• Sonny Long •
• Originally published January 21, 2009 at 11:53 p.m., updated January 21, 2009 at 11:53 p.m.

HIGH PLAINS MALLARD

Goose hunting cooled off a bit this week with the warmer temperatures. Fewer geese are using Cactus Lake near Etter.

Snow geese remain in abundance, but high skies and light winds have hurt decoying action. Duck action has been steady over playas, with mallards, gadwalls, green-winged teal and wigeons making up the brunt of the bag.

Knox City hunters have seen fair to good duck and goose hunting. Duck season ends at sunset Jan. 25. Goose hunting in the West Zone continues through Feb. 8. The Light Goose Conservation Order begins Feb. 9. Prospects are fair to good.

NORTH ZONE DUCK

Duck hunting has slowed as of late, probably due to dry conditions and light winds. Hunters searching for mallards have had a tough time finding the prized duck.

Area lakes and reservoirs have been devoid of greenheads for most of the season. Wood ducks have disappeared as of late, probably due to timber sloughs and back waters drying to dust. Lots of diver ducks on Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake, Lake O'the Pines, Lake Fork and Sam Rayburn. Gadwalls and a few wood ducks have been taken on Lake Palestine.

Timber ponds able to be rested during the week have yielded decent shoots for mallards on weekend. Duck hunting around the IH-10 corridor has been slow, except for a few rested ponds. An influx of green-winged teal helped fill the bag during the past week. The season closes at sunset Jan. 25. Prospects are fair.

SOUTH ZONE DUCK

Dry conditions across the coast have hurt duck hunting success. Few prairie ponds are left from the lack of rain during the past five months; however, those who have water have had successful hunts.

Best hunting has been around East Bernard, Wharton and Chesterville. Duck hunting along the bay has been tough around Port O'Connor. Hunters able to find large rafts of redheads and pintails have shot their birds, but movement has been minimal during the day.

Good hunts have been posted near Collegeport and Palacios. An influx of green-winged teal has helped put birds in the bag. Rockport hunters have taken limits of redheads and a few bluebills. Port Mansfield has been fair for divers and pintails.

Goose hunting has been fair at best with bluebird skies. Geese are beginning to separate into small groups and worked the edges of fields for remaining food sources. Most geese are feeding on green fields or pastures over-seeded with rye grass.

Duck and goose season ends at sunset Jan. 25. The Light Goose Conservation Order begins Jan. 26. Prospects are fair.

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