Migration Alert: Abundant Water in South Texas Offers Ideal Teal Habitat

Last year, Texas waterfowlers were praying for rain; now Lone Star State hunters are hoping for sunshine during the September 14–29 early teal season.

After almost two years of severe drought in Texas, 2024 has been anything but dry, as frequent storms have dumped more than four feet of rainfall in some coastal regions.

“We have had close to 50 inches of rain through August,” says Jason Salas, a land and marsh manager near Collegeport. “And, with another storm brewing in the Gulf, it looks like we may get more.”

Rain is a good thing when it comes to waterfowl habitat along the Texas coast. What had been dry, parched, yellow hypersaline marsh for most of 2022 and 2023 is now a lush, vibrant, emerald estuary filled with aquatic duck foods.

“Last year, I could have ridden a 10-speed bicycle across the marsh,” reports Brian Davenport, owner of Fin and Fowl Outfitters in Chambers County. “We are very fortunate Mother Nature always has a way of fixing things. Conditions are excellent.”

Davenport explains that coastal marshes from High Island to Smith Point are full of vegetation, and nearby high-ground blinds north of I-10 are holding solid concentrations of bluewings.

“There are thousands of blue-winged teal in our rice fields,” Davenport says. “The cold front that passed through last weekend brought more birds with the stiff north winds.”

Coastal prairie hunters in Wharton, Colorado, Matagorda, Jackson, and Lavaca Counties are anticipating fast shoots this weekend, especially in harvested rice fields. Clouds of bluewings are being reported near Eagle Lake, Lissie, East Bernard, Garwood, Rock Island, and El Campo.

Hunters on state wildlife management areas like Mad Island, Guadalupe Delta, and Justin Hurst should benefit from the lush marsh conditions and rainfall. Throw in higher-than-normal tides from a major storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, and there should be plenty of water to hunt.

“Tides are really high on the shorelines,” reports guide Ray Sexton of Palacios. “Teal have been buzzing the south shorelines and should have plenty of water to work all the back lakes.”

Check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website for season dates and other regulations.