Lubbock Hunters Eager For Promising Duck Season Ahead

Plenty of Ducks, Plenty of Optimism

If you’re a hunter around the Hub City, it’s time to grab your waders, dust off the decoys, and get ready for what’s shaping up to be a great waterfowl season. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists, the key duck species Texans love to target — teal, gadwall, wigeon, pintails, shovelers, and redheads — are all on the rise this year.

Via newsletter, Kevin Kraai, TPWD’s Waterfowl Program Leader, says hunters in the Lubbock area should expect solid opportunities again this season:

Texas hunters can anticipate another strong waterfowl season, though overall success will depend on local water availability and the timing of cold fronts

For those who like a challenge, the pintail bag limit has been bumped up to three birds per day — thanks to new data showing their populations are stronger than expected.

Local Conditions Looking Good

Here on the South Plains, that above-average summer rainfall has been a game changer. Many of our area’s playas and stock tanks are still holding good water, meaning more ducks have more places to land. While September’s heat dried up some shallow wetlands, fresh rain in October could make for prime hunting conditions in the Lubbock area.

READ MORE: New Texas Hunting & Fishing Rules Every Lubbock Outdoorsman Needs to Know

The National Weather Service is calling for a developing La Niña pattern this winter, which usually brings warmer and drier weather to West Texas. Still, Kraai says the real action depends on those cold fronts — and when they push fresh birds down from the north, Lubbock hunters should be ready to move fast!

Key Dates for West Texas Hunters

The High Plains Mallard Management Unit kicks things off with a youth-only and veteran duck season on October 11th–12th, followed by the regular season opening on October 18th. Goose season opens November 1st across both East and West Zones.

Hunters should double-check that their HIP certification, migratory bird endorsement, and federal duck stamp are all up to date. And thanks to the Duck Stamp Modernization Act, an electronic stamp now covers you for the entire season — with the physical version mailed out next spring.

READ MORE: Archery Only Seasons is Underway — What Lubbock Hunters Need to Know

For complete dates, bag limits, and regulations, check the Outdoor Annual or the Texas Hunt & Fish app — and get ready for what could be one of the best waterfowl seasons in years right here in Lubbock.