Texas Sets Waterfowl Seasons for 2011-2012

AUSTIN – The 2011-12 Texas late season migratory regulations in place, it’s now up to Mother Nature to set the stage.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission finalized this year’s waterfowl seasons at its Aug. 25 public hearing as Texas entered uncharted territory for most days with 100 degree plus temperatures.

Any rainfall prior to the Nov. 5 waterfowl season opener would be a welcome sight for an anticipated banner migration of ducks.

Following is a summary of the Texas late season migratory framework for 2011-12. An early season for teal statewide, and for Canada geese in the eastern goose zone, runs Sept. 10-25 with a daily bag limit of four teal and three geese.

Ducks

High Plains Mallard Management Unit

All species other than “dusky ducks”: Oct. 29-30, 2011 and Nov. 4, 2011 – Jan. 29, 2012; “Dusky ducks”: Nov. 7, 2011 – Jan. 29, 2012; Youth-only Season: Oct. 22-23, 2011

North Zone

All species other than “dusky ducks”: Nov. 5 – 27, 2011 and Dec. 10, 2011 -- Jan. 29, 2012; “Dusky ducks”: Nov. 10 – 27, 2011 and Dec. 10, 2011 – Jan. 29, 2012; Youth-only Season: Oct. 29-30, 2011

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South Zone

All species other than “dusky ducks”: Nov. 5 – 27, 2011 and Dec. 10, 2011 — Jan. 29, 2012; “Dusky ducks”: Nov. 10 – 27 and Dec. 10, 2011 – Jan. 29, 2012; Youth-only Season: Oct. 29-30, 2011

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, to include no more than five mallards of which only 2 may be hens; three wood ducks; two scaup; two redheads; two pintails; one canvasback; and one “dusky” duck. Dusky ducks include: mottled ducks, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids. For all other species not listed, the bag limit is six. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, which may include no more than two hooded mergansers.

Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Geese

Western Zone

Light geese: Nov. 5, 2011 – Feb. 5, 2012, daily bag limit is 20 and no possession limit.

Dark geese: Nov. 5, 2011 – Feb. 5, 2012, daily bag limit is five in the aggregate to include no more than one white-fronted goose

Eastern Zone

Light geese: Nov. 5, 2011 – Jan. 29, 2012, the daily bag limit for light geese is 20 and no possession limit.

White-fronted geese: Nov. 5, 2011 – Jan. 15, 2012, daily bag limit is two;

Canada geese: Sept. 10-25, 2011 and Nov. 5, 2011 – Jan. 29, 2012, daily bag limit is three.

Light Goose Conservation Order

Eastern Zone

Jan. 30 — Mar. 25, 2012, no bag or possession limits.

Western Zone

Feb. 6 — Mar. 25, 2012, no bag or possession limits.

Sandhill Crane

Zone A

Nov. 5, 2011 — Feb. 5, 2012, daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.

Zone B

Nov. 25, 2011 — Feb. 5, 2012, daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.

Zone C

Dec. 24, 2011 — Jan. 29, 2012, daily bag limit is two and possession limit is four.

Extended Falconry Season

Ducks, coots, and mergansers:

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: no extended season

North Duck Zone

Jan. 30 — Feb. 13, 2012

South Duck Zone

Jan. 30 — Feb. 13, 2012

For all zones the daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.