While it doesn't garner nearly the popularity of winter waterfowling, Missouri's early teal season gives hunters their first chance to hunt ducks each fall, and this year's season opens Saturday.
For a waterfowler, there's certainly nothing like the whistling of wings as a flock of birds buzzes the decoys, and teal make that adrenaline rush even better because they sound like jets passing through.
Teal are particularly sensitive to changes in weather patterns, and even a slight drop in overnight temperatures can cause a big push of birds to move in to the area, or even move out. That's what makes teal hunting so good and, many times, so frustrating. You just have to keep trying, because an area can be void of birds one day and full of them the next.
Teal hunting doesn't require much in the way of gear or decoys like you would need for later duck seasons. In fact, a half dozen decoys is really all you need. The little speedsters are suckers for spinning-wing decoys, so you might take one of those as well, if only to attract distant birds.
If you've got them, lightweight, breathable waders are preferred over neoprene so you don't sweat too much, and because you're hunting in a wetland during warm weather, you'll certainly be fighting mosquitoes. I generally wear a mesh bug suit over my waders and shirt, plus I'll set out a Thermacell unit just upwind of my position. It's a system which works well, and taking such precautions can keep you from becoming an unwilling blood donor.
It's important to know the regulations when hunting teal. Just like during the regular duck season, the daily limit is six birds. You still also need non-toxic shotshells, a plugged shotgun, small-game hunting permit, state migratory bird permit and a signed federal duck stamp. The biggest difference with the teal season is shooting hours don't begin until sunrise and end at sunset, and that's to keep hunters from misidentifying and shooting other species, which aren't in season.
At the Department of Conservation's local managed wetlands, habitat conditions for the teal season, and check-in procedures at each one, vary.
At the Otter Slough Conservation Area in Stoddard County, the moist-soil units are reported in good condition, and there should be about 600 acres of surface water spread around the area. Biologist Kevin Brunke expects there to be 15 or 16 open hunting positions available, and there will be a morning draw at 5 a.m. throughout the season.
At the Duck Creek Conservation Area north of Puxico, Mo., biologist Nicky Walker reports good habitat conditions, primarily in Units A and B and the upper end of Pool 1. Depending on water levels, Walker expects 18 to 20 hunting positions to be available, and they also will have a 5 a.m. drawing, but only on opening weekend. After the first two days, there will be no draw and no limit to the number of people, so hunters will have to police themselves as far as overcrowding a spot goes.
The Coon Island Conservation Area in southern Butler County has only fair habitat conditions, Brunke said, but worse, it has very little water to attract teal.
At the Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area in Mississippi County, excellent habitat conditions are reported, and there is a self check-in process with no hunter number restrictions.
The teal season will continue through Sept. 23.
Archery Shoot
The Indian Creek Bowhunters will host its final 3-D archery shoot of the season on Saturday, and it's the perfect time for a good pre-season warmup.
Shooting at the MDC range off County Road 546 will begin at 8 a.m., but you can register and start the 20-target course any time before noon.
As always, any type of bow is allowed as long as you're shooting field points.
Food and drinks also will be available for purchase on-site.
The cost to shoot will be $10 for fun-class archers and $15 for those in the trophy classes.
If you need more information, call Tony Harwell at 573-718-7135 or Brad Massey at 573-785-0647.
18-Fore-Life Tourney
The weather forecast is calling for a little rain, but if you're a dedicated crappie fisherman, that shouldn't stop you from taking part in what is probably the largest crappie competition each year on Wappapello Lake, the Ben Kruse 18-Fore-Life charity crappie tournament.
The fundraiser tournament is a collaboration between the Wappapello Crappie Club and the Ben Kruse 18-Fore-Life Foundation, which helps financially support local cancer patients.
Take-off at the Sundowner ramp for this year's eighth annual event has been scheduled for 7 a.m., and fishing will continue until 1 p.m. Participants need to be in line for the weigh-in at Sundowner by 2 p.m.
Food will be available at the weigh-in and several raffles also will be offered.
If you want to fish the event, you can sign up ahead of time at Sundowner Marina, north of the dam, or you can call Bruce Christian at 573-624-4505. You also can sign up between 6-7 a.m. on the morning of the event.
Big "O" Tournament
One of the oldest bass fishing tournaments on Wappapello Lake, the Big "O," is coming up this weekend.
The event will take place Sunday and will be fished out of the Chaonia Landing ramp.
A pre-tournament meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at Chaonia Landing, and a take-off time for Sunday will be determined then.
The winner of the event is guaranteed $1,500 in cash, plus trophies and a jacket, and the earnings scale goes down from there.
For more information on the event, or to get registered, call Chaonia Landing owner Dallas Rich at 573-297-3206 or Rick Robertson at 573-429-3396.