South Zone Waterfowl Hunting Report

ANAHUAC, November 30, 2005 - Duck hunting slowed somewhat on the coastal prairie during the last week of the first split of duck season. Half-limits were the norm for shovelers, gadwalls and green-winged teal near Eagle Lake, El Campo and Garwood. Heavy rains and lightning at daybreak, Saturday, hurt duck hunting efforts across the prairie.

Hunters along the coastal marsh near Seadrift and Rockport continued to take limits of gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and teal.

On the bay in Port O’Connor, redheads and scaup were steady. Plenty of pintails, too, though they are not legal to harvest until Dec. 22.

The Trinity Bay marsh continued its solid hunting during the first split. Hunters in Jack’s Pocket and on the grassy north shoreline scored shovelers, teal, gadwalls and a few scaup.

Mad Island WMA near Bay City saw steady shooting Saturday as 32 hunters averaged 4.12 birds per man. Sunday slowed a bit as 39 hunters harvested 2.48 birds per man.

Peach Point WMA near Freeport averaged about a bird per man. Goose hunting on the coastal prairie was fair at best during the week. High skies and a bright sun made decoying tough. Lots of specklebellies, but they have been tougher to decoy lately. Recent rains flushed and recharged roost ponds. The South Zone duck season will reopen Dec. 10. Goose hunting prospects are fair to good.

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