AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 8 -- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued the following news release:
Teal hunting season opens Sept. 19 with a nine-day early season for the second consecutive year.
The 2025 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Canadian Wildlife Service estimated the blue-winged teal breeding population at 4.4 million birds, which was 13 percent below the long-term average.
Unfortunately, the most recent 2026 May survey indicated the numbers dipped lower again this year with an estimated 3.96 million blue-winged teal. It's an 11 percent drop from last year's numbers and remains below the 4.7-million threshold that is required for a 16-day special earl...