What is teal season

After mallards, blue-winged teal are my favorite ducks. I revere them for their beauty, their sporty flight capabilities, their delicate table quality, and their habit of migrating south long before most other ducks. Bluewings on the northern prairies start getting antsy around mid-August, and any hint of a northwest wind will send them scurrying southward. So that hunters can take advantage of this early migration, the U. Fish and Wildlife Service allows special teal hunts in September in non-waterfowl production states in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central flyways when certain population thresholds are met.

This special season lasts 9 or 16 days, depending on the number of bluewings in the breeding population the preceding spring. In my experience, the early teal season is a greatly underutilized hunting opportunity. But I'm convinced that more hunters would value the early teal season as highly as I do if they would only try it.

Catch the migration right, and birds are plentiful. Hunting pressure is usually light. These small ducks fly like rockets, and they decoy with little hesitation. And their breast meat is scrumptious when wrapped in bacon and grilled to rare perfection. The September teal season is also a good tune-up for the "big duck" season to follow. It's an opportunity to get some decoys out, run the boat, test out a new shotgun, and give the retriever a little practice for more serious fetching chores to follow.

Here are some tips for where, when, and how to bag these early migrants. Blue-winged teal frequent both large and small waters reservoirs, natural lakes, sloughs, swamps, beaver ponds, farm ponds, etc. The following are required:. Gasoline engines are prohibited. The refuge boundary has shifted northwest to Highway Several groups of teal, northern shovelers, mallards, gadwall and groups of divers on the reservoir.

A few Canada and White-fronted geese. The Guide Rock Diversion canal inflows are at Hunting condition Mudflats are ringing the entire reservoir and the water is a close to most shoreline and concealing vegetation. Small boats only at White Rock Creek! This area open to fishing south and east of the buoy line from the north end of the dam to the Lovewell State Park Twin Coves trailer area. Inlet canal closed to fishing September 15 through April Make reservations HERE.

Electronic permits now available. Contact the office for other arrangements. We thank you for your patience. Please introduce youth and novice hunters to the outdoors. Pass it on! Some snow geese have started to show up on the leading edge of the migration. Water level The water level is lower than last year. Hunting conditions Hunting pressure is expected to be high.

Expect to run into other hunters. Water loss from irrigation has created mud flats and some muddy shorelines. In spots hunters will have a tough time finding enough vegetation to hide in. The water lost to irrigation has created areas with steep shorelines that may drop off into water deeper than waders very rapidly. Expected hunting success Success is expected to be low for ducks and geese.

With the colder weather up north and the migration beginning some days will provide better opportunity than the others. Blinds constructed of non-natural materials must be removed from the property each day. Please do not bring materials from off-site. Please use common sense and choose shots that will not allow shot geese to land in the refuge.

Goose meat taste delicious - there are multiple recipes online that can teach you how to cook it. Leaving dead birds on the wildlife area because you do not know how to cook them is not allowed. Pick up all your trash. Water level Duck low plains late zone : October 30, - January 2, and January , Click HERE for duck season, regulation, and research information.

If you take it in, please bring it back out with you. There is very little vegetation to conceal large groups of hunters or boats. Expected hunting success Poor to Fair; warm weather has kept bird movement to a minimum. Comments Refuge and non-motorized boat area dates: Nov. An updated refuge map has been posted. There is a non-motorized boat area at Webster that is walk-in only that is intended for shore hunters.

The area starts at the southeast corner of the reservoir and goes west to Morel boat ramp. This regulation is in effect from Nov. Hunting in or from the shoreline inside the State Park or along the face of the dam is prohibited.

Closed areas will be marked with buoys. Ground fires are also not permitted except in provided fire rings within campgrounds. Webster Reservoir currently does not have zebra mussels. Please be sure equipment is cleaned and dry before coming to Webster from other places.

Click here for PDF. Pintail, Wigeon, Redheads, Ruddies Water level Most of the wetlands are being pumped and are holding significant water. October 1 through March 31 the area can only be accessed with a special permit obtained through a drawing. Lake- The current lake level is too high for shallow mudflat dabbler habitat. Large mixed-species rafts of Coots and a few ducks have been using the open areas of the lake. Areas protected from the wind often hold small numbers of waterfowl.

East Coblentz has some water on the north side, but is mostly dry for access to dredge holding pond and dike to improve wetland management. We will pump more water as the season and conditions progress. Elk Creek- All marsh pools have water. The pump is currently turned off and a second round of pumping will take place later in the season. KDWPT food plots throughout the complex will provide plenty of food and a variety of water levels.

Clinton Wildlife Area is utilizing an electronic check-in system required of all hunters. This is mandatory for everyone hunting the wildlife area, not just waterfowl hunters. The card survey stations have been removed. Plan ahead and sign up for I-sportsman now. Rock Creek Boat ramp is closed; a gravel launch area for canoes and kayaks is available when lake is near normal pool. The reservoir currently sits. We have had some successful moist soil vegetation growth in all wetland pools this year.

Japanese millet was also planted along side some milo in the Youth-Mentor Wetland and Antioch Wetland. The upper reaches of Brown's Wetland were planted into Japanese Millet. A fair amount of seed has been produced which should make good forage and cover for waterfowl this season. Pumping began in early September. All marshes will continue to be pumped and catch rain throughout the fall in order to provide the most ideal habitat, forage, and hunting opportunities possible.

Pumping efforts have been successful on all marshes. Waterfowl counts given on this report are based on what was observed on the day the report is updated. Waterfowl numbers vary greatly from day to day and weather conditions and hunting pressure will affect the numbers of waterfowl on the area.

Weather has been very warm throughout the summer. With the beginning of fall, some cool weather has also swept through Hillsdale.

Over the last couple days, highs have been in the 40's's and overnight lows have been in the 30's's.

The weather has been dry over the past week. Over the next week, highs will be in the 60's and even some days in the 70's with overnight lows dipping into the low 40's then getting much colder later in the week. Waterfowl have begun to come back to Hillsdale in the last week.

Ducks are being harvested on the lake and in the marshes. Mallards and wood ducks have been the ducks most commonly seen. During this week's survey, there were more waterfowl counted than two weeks ago.

Most groups of ducks were between 10 and 12 birds. There are a few geese left on the lake as well. There are still a few groups of coots in the area with groups as big as 50 birds on the marsh pools. A sharp change in the weather is expected toward the end of next week, that should bring weather in the 30's's and some potential rainfall.

All hunters youth included must register online and create an individual account. Hunters can then check in using the I-sportsman system from any phone or internet device.

This can be done immediately before the hunt or the night before the hunt. The information and harvest data collected, along with comments received are very useful in establishing future management goals for the Hillsdale State Wildlife Area. A mixed bag of gadwall, redhead, shoveler and some small groups of teal. Make-up Lake is closed to waterfowl hunting during waterfowl season. Boats are not allowed on Auxillary lake during waterfowl season. Individuals wishing to hunt Unit 2 of the wildlife area must enter through the main gate and sign in at the guard house.

Be sure to have a photo I. Hunters are required to drive maintained roads only. A map will be provided to all hunters showing open roads as well as parking areas.

Vehicles are allowed to park in parking areas only. Throughout the week, around mixed bag of big ducks were observed throughout the wildlife area. Vegetation growth and seed production has been above average this year. We are working at getting the pumps North Smith and Beichter still repaired and going for the waterfowl season, due to flooding in the past years and ability to get parts for the pumps.

Motorized boats are only allowed in the Mall Creek wetland, electric motors are considered "motorized". All other public hunting wetlands are open to NON motorized boats and walk in hunting. Do NOT drive on dikes. Vehicles disrupt and discourage waterfowl from using the wetland areas. We have had several dikes being damaged due to unauthorized vehicles driving on them. Scouting is best done on foot to evaluate bird numbers and habitat conditions.

Please report any vehicles on dikes and anyone seen disturbing our pumps. Without the pumps in optimal condition we are unable to pump the wetlands to their greatest potential. The area is a no trash policy, so if you take it in, please bring it back out with you.

All hunters youth included must first register online by creating an account. The information collected and comments received are very useful in establishing future management goals for the area. Water levels have improved greatly with pumping and as the weather cools we should be picking up some more birds.

A good mix of larger ducks are around including Mallards, Wood Ducks, Gadwall, Pintails, Shovelers, and still some teal. West River Boat Ramp and parking area renovation is complete.

Kyle Marsh water levels are up enough in both the East and West units for boats to launch. Electric powered boats are allowed in all marsh pools. Water levels were drawn down well especially in the East unit which allowed for a good amount of moist soil vegetation to grow. Some supplemental seeding of millet was completed as well. We will continue to add some water with a goal of reaching full pool later in November as more ducks arrive.

Summer Draw downs were successful in both the upper and lower units which allowed for some disking, mowing, and millet planting. The VFD on the marsh pump needs replaced and we will be unable to pump water until after that is done. We will update water levels as this changes. Upper Ferguson: This wetland grew mostly native smartweed and has little water currently. Lassister: Gates on th are closed and the marsh has very little water immediately along the levees.

Water was drown down in both units to allow for some infrastructure repairs and habitat work to be completed. We are unable to pump this wetland and will rely on runoff to fill it. Some disking, spraying, and mowing along with some supplemental seeding of millet and sorghums occurred. Northwest: Full Pool. The remainder of the marsh grew good moist soil vegetation. This wetland is pumped with our new pump station that doesn't allow for pumping until after October 1st most years.

Headquarters: This wetland was drawn down early and corn was planted in some of it. We held water in this wetland over the summer and it has resulted in some unfavorable vegetation, but does also have some quality moist soil plants as well.

Water was drawn down early allowing for adequate moist soil growth and some millet seeding occurred as well. Reichart: Full Pool. All of this unit dried well this summer allowing for disking, mowing, spraying, and millet and sorghum planting throughout.

Zebra Mussels have been confirmed in the lake. Perry WA has transitioned to a daily permit system called iSportsman. Hunters will be able to login via PC, smartphone, or call in from cell phone or landline phone each day prior to hunting to get a daily permit, and report back similar to the paper daily permits.

Please remember to fill out the permit with accurate information. Peak duck numbers. Pintail and greenwing teal make up the majority of ducks, but there is a good mix of all species including gadwall, wigeon, mallards, shovelers, and divers. Most of the ducks know where the refuge or closed pools are and are utilizing them during daylight hours. Increasing number of whitefronts, few Canadas, few snows.

If the report has not been updated in a few days, please assume that conditions and bird numbers are the same as the last update. Use footcrossings in Pools 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B as the ditches have been cleaned out and are very deep. There will not be any cards available this year, so please set up an iSportsman account prior to this hunting season.

Mallards, green-winged teal, wood ducks. Water level The pool adjacent to Hwy. The main lake is full and there is some water Northwest of the main lake.

The pool south of the main lake is full. Mostly mallard, green-winged teal and Pintail. Water levels Currently, pools 1, 2, and 3B are full. Pools 4, 6, and 7, 8, and 9 are nearly full.

There is some water north of pool 6. Water level 1. Area ponds are dry. Hunting conditions Poor. The reservoir was at a nearly full level most of the summer, so very few native food producing plants were able to establish along the shoreline. The recent drop in water level has left a large stretch of bare ground between concealment cover and water around most of the wildlife area.

Despite the lack of food plants, hunting should improve if the reservoir comes back up. Six ducks is the daily bag limit, with species and sex restrictions as follows: 5 mallards no more than 2 of which may be females , 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 pintail, and 1 scaup. The daily bag may comprise six of any other duck, such as six teal, six gadwall, or six wigeon. What this means is that water along the shoreline of the refuge is included in the restricted access area and is off limits to hunting.

Accessing the refuge by boat or hunting near the refuge shoreline is not permitted. Make sure to Clean, Drain and Dry your equipment.

Clean all visible vegetation and mud from decoys, bags, waders, etc. Drain water from decoy bags and boats. Allow equipment to Dry for a five day period before using it at another area, OR wash with high-pressure hot water.

Many of the roads around the reservoir can get very greasy after rain, or melting snow, please use good judgement about which roads you try to travel on. Area roads are in the process of being upgraded - please use caution as some gravel may not have been fully spread.

Off road vehicle use is strictly prohibited. Please report all wildlife and public lands violations that you witness by calling the area headquarters at Please leave a detailed message with violation specifics. In the event of an emergency, please call It was opening morning of the Kentucky teal season, and the grassy mudflat we'd scouted the evening before had been crawling with birds. Fortunately, no one else had claimed the spot when we arrived, and we were able to hide the boat and set decoys just before the last stars faded from sight.

Five minutes before legal shooting time, just as the sweat from our predawn chores was drying, we heard the whistles of little wings, followed by splashes. A small flock of bluewings was swimming in our spread of hen mallard decoys. The flock flushed but was followed in short order by another. When the legal minute finally arrived, the lake roared to life in the fashion of a hot dove field, although the shotgun reports carried much farther across the open water.

Scouting paid off for us. By 8 o'clock, the flight slowed, but we'd shot a nice bag of blue- and green-winged teal. September teal hunting is a popular tradition for many duck hunters. The sport requires minimal equipment, but some aspects of teal hunting are specialized.

Taking note of those aspects could add a few extra teal breasts to your grill this fall. Coastal marshes and flooded rice fields are classic settings for teal in south Louisiana, and bluewings are usually thick there by early fall.

In a good area, shooting a limit in 15 or 20 minutes isn't unusual. Even so, Rod Haydel , president of Haydel's Game Calls in Bossier City, is quick to point out the importance of scouting prior to a teal outing on the Gulf Coast, especially in the marsh.

Teal tend to skirt the edges of grass and points in the marsh, and they'll often fly over little islands next to those points. If I don't see birds on the water while scouting, these are good places to hunt. Hunting September teal and wood ducks, both legal during the state's early season, is among his favorite waterfowl pursuits. He says teal are a little choosy in their habitat preferences, so it's important to know what you're looking for in a hunting spot, especially on public water.

Swamps and sloughs with expanses of open water will hold teal, as well as larger lakes and impoundments. Shallow usually no deeper than a foot aquatic vegetation is key.