
Teal are the buzz bombs of the waterfowl world. These small, sleek ducks dip and dive through the sky in ways that would make a stunt pilot reach for a barf bag. This makes them a ton of fun — and quite a challenge — to hunt.
When the earliest winds of autumn begin to blow, teal skedaddle south. On their way to wintering grounds in Central America, they make pit stops to rest and refuel at ponds, marshes, and mudflats across Missouri. The first flocks arrive here in late August, long before bigger ducks such as mallards show up. Blue-winged teal numbers peak in mid-September, just in time for teal season.
Three kinds of teal are legal to hunt during September’s season. But be careful! A few other ducks can show up in the Show-Me State during this time. Make absolutely sure it’s a real teal before you pull the trigger!
One of the beauties of teal hunting is that it doesn’t require a mountain of gear. You certainly don’t need a boat, tons of decoys, or layer after layer of warm, waterproof clothes. In fact, these 10 items are all you need:
There are two things to look for when choosing where to hunt: shallow water where teal can land and a brushy area nearby where you can hide.
Traveling teal rest in marshes, mudflats, ponds, flooded fields, and river sloughs. They like water that’s less than 2 feet deep and dotted with vegetation so they can refuel on seeds and insects.
Ducks are wary birds, and they have excellent eyesight. But you don’t have to wear Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak to hide from them. Just find some cattails, bulrushes, or willows at the water’s edge and crouch down.
Many hunters believe teal rocket around at the speed of sound. In reality, many other ducks fly much faster. But that doesn’t mean teal aren’t hard to hit. To better your chances of making a clean shot, practice shooting skeet (aka clay pigeons) several times before the season starts. To find a place to shoot, aim your browser at mdc.mo.gov/shootingranges.
During migration, ducks don’t stay in one place for very long. A marsh that was packed with birds one day might be deserted the next. But teal don’t travel on a whim. Weather guides their whereabouts. If you want to be in the right place at the right time, watch the evening news. When the forecaster predicts a cold front coming through or winds blowing out of the north, plan to be at the duck marsh bright and early the next morning.
After flying all night, teal search for a resting place soon after sunrise. Get up extra early so you can set out your decoys and hunker down in your hiding spot before dawn.
Ducks land with their beaks pointed into the wind, so set up with the breeze at your back. This way, the birds will be flying toward you, and you’ll have a better chance to make a clean shot.
When teal start buzzing the decoys, hold still and be quiet. The slightest movement or sound may send them streaking for the next state before you can get off a shot. And speaking of shooting, until you have a few hunts under your belt, let your grown-up guide tell you when to pull the trigger.
When it’s time, don’t shoot into the center of a large flock. Instead, pick out a bird at the edge so you’re less likely to hit more than one.
If you miss, don’t feel bad. Lots of people do. Instead, look on the bright side: You get to stay in the marsh a little longer and enjoy the sight of duck-shaped rockets streaking across the sunny September sky.
There are several laws you must follow when hunting teal, and it’s your job to know them. Pick up a copy of the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest where hunting permits are sold or read the booklet online at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8L.
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