Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report

AUSTIN, December 20, 2006 - South Zone Waterfowl: Goose hunting picked up over the weekend with consecutive days of sea fog. Many outfitters reported 50-plus birds shoots over the weekend for geese. Since the prairies have not seen sustained rainfall in nearly two months, roosts ponds are drying. Those that remain are concentrating large gaggles of geese.

Many snows are feeding on green grass, wheat and fallow fields. Specklebellies have decoyed well in feeding fields. Canada geese are beginning to build into huntable flocks.

Duck hunting in Eagle Lake, El Campo, Garwood, Lissie, Wharton and Katy picked up this week as new flocks of green-winged teal hit the coast. Mallards continue to show up in bags along the coast and coastal prairies.

Duck hunting in the High Island and East Galveston Bay marsh was good for those who have access to water. Tides are above normal with the absence of north winds for the past 10 days. Gadwalls, teal, scaup and shovelers have been comprising the bags. Hunting in the Trinity Bay marsh continues solid as wigeons, gadwalls, teal and spoonies have been harvested.

Lots of pintails are working the shoalgrass shorelines of Port O’Connor, Rockport and Seadrift. Hunters there are also taking redheads, scaup, buffleheads, wigeons, gadwalls and spoonbills.

Sandhill crane hunting in Zone C opens Dec. 23 and prospects are good along the prairies. The bag limit for cranes is two birds per man. Prospects are good.

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