Texas opened a shortened nine-day teal hunting season on Sept. 19, the second consecutive year the state has limited the season rather than extending it to 16 days.
The shortened season reflects declining blue-winged teal populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service's May 2026 survey estimated the breeding population at 3.96 million birds, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. That represents an 11 percent drop from the previous year and falls below the 4.7 million birds required to trigger a longer season.
The early teal season runs through Sept. 27. Hunters are limited to a daily bag limit of six teal, with a possession limit of 18. The department said that blue-winged teal is the species most hunted during Texas's early teal season and is now the most-harvested duck species in the state during regular hunting seasons, a shift from historical patterns.
Migration patterns for blue-winged teal have become less predictable in recent years. Historically, the birds moved through Texas in a compressed window peaking in late September, but the department said they now migrate across a broader timeframe, from mid-to-late August through October and November. Some birds also no longer migrate as far south as they historically did, with substantial numbers now wintering on the Texas coast.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said it expects "a below-average early teal season overall in Texas" due to the declining continental breeding population, the limited nine-day window, and drying habitat across parts of the state. However, the department noted that favorable weather and the Harvest Moon falling on Sept. 26 could improve hunting conditions if migration timing aligns.
Hunters must have a valid 2026-27 Texas hunting license, a migratory game bird endorsement, a Federal Duck Stamp, and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Proof of completion of a hunter education course is also required. The Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 allows hunters to carry an electronic stamp (E-stamp) for the season, with a physical stamp mailed after hunting season ends.