Teal Season

According to the weathermen and weatherwomen of Eastern North Carolina's newscasts, today should be out last day of 90 degree weather...and we all know, that those folks only report the most accurate facts. Either way, the month of September ushers in early hunting seasons for North Carolina's sportsmen. The weather is perfect for doves and teal, both of which are migratory game birds that pass right through our coastal communities and sounds.

Teal are a type of duck...they are also America's smallest dabbling ducks....dabbling ducks, unlike diving ducks, feed in foot deep water on plants and seeds. Teal are divided into three differens species...there's the Green-winged teal (a hardy little puddle duck that can withstand the late winter temperatures and is a late migrator), the Cinnamon teal (probably the most beautiful duck in all the world, but an early migrant), and the Blue-winged teal (America's second most abundant duck, behind the mallard, and the earliest of all migrators).

Scientists and researchers eventually discovered that not all species of ducks migrate at the same time. Some, like the Blue-winged teal (BWT hereafter) migrate from their nesting grounds in Canada and the Dakotas as soon as August. For hunters to have a chance at these speedy, tasty, and very abundant ducks, state game commissions created the early teal season, which generally falls in early-September. No other ducks may be harvested, either. It's a great chance to practice shooting and identification skills. But, it's not always that easy. BWT's are tiny for ducks...about the size of a fat cardinal. They also fly at about 40 miles per hour and in the most zig-zaggery of fashions. They commit easily to meager decoy spreads of 10-20 fakes. But they also leave them as quick as they arrive. What complicates teal hunting even more, is that they are "first flight" birds. They fly right at legal shooting light, then no more. Additionally, they are literally here one day, and gone the next. yo uhave to get lucky just to spy them in flight anywhere.

With a continental population of approximately 6 million BWT, many northern hunters will still never see them. I have never bagged one, but I've seen a friend bag one. I've seen less than a thousand in my illustrious career as a waterfowler. Either way, I still try to go and catch teal several times each September...I have harvested early green-winged teal, but not many. Still, I'll have lots of fun swatting the copious amounts of mosquitoes. The pint of blood I'll need after the mosquitoes have fed on me will be tucked gently into the corner of my ammunition bag. Ditto for the spf 50. I don't have alligator repellent, so I'll have the space. Still, it's worth every waterfowler and birder's effort to go out in September, along the coastal marshes to see these tiny, beautiful ducks, that most will never see...for those wanting to pursue these ducks...scout shallow marshes with lots of food. The daily bag limit is 4...

Here are some pictures of the 3 different types of teal...

Green-Winged Teal













Blue-Winged Teal














Cinnamon Teal













Enjoy the day...