Identification a must in early season

Chad Adams

During difficult days, the use of good hunting tactics can still help you get back to the launch with your limit of teal and a big smile.

Another topic that both Gauthier and Locascio adamantly insist on is the ability to identify the birds you are meant to shoot.

They explained that, even though teal are the prevalent species in the area at the time, there are a few other birds flying around that can create identification mishaps.

"September is the prime time for the juvenile mottled ducks to test their wings, and with them not being fully grown a group of them can be easily mistaken for teal," Gauthier said.

There are some occassions when shovelers ("spoonbill") can already be down south, and their early season wing plumage can be very similar to teal.

"If you’re in an area where wood ducks are around, they can also confuse you, so identity is the key," Locascio said.