Duck populations are the highest since North American surveys began in 1955, and as a result Texans again will enjoy the most liberal waterfowl hunting season framework allowable. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission last week approved waterfowl seasons at its public hearing in Houston.
The commission retained a staggered split between the North and South Zones to allow for the opportunity of an additional week for those duck hunters who travel between zones. In the only change in bag limits, Texas duck hunters can take only one canvasback daily.
The possession limits for all migratory game birds is three times the daily limit.
Ducks
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Youth: Oct. 18-19; Regular: Oct. 25-26 and Oct. 31 — Jan. 25; “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 3 — Jan. 25.
South Zone: Youth: Oct. 25-26; Regular: Nov. 1-30 and Dec. 13 — Jan. 25;“Dusky” Duck: Nov. 6-30 and Dec. 13 — Jan. 25.
North Zone: Youth: Oct. 25-26 ; Regular: Nov. 1 — Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 — Jan. 25;“Dusky” Duck: Nov. 6 — Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 — Jan. 25.
Bag Limit: 6/day in the aggregate to include no more than 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 5 mallards, of which only 2 may be hens, 2 redheads, 2 pintail , 1 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. 1 — Jan. 25, Canada Geese Nov. 1 — Jan. 25; White-fronted Geese: Nov. 1 — Jan. 11; Light Geese Conservation Order Jan. 26 — Mar. 22.
Bag Limit: 3 Canada geese, 2 White-fronted geese, 20 light geese (no possession limit).
West Zone: Light Geese Nov. 1 — Feb. 1; Dark Geese Nov. 1 — Feb. 1; Light Geese Conservation Order Feb. 2 — Mar. 22.
Bag Limit: 5 dark geese with no more than one white-fronted goose, 20 light geese (no possession limit)
Sandhill Cranes
Zone A: Nov. 1– Feb. 1.Bag Limit: 3.
Zone B: Nov. 21-Feb. 1. Bag Limit: 3.
Zone C: Dec. 20 -Jan. 25. Bag Limit: 2.
