OUTDOOR CORNER: TEAL NUMBERS HIT A RECORD HIGH FOR UPCOMING SEASON

Last week in this column, you read about the upcoming season for mourning dove. This week we will talk about yet another early season. We will talk about teal hunting in Missouri.

Teal season opens at sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 11, and closes at sunset on Sept. 26. The 16-day season takes place well ahead of the regular waterfowl seasons. This early season gives hunters the opportunity to enjoy mild weather while pursuing the earliest of waterfowl migrants to head south from their nesting grounds in Canada.

If you have never tried waterfowl hunting, this could be a good year to get your feet wet. Teal numbers are at an all-time record high. The blue-winged teal population stands at 7.2 million (up from 6.4 million in 1998). Add another 2.8 million green-winged teal to the equation and the potential is there for some excellent hunting.

As with any type of duck hunting, weather conditions play a major role in hunter success. Cool temperatures are necessary up north to start the birds on their southward migration. Then, we need some standing water to hold the birds in this area. If we don't get some rain soon, there will be a premium on local MDC wetlands.

In Southeast Missouri, hunters have both Duck Creek CA and Otter Slough CA in Stoddard County. In Mississippi County, hunters should find birds at Ten Mile Pond CA, located south of East Prairie. Area maps are available from the Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Office in Cape Girardeau County Park - North, or by calling 573/290-5730.

Regardless of where you choose to hunt, there are several things to keep in mind, especially if you are a first-time teal hunter. As stated previously, the teal season in Missouri is a special early hunt. That means that other species of ducks are not legal game. This makes it imperative that you learn to accurately identify waterfowl in flight.

Teal are one of the smallest size species of ducks that we hunt. However, you might encounter other similar sized ducks (such as wood ducks) so don't rely completely on size. Learn to recognize such things as flight patterns.

The teal's small size and twisting, turning flight gives the illusion of great speed. They often fly in small compact flocks that pass low over the marsh with the entire flock twisting and turning as one unit.

In addition to accurate identification skills, a teal hunter should be aware of the following:

* Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset with a daily limit of four (4) teal in the aggregate.

* All hunters 16 years of age or older must carry on their person a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal duck stamp) signed in ink across the face by the user, and a Missouri Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, and a valid Small Game Hunting Permit.

* As with other types of waterfowl hunting, teal may be taken only with shot that is approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

One final reminder. Because of the low flying propensity of teal, hunters should take extra care to watch for other hunters who might be in the general area.

-- Gene Myers is a Missouri Department of Conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.