Web Member

near Brownsville tx 10-20-2008 04:55
– – –
How comon is to hunt a Richardson´s canada geese here in south east texas????

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Coastal Bend Near Riviera 10-16-2008 17:30
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
At last check on October 13 Big ducks are slowly filtering in with Pintails and Shovelers being the most present. Also getting some small flocks of specks showing up in some winter peas and grain stubble.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Upper Coast Salt Flats 10-06-2008 10:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
The tidal surge of Ike closed the window.
With 14 feet of salt water covering the upper Texas salt marsh, the die off has begun. What is usually the food for wintering ducks and geese, now it all sits dying from the intrusion of salt water. The entire area is dying from the effects.

Biologist say it will be short lived, and will have the effects of the Indians burning the plains. New and better grasses will appear next season, bring a bumper food supply. But for 2008, the waterfowl will have to go elsewhere for food supply.

The mid and lower Texas coasts should have a bumper year as they will get the extra waterfowl. Some 38 outfitters, along the upper Texas coast, have lost their hunting camps and birds for 2008.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Coastal Bend 10-04-2008 07:54
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Got back from work on the 24 of Sept. So naturally I was hunting on the 25,26 and the 28th. With three days of hunting I shot one teal on Friday morning. I guess with a week of steady north wind blowing,the birds took advantage of it and moved out. I did how ever see a lot more big ducks showing up teal were scarce. The season came in like a lion and out like a lamb. Oh well, the bright side is that it can only get better in November. In the mean time doves are plentifull and will provide some much needed practice and another reason to start the pit and drink a cold one with some friends.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Upper Texas Coastal Salt Grass 09-23-2008 15:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Well the Gators are sure getting fat and lazy.
With 3000 dead cattle to munch on… There should be some nice weight gains.

Problem is the entire area smells like death.
Old cattle heard took it on the chin.

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Valley 09-19-2008 20:52
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Working down in the McAllen area though I have seen a couple of bunches of teal flying late in the evening to some nearby water tanks,they just are not as present here as out on the coast. The doves are another story. I have seen some huge flights of white wing in the early morning and just before dark, ”man they got some doves down here”.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Winnie Area 09-19-2008 11:55
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Good to hear you mid-coast guys are doing good.
You can’t even get to the hunting areas on the upper coast. Even if you could, just about every duck camp is destroyed, and without roads, you can’t get to them.

Most upper Texas outfitters are looking at closing for this season. Without electricity, their camps are shut down and re-connects will take months. Some independant hunting make take place, but very little.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-09-19 11:57]

Posted By:
Muddy Bud
Guest

Coastal Bend 09-18-2008 18:09
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
First of all I would like to say to our friends in East Texas I hope you guys made it all right. I see the pictures in the news and cant help but feel very lucky. I dont wish this kind of destrucion on no one. Keep your heads up guys a lot of hard work is in store for you. But I know you guys can make it through after all we are Texan’s and work is no new thing for us.
My hopes & prayers are with you guys.

On a more tranquil note teal season is starting out great. We hunted four days in a row since satuday and limited out the first morning in 22 min. with four hunters in the Riviera area. Sunday the tide dropped enough to hunt the marsh area near Nueces bay and did just as well, even managed to pick up a couple of redfish on the way in. Monday and Tuesday slowed down somewhat but I still managed a limit with in a couple of hours. Lots of birds and lots of water.

[Edited By Muddy Bud on 2008-09-18 18:18]

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Oyster Bayou Marsh 09-11-2008 09:04
Cloudy, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
Damn Hurricanes… Another Early Teal Season that will be completely wiped out by Mother Nature. Well… maybe next year.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

White Wings filling the Bag Limits 09-08-2008 11:22
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
What a difference 5 years can make. In the Central Texas area 5 years ago, white wings were few and far between. Hunters this season are seeing the White wings make up 50%+ of the total kill.

To date the Central Texas area is having a wonderful opening of the 2008 dove season.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Upper Gulf Coast 09-08-2008 11:18
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
My Sabine Pass Contacts say they expect the best Gator season ever. They say they’ve never seen so many “Big Boys”.

Problem is this Piss-ant Hurricane called Ike. Looks like he’s got his mind made up to destroy this years teal season for the upper coast.

You don’t wish a hurricane on anybody… but SE Texas got Rita a short time back. It’s someone else’s turn.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-09-08 11:18]

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Breckenridge Texas 09-06-2008 15:39
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Dove numbers and the season are off to a great start. The Woodward Boys held their annual Dove opener this past Monday.

106 hunters in the field…
A bird kill at right at 1500.
Most limits were taken in 20-30 minutes.
2008 is off to a great start.

Posted By:
brian j. donovan
Field Editor

North Texas 07-30-2008 13:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
TPWD Finalizes Dove, Teal Seasons
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department finalized the early season migratory game bird regulations, which includes dove and teal seasons for 2008-09. Texas hunters will see a 16-day September teal season and no changes to the South Dove Zone segments.

The North Zone runs Sept. 1-Oct. 30, with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped dove; the Central Zone is Sept. 1-Oct. 30 and reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 4, with a 12-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped dove. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.

This year, the South Zone dove season is Sept. 20-Nov. 9, reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 13 with a 12 bird bag and not more than two white-tipped dove. Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

The Special White-winged Dove Area, which now encompasses land west of I-35 and south of U. S. Highway 90, opens to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting Sept. 6-7 and 13-14 and reopens Sept. 20-Nov. 9 and again from Dec. 26-Jan. 9. The daily bag limit during the first two weekend splits is 12 birds, not more than four (4) mourning dove and two (2) white-tipped dove. The daily bag limit during the remainder of the Special White-winged Dove Area is 12 birds, not more than two (2) white-tipped dove. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.

Teal season is Sept. 13-28 with a daily bag limit of 4 birds. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.

Hunters should note the dove and teal season dates and bag limits are not included in this year’s Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations. Information will be available in the Early Season Migratory Game Bird Digest supplement, available Aug. 15 on the TPWD Web site and wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

A proposed dove season rule that would have removed one week of hunting opportunity from the end of the first season segment in the South Zone and added it to the end of the second season segment was not approved. Although public comment was supportive of the proposed amendment, the department has decided to retain the traditional structure because of other considerations resulting from public comment.

“Public comment received by the department indicates a growing concern among hunters, landowners, outfitters, and local businesses that economic factors are increasingly affecting hunting habits or will affect them in the future,” said Mike Berger, TPWD wildlife director. “The department therefore made the decision to leave the traditional season structure in place for the current year while launching an outreach effort to determine if the traditional and historic dove season structure should be altered for future seasons.”

In keeping with hunter and landowner preferences, dove seasons have traditionally been opened on the earliest day legally allowed under frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, irrespective of which day of the week the date fell. Under federal law, dove hunting in the United States cannot begin before Sept. 1.

Sept. 1, as opening day of dove hunting in Texas, has been part of the state’s hunting tradition ever since the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was signed. Treaties with Canada and Mexico established the framework for the taking of all migratory game birds, including dove.

“This year, Sept. 1 falls on Labor Day, a Monday, which is a good thing because it’s a holiday for many Texans, and like having another Saturday,” said Vernon Bevill, TPWD game bird program director. “The bad thing is, the next day isn’t Sunday, it’s back to work Tuesday.”

Similarly, this year’s South Zone dove season opener falls on Saturday, Sept. 20. Traditionally, dove season in South Texas has opened on the Friday after the 20th unless the 20th is a Saturday. Federal frameworks currently prevent opening the South Zone before the 20th.

Berger said recent public comment received by the department indicates a strong preference for seasons to open on a Friday, so as to create a three-day hunting opportunity to open the season. Recent public comment also indicates a preference for the 60-day/15-bird configuration in the South Zone.

“A recurrent theme was the concern that increased consumer costs, particularly transportation costs related to energy prices, make anything less than a three-day opening weekend economically unjustifiable,” said Berger. “Similarly, proponents of the 60-day/15-bird configuration stated that economic considerations would cause them to curtail the number of times they could go hunting, leading them to prefer a higher daily bag limit. In the past, hunters and others have expressed an aversion to delaying the opening day until the first full weekend, preferring the earliest possible opener.”

Hunters looking for a place to hunt dove should consider TPWD’s public hunting opportunities. According to Linda Campbell, TPWD public hunting program director, the department manages more than 50,000 acres of dove hunting units. Hunting access to these areas is available with purchase of a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit, available Aug. 15 wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

A map booklet detailing locations and additional information about the 143 public dove hunting units is included with the Annual Public Hunting Permit and will be available on the TPWD Web site beginning Aug. 15. A permit is not required to access the map booklet information online.

TPWD dove program coordinator Jay Roberson anticipates an above average hunting season for doves this fall, based on habitat conditions. “We had a pretty dry spring and doves do well in those conditions,” he noted. “The birds weren’t responding last year to predictions of good food availability and many doves stayed to the north. I’m guardedly optimistic this year.”

Roberson reported hearing of good numbers of doves across South Texas and anticipates hunters should have good success if they can identify flight patterns. Conditions are expected to change in the weeks heading into the season, particularly in the wake of recent weather resulting from Hurricane Dolly.

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

07-22-2008 09:25
– – –
I’d be interested to see if any of you know of any duck clubs in Texas. I’ve hunted the state for over 40 years, and have only run into one. Texas seems to be a private land state w/ day permits or guided hunts being the rule. If you know of duck clubs… please post them here:

I knew of one in LaBelle (South of Beaumont) about 25 years ago. It lasted about 4 years, when one guy offered $8500 for the lease and took everyone else out of the picture. That’s the only club I’ve ever heard of for waterfowl in Texas. There are plenty for deer, turkey, and hogs… but none for waterfowl that I am aware of.

[Edited By dwilliams3 on 2008-07-30 12:42]

Posted By:
Banjo Logic
Web Member

none 07-14-2008 13:59
– – –
Hi all
I am looking for a hunting club in southeast Texas for duck and goose hunting. I can bring in 3 total members. I have hunted mostly in Arkansas but now I am trying to find a place a little closer to home. Any leads would be greatly appreciated. just shoot me a private message.
Thanks
Brian

[Edited By Banjo Logic on 2008-07-14 14:00]

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Katy-Garwood-El Campo Areas 06-23-2008 15:40
– – –
We need to get you guys a list of outfitters for the 2008-09 season. This area has some great guides and lodges. It also has some that will steal the quarters out of a dead man’s eyes.

Check your lodge out before you go. Make sure it is legit. This portion of the Texas Gulf coast still offers some of the finest goose hunting in America. Unfortunatly, it also houses some guys trying to make a fast buck.

Look before you sign up. Those of us “regulars” will be glad to point you in the right direction.

Posted By:
VH
Guest

03-10-2008 12:32
– – –
Any of you guys still seeing snow geese down in TX?

Posted By:
Chris Vogel
Guest

03-04-2008 08:39
– – –
Don’t forget to vote today!

Just remember 9/11 when you do!!

Posted By:
Kent – Rivas
Guest

docbob 02-18-2008 12:51
– – –
Sorry, some illness in the family kept me from getting out and enjoying the last month of hunting season.
Plus computer problems this year killed my reports for the most part….just got a new system and ready to go for next season…

I used to hunt around Malakoff….akelly

Black, Yellow, or Chocolate, take your choice….

[Edited By Kent – Rivas on 2008-02-18 12:52]

Posted By:
akelly
Web Member

Wills Point, Tx 01-27-2008 14:58
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 35-40 Degrees
Two man limits of mallards on 3 acre lake. Best decoying action of the season. All birds taken mid morning. Great way to wrap up 07-08 season. Looking foward to 08-09.

Posted By:
akelly
Web Member

Wills Point, TX. 01-27-2008 14:48
– – –

Posted By:
docbob
Web Member

01-25-2008 16:25
– – –
Where are the posts?? Only seven posts during the month of Jan. we have 6 field editors..Don’t you guys hunt

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

South TX, Palacios area 01-14-2008 16:55
– – –
Snows abound around Palacios but as reported they are aged and experienced. Specs done for the year and I did not do as well as normal because I was busy with Cranes. Love those dudes!

jacduck

It is not the limits I get but the HUNTS I get that makes a great season. And I don’t shoot spoonies!

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2008-01-16 08:39]

Posted By:
folkenson
Web Member

North of Katy 01-13-2008 19:16
– – –
Hunted yesterday 14 geese for three hunters. There are lots of birds in the area. The snows like always were hard to get in however the Specks came in range fairly easy. I am now waiting for the electronic season.

Posted By:
Rerog_27
Web Member

Seymour Area 01-11-2008 23:37
– – –
I’m heading down to the Seymour Area for the last week of the season. Just interested in what the duck outlook is.

Posted By:
Kent – Rivas
Guest

West Texas 01-05-2008 17:19
– – –
Limits to near limits of ducks are still being taken on local playas…..early morning hunts are the best……
Geese still plentiful around the Lubbock area and up north…..
group of 4 killed mixed bag of ducks this morning…..
Mallard, widgeon, gads….

Black, Yellow, or Chocolate, take your choice….

Posted By:
nu1x5
Web Member

01-05-2008 09:32
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
what are the sob’s doing?

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

What am I missing? 01-04-2008 16:35
– – –
For years my one son lived in Wichita Falls,every January he and myself and my other two sons would come down for our annual late season hunt.We went near a town called Vernon and hunted a marsh located behind Truscot Lake(Think that is the way it is spelled)The area operated by the Corps of Engineers.Just wanting to know if we missed any good hunting there this year for my son has moved to Austin this Summer for another job.Sure did enjoy my yearly trip to spend time with my sons and all the nice people we ran into each year.Thanks for the memories.

Posted By:
Kent – Rivas
Guest

Pecos Rivas 01-01-2008 20:46
– – –
Hunted the river today….
Mainly a course of Widgeon with a Can and Red mixed in…..

Hunting has been tough with weather conditions not really conducive to duck hunting….

Black, Yellow, or Chocolate, take your choice….

Posted By:
JVDRLVARGAS
Web Member

Baffin Bay 12-31-2007 19:51
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Went out and hunted the south shore along the Kenedy Ranch in Baffin Bay Saturday, & Sunday. Saturday was the best day with a limit of Pintail Drakes early on between 3 hunters,we finished our limits with a good mix of Red Heads, Blue Bills, Wigdeon,and Teal. Sunday we struggled a little due to a change in wind direction about a hour after setting up. We still ended up with 12 ducks between 3 of us. Most were Red Heads & Blue Bills.

Posted By:
Stephen C, Biles
Web Member

NE Texas (Near Red River) 12-28-2007 23:32
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
I was fortunate enough to hunt on my friend’s family ranch in NE Texas right on the Red River.
The birds were flying really well on the 26th and 27th. We mostly shot Mallards, Wood Ducks and Teal.
The hunting was great but the shooting was sub par. No complaints.
I really enjoyed hunting this area as I actually had the opportunity to sucessfully call Mallards.
I usually hunt in Central Texas where we harvest mostly Gadwall, Widgeon, and divers.

I’ll be back!

Posted By:
JVDRLVARGAS
Web Member

Baffin Bay 12-28-2007 20:24
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Scouted around the Laguna Salada & Drum Point area today. I was amazed and releived to see the amount of Red Heads , & Blue Bills in the area. Compared to two weeks ago, on the last scouting trip to the area. If this is not the peak of the migration, I cant wait to see what thats going to look like. We’ll give it a try in the morning. I’ll be sure to post a report on our results.

[Edited By JVDRLVARGAS on 2007-12-28 20:26]

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Collegeport area 12-25-2007 12:34
– – –
Hughe flights of Sandhills. Normally I see groups of 2 to 7 or so and yesterday they were grouped in flocks of 50 plus. I suspect they just arrived and are still in migration flocks. Hunting is slow for cranes and specs with snows flying up with the jets.

Merry Christmas to all from a snowbird.

jacduck It is not the limits I get but the HUNTS I get that makes a great season. And I don’t shoot spoonies!

Posted By:
brian j. donovan
Field Editor

North Texas 12-23-2007 14:02
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Despite winter weather north of us, bird numbers are lackluster on public reservoirs in North Texas. Our bag this weekend included mallards, woodies, teal and a couple of spoonies, with flights being fairly well over within 15 minutes of LST. The remainder of the week will see fairly mild weather, so I’m not expecting a big change in bird numbers through the end of the week.

Merry Christmas, y’all.