Weekly bird hunting report released by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
North Zone Dove: This week’s front should bring new migrants to the region, however, as oft is the case, hunter participation slows down in October. Afternoon watering holes have produced lately with two weeks of dry weather. Lubbock and Abilene fields have produced good shoots in scouted fields. Fields near Paris and Red River County have scored around treelines and in soybean fields. The season runs through Oct. 24. Prospects are fair to good.
Central Zone Dove: Birds have been best over corn and milo, and around watering holes in the afternoon with the recent dry weather. Grain fields with gravel nearby have been steady during the past few weeks. Fields around San Antonio, Castroville, Hondo, Uvalde and Del Rio have been best. An influx of birds should arrive this week with the forecasted front. Fields around Hankamer, Sealy, Columbus, Katy and Waller have been fair to good. Dry weather has encouraged farmers to begin shredding fields of goatweed and croton and doves have been hitting those fields and picking up scattered seeds. The season runs through Oct. 24. Prospects are fair to good.
South Zone Dove: McMullen County hunters have enjoyed good shoots around goatweed and sunflowers. Harlingen, Brownsville and Laredo hunters have see mixed flights of whitewings and mourners in milo and sunflowers. Milo and sunflowers near Raymondville and Port Mansfield have been good in the afternoon. Bay City, Blessing, Danevang and El Campo fields have been best in the afternoon around shredded fields of croton and goatweed. More birds should arrive with the cool front forecasted for this week. The season runs through Oct. 31. Prospects are fair to good.
Waterfowl Migration: The Panhandle has good numbers of playa lakes brimming with water. The coast has adequate water but is drying. Pintails, shovelers, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and redheads are showing on the coast. More specklebellies and ducks should show up with the forecasted front. The Panhandle is loading up with teal, pintails, wood ducks, gadwalls and wigeons. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 29-Jan. 23, 2011. The North and South zones open Oct. 30.