North Zone Dove: The High Plains are wet from recent rains. An abundance of water in playa lakes has doves scattered around watering sources. Corn, milo and sunflowers continue to produce near Amarillo and Dumas. Abilene and Lubbock hunters have seen the same results. Red River hunters continue to be plagued by rain showers and muddy fields. The region received another three inches over the weekend. This week’s mild forecast should do nothing to prompt new migrants to head to Texas, however, the bright moon might. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.
Central Zone Dove: Showers across Central Texas hurt the dove flight over the weekend. Rains moved across the state from the west and brought much needed rain to San Antonio and Austin. Whitewings continue to find corn and milo fields in and around San Antonio. Much of the rain has moved birds to the high ground and gravel roads. New birds showed last week around Katy, Brookshire and Columbus. Beaumont and Dayton fields saw an influx of mourning doves. Heavy downpours along zone lines near IH-10 east of Houston hurt the flight over the weekend. Stephenville, Brownwood and Waco fields have been good for near-limits. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.
South Zone Dove: Those who dodged rain showers over the weekend saw better shoots in South Texas over milo, corn and goatweed. Rio Grande Valley hunters have shot limits of whitewings in sunflowers. After rains, doves have headed to high ground where they have hung out around trees and gravel. El Campo, Bay City and Port Lavaca have seen steady flights and an influx of birds, however, weekend rains scattered concentrations and changed flight patterns. Stiff southerly winds forecasted for the coast this week could disperse birds even more. Another round of cooler air is not expected until next week. The season runs through Nov. 3. Prospects are fair to good.
Waterfowl Migration: The first real sign of specklebellies showed on the heels of last week’s cool front. Specks hit rice fields on the prairie and have been grubbing on waste grain. Another influx of blue-winged teal was noticed on ponds as well. Some outfitters have said they have never seen so many bluewings at this point in the season. Redheads and pintails continue to find the shoalgrass shorelines around Port O’Connor and Rockport. Pintails, shovelers and wigeons have been seen on prairie ponds as well. The coast received lots of rain over the past two weeks which has already helped habitat. Playa lakes in the Panhandle are abundant, too. Northeast Texas lakes, reservoirs and rivers have plenty of water as well. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit duck season runs Oct.24–25 and Oct.30, 2009–Jan. 24, 2010. The North and South zones run Oct.31–Nov.29 and Dec.12–Jan. 24, 2010.
