10/28/2009 – Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Opening weekend saw fast shooting over playa lakes for teal, gadwalls, wigeons and a few pintails. The season opens again Oct. 30, and prospects remain solid with back-to-back cold fronts forecasted for this week. Dark geese continue to trickle to the Panhandle, though they are not legal game until Nov. 7. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck Forecast: Conditions are wet throughout the North Zone, with rivers, sloughs, bayous and reservoirs brimming with water. That bodes well for hunters compared to past years of drought when ducks bypassed East and Northeast Texas. Lots of teal, gadwalls, wood ducks and a few wigeons have been seen. Very few mallards have been reported, but that could change quickly if cold fronts continue to make it to Texas. The first split runs Oct. 31-Nov. 29. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck Forecast: What had been a severe drought across the coast during the summer has quickly turned into life-giving rainfall for the past six weeks. The coastal prairies and marshes have benefitted tremendously from the rain, and waterfowl will reap the rewards this winter. Some outfitters are reporting more teal now than during the special September season. Pintails, gadwalls, wigeons and shovelers are the species most abundant along with greenwings and bluewings. Snow geese should show en masse sometime this week with back-to-back cold fronts and a bright moon forecasted. Coastal flats from Port O’Connor to Rockport still need a good push of redheads to make for good shoots opening day. Specklebellies should be solid for opening day. The first split runs Oct. 31-Nov.29. Prospects are good.

South Zone Dove: Torrential rainfall early this week hurt the dove flight in South Texas and along the coast. Participation has waned with the upcoming deer and duck season on the horizon. Another round of cold air should push new birds to the region. The Rio Grande Valley continues to be the hotspot, with good shoots posted in McMullen, Live Oak, Webb and Uvalde counties, too. The season runs through Nov. 3. Prospects are fair to good.