South Padre Island as a duck-hunting destination may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of this small South Texas Island, but picture this… Early morning calmness, no light in sight, the cool air hits your face as you weave your way through a maze of black mangrove channels, while hoping it leads you to the open area you scouted on Google Maps.
The impact of tides has you hoping there will be water in your honey hole; knowing that there will be some puddle ducks and thick flocks of redheads flying this morning. Will your hard work pay off? Did you pack everything you need? Is there a SpaceX launch today? There are so many factors to hunting ducks around South Padre Island, Texas. We chatted with local hunter and wild game chef, Gonzo Peña to learn more about what it takes to put meat on the table.
Gonzo’s love for hunting, like most locals in South Texas, started with white wing and mourning dove hunts at a young age. The doves are thick around the Rio Grande Valley, so hunters have a great opportunity to learn about gun safety and shoot some birds. Over the years, Gonzo has become an avid hunter – adding bobwhite quail, deer, nilgai, and ducks to the list. Hunting has become much about the experience with nature, as it is about bringing meat home for dinner. One thing Gonzo has learned to embrace is the effort it takes to start harvesting ducks in his backyard, the Lower Laguna Madre of South Padre Island.
This hypersaline lagoon is home to a wide variety of trophy game fish, sandbanks, oyster beds, dolphins, alligators, sharks, seagrass beds, black mangroves, and in the winter – migrating ducks. Redhead ducks fly down in the thousands to South Padre Island. Gonzo joked that the local hunters tease about finding redheads because they are that easy to spot. South Padre Island is also home to teal and widgeon ducks, but Gonzo prefers to look for the more challenging birds to hunt. Puddle ducks, like pintails, are one of his favorites. They are good eating and are more skittish than some of the diver ducks.
Most duck and dove guides on South Padre Island use airboats to drop clients off right at the blinds. This is a great option if you’re traveling to South Padre Island for a duck hunting trip. Gonzo was originally using his bay fishing boat to get back in the mangroves for cover, but was realizing that he was not able to access the best spots. Recently Gonzo rebuilt a jon boat by camouflaging it out and building a mud motor, allowing him to access four-inch areas of water.
When looking for a place to set up a blind, black mangroves are a great source of cover for duck hunting. Find a little place to tuck your head, a nice channel with sand banks on each side, and keep in mind that the bird will almost always want to land into the wind. Just like anywhere else, decoy patterns make a huge difference, but Gonzo had some local tips when around South Padre Island.
He recommends a waterproof gun case. Most of the time, hunters will be riding in a boat to get to the duckblind. Keeping a limited amount of salt exposure on your gun is imperative. A ceramic coating on your gun is helpful, but he found that it’s just better to take a less expensive gun. “You don’t want to waste your money.” One great tip Gonzo had is to keep an extra bottle of water around just for washing your hands. You will be moving decoys, picking up birds, and your hands will get wet. Then you load shells into your gun and without thinking about it you’ve got saltwater inside your gun.
A lifejacket is also important to wear when you have waders on. Think about bringing a neoprene waist belt to hold shells, and a seat helps to keep your gear out of the water when you’re not right next to the boat.
South Padre Island is a world class destination for fishing, but duck hunting has become more popular year-after-year. Most of the duck hunting guides also offer a cast and blast package. Gonzo never leaves the dock without a rod rigged up and ready to go. He’s come home with pintails and flounder, red heads and redfish, and many more combos he will be cooking up later that evening. Find out more about his South Texas outdoor lifestyle by following Gonzo on Instagram (@gonzo_spi) and start planning your next adventure on South Padre Island at www.sopadre.com.
Thank you to South Padre Island for sponsoring this post.
