Story from TPWD
The regular duck season opens on Sat., Nov. 5 in the South Zone and Sat., Nov. 12 in the North Zone. High Plains Mallard Management Unit opens for hunting Oct. 29-30, then closes again until Fri., Nov 4.
NEW this year, special waterfowl seasons for veterans and active-duty military have been added in all 3 zones – the first opened 10/22. See the Outdoor Annual for more duck and goose season information.
Hunting forecast from TPWD
Dry conditions across the state will create some challenges for waterfowl hunters, but the good news is that when there’s less water available, birds concentrate in fewer areas, making them easier to find.
Breeding habitats in the Dakotas reportedly improved, and this year’s hatch of ducklings was above average. After two years of significant drought and very poor productivity, this means that there should be more young, inexperienced ducks winging their way to Texas this winter.
The latest survey revealed that most duck species saw substantial decreases since 2019. Blue winged-teal and redheads are the only duck populations that have increased since then. For more forecast information, including regional tips, see our press release, Habitat Conditions Could Present Challenges for Waterfowl Hunters this Season.
