If you are one of those teal hunters who shot three or four birds the first two weekends of teal season (or maybe less – hey, we aren’t mentioning names), here’s something to cheer you up.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service surveyed approximately 8.5 million breeding blue-winged teal in 2014. That’s up 10% from the year before. That is the third highest estimate since they’ve been keeping records. Habitat improvement played a big part in it and then rainy weather in a lot of key areas has kept lakes and marshes full of water and food. Sorry, that didn’t help did it?
But don’t despair. My bet is that the good news will be there will be more teal showing up as it turns cooler and we’ll be getting some for the “big duck” season which is just around the corner.
Seriously, a lot of hunters who had good water have reported limits of teal. It seemed like some of the birds that were here went South after opening weekend, but some more birds moved in from Arkansas and above. The season stays open through Sept. 28 so you’ve still got time to get in a hunt or two.
Here’s some more good news! You’ll be glad to know that the popular Simmons’ Duck Report will be available right here online every day during the 2014-15 season on the Simmons’ Sporting Goods homepage. We will also update the page regularly leading up to duck season. Then we will have a duck report every day of the East Zone season, beginning Nov. 22. Remember to mark you calendars for the season: Nov. 22-Dec. 7 and Dec. 13-Jan. 25. And remember to get all your duck hunting supplies at Simmons’ Sporting Goods in Bastrop!
Teal season is open statewide Sept. 13-28. Check back here for the latest updates.
For a look at the USFWS teal estimate chart, check this link:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveyed approximately 8.5 million breeding blue-winged teal
