TPWD Sets Waterfowl Seasons; Outlook Bright
Aug. 26, 2010
Steve Lightfoot, 512-389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.texas.gov
Note: This item is more than 13 years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
SAN ANTONIO – The stage is set for what could be one of the better waterfowl hunting seasons in recent years and Texas hunters will be able to take full advantage with a 74-day season and six bird daily bag limit. The 2010-11 late season migratory proposal was finalized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its Aug. 26 public meeting.
“Texas has water on the ground and when you factor in predictions for an early winter in the north, we’re set up for a good season,” said Dave Morrison, TPWD waterfowl program leader. “There’s going to be a lot of production out of the Dakotas this year because of wet conditions and good habitat and I expect we’ll see more birds migrating from and through the Central Flyway.”
With a 9 percent jump in pintail breeding population estimates this year comes an increase in the daily bag limit to two, which should be a welcome addition for coastal waterfowlers that have been hunting under more restrictive measures for more than a decade.
The only other significant change from last year will see an increase in the Canada good bag limit for the Western Goose Zone where hunters may now take up to five Canada geese daily.
Texas also received a 16-day early teal season to run Sept. 11-26 with a daily bag limit of four birds.
Following is a summary of the Texas late season migratory framework for 2010-11.
Ducks
High Plains Mallard Management Unit
All species other than “dusky ducks”: Oct. 23-24, 2010 and Oct. 29, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011; “Dusky ducks”: Nov. 1, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011; Youth-only Season: Oct. 16-17, 2010
North Zone
All species other than “dusky ducks”: Oct. 30 – Nov. 28, 2010 and Dec. 11, 2010 — Jan. 23, 2011; “Dusky ducks”: Nov. 4 – 28, 2010 and Dec. 11, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011; Youth-only Season: Oct. 23-24, 2010
South Zone
All species other than “dusky ducks”: Oct. 30 – Nov. 28, 2010 and Dec. 11, 2010 — Jan. 23, 2011; “Dusky ducks”: Nov. 4, 2010 – Nov. 28 — Dec. 11, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011; Youth-only Season: Oct. 23-24, 2010
The daily bag limit for ducks is six, to include no more than five mallards of which only 2 may be hens; three wood ducks; two scaup; two redheads; two pintails; one canvasback; and one “dusky” duck. Dusky ducks include: mottled ducks, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids. For all other species not listed, the bag limit is six. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, which may include no more than two hooded mergansers.
Geese
Western Zone
Light geese: Nov. 6, 2010 – Feb. 6, 2011, daily bag limit is 20 and no possession limit.
Dark geese: Nov. 6, 2010 – Feb. 6, 2011, daily bag limit is five in the aggregate to include no more than one white-fronted goose
Eastern Zone
Light geese: Oct. 30, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011, the daily bag limit for light geese is 20 and no possession limit.
Dark geese: white-fronted geese: Oct. 30, 2010 – Jan. 9, 2011, daily bag limit is two;
Canada geese: Oct. 30, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011, daily bag limit is three.
Light Goose Conservation Order
Eastern Zone
Jan. 24 — Mar. 27, 2011, no bag or possession limits.
Western Zone
Feb. 7 — Mar. 27, 2011, no bag or possession limits.
Sandhill Crane
Zone A
Nov. 6, 2010 — Feb. 6, 2011, daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.
Zone B
Nov. 26, 2010 — Feb. 6, 2011, daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.
Zone C
Dec. 18, 2010 — Jan. 23, 2011, daily bag limit is two and possession limit is four.
Extended Falconry Season
Ducks, coots, and mergansers:
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: no extended season.
North Duck Zone
Jan. 24 — Feb. 7, 2011
South Duck Zone
Jan. 24 — Feb. 7, 2011
For all zones the daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.