AUSTIN – For the first time in a half century, Texas waterfowlers can take two canvasbacks daily under migratory game bird seasons approved for the 2013-14 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
The increase comes with news of healthy waterfowl populations, with all species except pintail and scaup numbering above the long term goals identified in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
“Overall, waterfowl are doing quite well,” Kevin Kraai, Waterfowl Program Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department told commissioners. “We’re near record levels and in some instances in the glory days for ducks.”
The commission also adopted a staggered split between the North and South Zones to allow for the opportunity of an additional week for those waterfowlers who travel between zones.
In another change to the season framework that should be welcomed by hunters, the possession limits for all migratory game birds is now three times the daily limit. For ducks, including teal during the early Sept. 14-29 season, the possession limit is 18.
The only decrease in bag limit configuration involves scaup, with a reduction to three daily. Following are the adopted season dates and limits:
2013-14 Migratory Game Bird Seasons
Ducks
- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Youth: Oct. 19 — Oct. 20; Regular: Oct. 26 — Oct. 27 and Nov. 1 — Jan. 26; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 4 — Jan. 26.
- South Zone: Youth: Oct. 26 — Oct. 27; Regular: Nov. 2 — Dec. 1 and Dec. 14 — Jan. 26; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 7 — Dec. 1 and Dec. 14 — Jan. 26.
- North Zone: Youth: Oct. 26 — Oct. 27 ; Regular: Nov. 2 — Dec. 8 and Dec. 21 — Jan. 26; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 7 — Dec. 8 and Dec. 21 — Jan. 26.
Bag Limit: 6/day in the aggregate to include no more than 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 2 hen mallards, 2 redheads, 2 pintail , 2 canvasback, 1 “dusky duck” (mottled, black or Mexican-like) after the first 5 days. Mergansers: 5/day with no more than 2 hooded merganser. Coots: 15/day.
Geese
- East Zone: Light Geese Nov. 2 — Jan. 26, Canada Geese Nov. 2 — Jan. 26; White-fronted Geese: Nov. 2 — Jan. 12; Light Geese Conservation Order Jan. 27 — Mar. 23.
- Bag Limit: 3 Canada geese, 2 White-fronted geese, 20 light geese (no possession limit).
- West Zone: Light Geese Nov. 2 — Feb. 2; Dark Geese Nov. 2 — Feb. 2; Light Geese Conservation Order Feb. 3 — Mar. 23.
Bag Limit: 5 dark geese with no more than one white-fronted goose, 20 light geese (no possession limit).
Sandhill Crane
- Zone A: Nov. 2– Feb. 2.Bag Limit: 3.
- Zone B: Nov. 22-Feb. 2. Bag Limit: 3.
- Zone C: Dec. 21 -Jan. 26. Bag Limit: 2.
Falconry
- North and South Duck Zones: Jan. 27 — Feb. 10.
CLICK HERE for more info on state hunting seasons.
