TPWD Sets Waterfowl Seasons; Outlook Bright
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.
Here is a summary of the Texas late season migratory framework for 2010-11.
