North Zone Dove: Wet weather continues to plague the dove flight, making access to fields tough. Muddy roads and soggy fields have not been conducive to hunting. Most of the birds have left the bottoms and staged on higher ground. Last week’s front brought new migrants to the area but few hunters noticed due to the absence of participation. Another front forecasted for the end of the week should deposit northern birds in the region; however, more rain is forecasted as well. Corn, milo and sunflowers continue to produce in the High Plains. Afternoon watering holes have not been as hot as years past due to the wet conditions. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.
Central Zone Dove: Wet weather has plagued hunters, but most are not complaining due to the drought conditions the region has endured for the past two years. Between showers, doves have been best over corn and milo on higher ground. Doves have left low-lying areas due to the moisture. 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 arrived last week with the front, but heavy showers kept hunters out of the field. Another front forecasted for the end of the week should deposit new birds. Fields around Sealy, Columbus, Katy and Waller have been fair. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.
South Zone Dove: Hunters have had to dodge storms to find steady flights of doves. McMullen County hunters have enjoyed good shoots around goatweed and sunflowers. Harlingen, Brownsville and Laredo hunters have see mixed flights of whitewings and mourners. Milo and sunflowers near Raymondville and Port Mansfield have been good in the afternoon. Bay City and El Campo fields have been best in the afternoon, though the area has received lots of rain. More birds should arrive with the cool front forecasted for this week. The season runs through Nov. 3. Prospects are fair to good.
Waterfowl Migration: Most of Texas received more rain this week, which should help habitat across the state. The Panhandle has good numbers of playa lakes brimming with water, most East Texas reservoirs and rivers are at pool and prairie ponds and marshes have received soaking rains the entire month of October. Pintails, shovelers, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and redheads are showing on the coast. Specklebellies are arriving daily, with a few snows mixed in with the darks. The Panhandle is loading up with teal, pintails, wood ducks, gadwalls and wigeons. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit opens Oct. 24-25 and reopens Oct. 30-Jan.24, 2010. The North and South zones commence Oct. 31.
