Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

North Zone Dove: The North Zone season closes at sunset Oct. 25, but reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2010. Generally, the season has been fair at best, but not for lack of birds. Rains hampered most flight patterns for the past month. Hunter participation has been down due to the rain and the opening of white-tailed deer season for bowhunters. Best flights occurred around the Panhandle in sunflowers and milo around Amarillo, Dumas and Spearman. Good shoots were posted around Lubbock and north of Abilene, too. The good news is high pressure and blue skies are forecasted for the weekend after a cold front blows through the region. The cold air should push new mourners to Texas. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: An influx of birds hit this region of the state last week on the heels of the cold front, but few hunters noticed due to lack of participation. Dove hunting priorities have shifted to preparations for the upcoming deer and waterfowl seasons. Strong hunts were posted near Hankamer and Winnie along the Central and South zone borders. Good afternoon shoots were had around Uvalde and Hondo, while Del Rio and Waco hunters saw steady flights around milo and sunflowers. Clear, cool weather is forecasted for the weekend, which should encourage a steady flight. The season closes at sunset Oct. 25, but reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2010. Prospects are fair to good.

South Dove Dove: The South Zone finally dried out last week with high pressure building after the first significant cold front of the fall. Hunter success benefitted as fields dried and doves headed back to feeding fields. An influx of birds was noticed across the region, and limit shoots were posted across the Rio Grande Valley. Port Mansfield, Raymondville, Three Rivers and George West hunters saw steady flights as well. Bay City, El Campo and Port Lavaca shoots have been best in the afternoon. Heavy rains are forecasted this week as the remnants of a Pacific hurricane moves across Mexico and Texas. The season runs through Nov. 3, then runs Dec. 26-Jan. 17, 2010. Prospects are fair to good.

Waterfowl Migration: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit opens Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 30-Jan. 24, 2010. Panhandle prospects for this weekend’s opener look promising, with wet conditions and plenty of playa lakes brimming full of water. Along the coast, pintails, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and shovelers are using prairie ponds. Coastal marshes are holding teal, gadwalls, shovelers and wigeons. Redheads and bluebills are finding their way to the shoalgrass shorelines of the middle coast, but another round of cold air is needed before the Oct.31 opener to push new ducks to the coast. Specklebellies are arriving daily on the prairies, and expect more to show this weekend on the heels of the next cold front

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