Thursday, August 23, 2001

Duck numbers down, but hunting shouldn’t be

Proposed bag limits: The daily bag limit for ducks is six and would include: No more than five mallards or Mexican mallards (Mexican ducks), only two of which may be hens; Three scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate); Two wood ducks; Two redheads; One mottled duck; One pintail; One canvasback (Only during that portion of the season when canvasback can be taken. Dec. 27-Jan. 20) POSSESSION LIMIT: Twice the daily bag limit. A list of area waterfowl guides and outfitters: Bay Prairie Outfitters & Lodge (Mike Ladnier): (800) 242-1374 Knolle Farms: (361) 547-2546 Clifton Tyler: (979) 732-6502 Rebel Hunting (Bobby Wynn): (361) 528-5409 South Bay Hunting Club: (361) 758-1432 Brad Smythe: (361) 790-8354 Danny Adams II: (361) 729-4893 David Nesloney Jr.: (361) 729-7982 Tim Redden: (361) 729- 6079 Tommy Ramzinsky: (361) 729-4493 Kevin Callam: (361) 729-7584 Roger Sherman: (361) 729-9404 Clifton Tyler: (979) 732-6502 Redfish Lodge: (361) 729-8100 Chuck Naiser: (361) 729-9314 Joey Farah: 949-1103 Robert Zapata: 851-1161 Jeremy Boullion: 713-252-9401 Bill Schneider: (361) 729-2294 Blake Muirhead: (361) 790-5203

Summer surveys show a slight downturn in overall duck populations in the Central Flyway compared with last year.
   Despite this 14-percent dip, most stocks remain healthy and well above the long-term average set by federal waterfowl biologists. For this reason, we will enjoy another six-bird daily bag limit in the South Zone.
   Predictions for the mid-continent fall flight of blue-winged teal are down slightly, but still 39 percent above average. Early teal season runs 16 days, Sept. 15-30. The North American bluewing breeding population stands at 5.9 million, well above the 4.7 million-bird threshold for determining an extended early season.
   Gadwall numbers are down, but remain 66 percent above the long-term average. The widgeon population appears to have stayed about the same as last year, which is about level with the desired average.
   Redheads, our most plentiful and staple species here, are down 22 percent from last year, but still at the long-term average. The coveted pintail is expected to be slightly more plentiful this season, but still well below the long-term average.
   As for mallards, the population stands at about 10.5 million, still healthy but down 6 percent from last year.
   As many local hunters know, our duck season depends more on favorable weather and good habitat to attract and hold waterfowl than it does on year to year population variances.

Public Duck Hunting Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area Mission Lake Unit, off Texas Highway 35, north of Tivoli. About 30 designated hunt spots. Portable blinds OK. First come-first serve. Average distance to hunt spots from parking areas: about 175 yards, some much closer. Hunt days: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during regular waterfowl seasons; Saturday and Sunday only during early teal season. Gates open two hours before legal shooting time, about 4:30 a.m. In dry years, these marshes provide some of only freshwater in vicinity, so there could be more hunters than spots available. Hunting success: average three birds per hunter. Cost: $10 per day or $40 TPW annual public hunting permit. Most common birds bagged: gadwall, widgeon, greenwing and bluewing teal and shovelers. For information Call (361) 552-6637. Hynes Bay Unit, just south of Tivoli. Open seven days a week. First come-first serve. Must have $40 TPW annual public hunting permit. Ten designated spots in zone A near parking lot, plus a remote pond that holds another 10 or so hunters. Come early. Gates open always, but hunters cannot occupy hunt spots before 4 a.m. Numbered parking determines who hunts where. For information, call (361) 552-6637.

   And coastal conditions going into the season are much better than last year, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife biologists. But future rain is the real key. Rainfall during the next month or so will determine whether birds pass through or stay a while.
   TPW officials are considering two options for the coming South Zone duck season. One option would run from Oct. 27 to Nov. 25, then reopen Dec. 8 through Jan. 20. This scenario would maintain tradition by closing the first half of the split on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. But because of the calendar, this also would shut down the season with nearly a week of good hunting left in November.
   Option two still would give us an Oct. 27 opener, but would extend the first half of the split through Dec. 2. Under this proposal, the second split would be delayed until Dec. 15 and extend through Jan. 20.
   TPW wants to know what we think about this. Your responses will influence their decision. Give them your opinion by writing to Hunting Information at TPW, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744; or calling (800) 792-1112, menu 5, selection 1; or speak to a human by calling (512) 389-4505; or tell them through the Internet by logging on to tpwd.state.tx.us.
   Comments also will be heard at the TPW Commission meeting at TPW Headquarters in Austin, 4200 Smith School Road. The Aug. 30 meeting is scheduled to begin around 9 a.m.
  
  
  

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