Early teal season approved

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commission approved a 16-day early teal season.

Migratory bird seasons in Kansas are set, according to frameworks provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the early teal season frameworks depend on the results of a blue-winged teal breeding population survey.

If the population of breeding blue-winged teal is more than 4.7 million, Fish and Wildlife Service allows for a 16-day early season.

Survey results released recently, show 6.6 million blue-winged teal on the breeding grounds.

In the Low Plains zone, which is the portion of Kansas east of U.S. Highway 283, the early teal season will be Sept. 13 through Sept. 28. In the High Plains zone, which is west of U.S. Highway 283, the early teal season will be Sept. 13 through Sept. 20.

The shorter season in the High Plains is mandated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act’s 107-day limit on total duck season days. Under the liberal duck season frameworks, 97 days are available for regular duck seasons in the High Plains zone. When the two-day youth season is added, that leaves only eight days for an early teal season. The daily bag limit for early teal is four and possession is eight.

The wildlife commission also approved standard seasons and bag limits for Wilson’s snipe, rail and woodcock. The seasons have been considered annually because there was potential for change as a result of Fish and Wildlife frameworks.

The frameworks for these species have not changed for years. The approved snipe season is Sept. 1 through Dec. 16, with a daily bag limit of eight and a possession limit of 16. The rail season is Sept. 1 through Nov. 9, with a daily bag and possession limit of 25. The woodcock season opens Oct. 11 and closes Nov. 24. The daily bag on woodcock is three and the possession limit is six.