Self-guided Duck/Teal Hunts

For the 2025 – 2026 season, we hosted hunts at the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Tivoli, the Richland Creek WMA (Carl Fentress Unit) near Streetman, and the Mad Island WMA near Collegeport.  These hunts required the Annual Public Hunting Permit and involved extensive walking and wading, often on mucky bottoms.  We also hunted on Lakes Stillhouse Hollow and Granger, the DeLoach Ranch’s lake near Taylor, and Corpus Christi Bay.

For many years, Randy Rowley has hosted self-guided duck/teal hunts on central Texas lakes, within 100 miles of Austin.  Randy has a full-time job, isn’t a guide, hunts on weekends or state of Texas holidays (usually), and hunts on highly pressured lakes in an area of Texas near where he lives (Leander) that isn’t known for great duck hunting.  Results have usually been far from great on the lakes, especially since the 2015/2016 season, except for one teal hunt on a lake.  Here is our scorecard to date:

* = record

Some of our successes include:

Randy has taken up to three adult hunters (four including him) on Cam (his 2019 bay boat – a 20-foot 3-inch camo Excel Bay Pro 203 with a 115 HP Yamaha motor) (see below).

It has a camo Beavertail blind that sits on top (see below).

Here is Randy’s first motor boat, Bob, all brushed out (below the hunter’s head).  However, as hunters usually don’t want to leave an hour earlier than they normally do (2:00 – 3:00 AM), they rarely brush out Cam.

For walk-in hunts, three FCS members own jet sleds that enable them to drag their equipment on the land or in the water.

Our duck and teal hunts usually require wading in water at night, with only a cap light or head lamp for illumination.  They also require putting out and picking up decoys and retrieving dead ducks.  Hunters sometimes get stuck in muddy lake/river/pond bottoms and trip over stumps, roots, and logs.  Being able to get yourself unstuck if stuck in the mud and back on your feet if you’ve fallen is essential.  Consequently, these hunts are not recommended for hunters who have difficulty freeing themselves from the mud or getting back up if they’ve fallen.

A law was enacted in 2022 that requires hunters to either on-sight register or electronic on-sight register (if available) upon arrival and departure from a TPWD public hunting area.  The signage at least on Lake Granger is inadequate to explain to hunters what they must do.  It simply states, “E and the unit number” (such as E285).  Game wardens are ticketing hunters who don’t on-sight register or electronic on-sight register upon arrival and departure at Lake Granger.

FCS hunters have hunted Lakes Granger, Stillhouse Hollow (aka Stillhouse), Somerville, or Waco in their WMAs.  Lake Belton was Randy’s last choice as they’ve hunted it seven times (three times in the Owl Creek WMA, twice in the Iron Bridge WMA, once in the White Flint WMA, and once from the shores of Fort Hood) and only fired shots on the Fort Hood hunt.  They also didn’t see hardly any ducks in the WMAs.  In order to hunt the Iron Bridge WMA successfully, hunters need a flat bottom or airboat, which Randy doesn’t have, to get up the usually shallow Leon River.

All five lakes are administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  Hunters usually hunt until 8:30 – 10:30 AM, depending on how the ducks are flying and the weather conditions (ducks often fly longer when it is overcast).  All USACE developed parks require parking permits (pay at the gate).  Undeveloped parks do not require parking permits.

FCS hunters haven’t hunted Lake Georgetown.  The USACE requires a Small Game Permit to hunt waterfowl and the Lake Georgetown Project Office will only issue 50 small game permits issued each season.  Small game permits will be administered through an application and a random drawing process, and there is a $25 application fee.

Our best hunts have been on Lakes Granger and Stillhouse, so they’re tied for Randy’s first choice.  Lake Somerville is his third choice.

Lake Granger doesn’t require a USACE lake hunting permit.  However, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) leases Lake Granger’s WMA’s; consequently, a TPWD annual public hunting permit is required.  The cost is $48/year.  If hunters decide to hunt Lake Granger they will hunt in the San Gabriel, Willis Creek, or Sore Finger WMA’s.  Wilson Fox Park on Granger is 38 miles from Randy’s house.

Lakes Stillhouse and Waco do not require a TPWD annual Public hunting permit nor a USACE lake hunting permit (see https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/lake/SWF%20District%20Hunting%20Guide%202024-2025.pdf).

When Randy hunted Lake Stillhouse they’ll launch at Riversbend Park (50 miles from his house) and hunt in the Union Grove WMA on the island (the side depends on the direction of the wind) or in a small cove.  Or they’ll launch at Cedar Gap Park and hunt in the Gravel Crossing or Twin Creek WMA’s, up the Lampasas River, but that area isn’t very wide so Randy usually doesn’t hunt it.

Lake Somerville doesn’t require a USACE lake hunting permit.  However, hunters will need a TPWD annual public hunting permit if they hunt in Flagg Pond in the TPWD day hunt area.  They must use Cam to get to where they’ll hunt (but don’t have to hunt from him) and ensure that their shot will not fall onto Nails Creek property.  The USACE day hunt area doesn’t require a TPWD annual public hunting permit, although they can only hunt from the shore in that area (they can’t hunt from Cam), so it’s Randy’s last choice.  Lake Somerville is 62 miles further than Granger (103 miles from Randy’s house), so they’ll have to leave an hour earlier than they would if they were going to hunt Lake Granger.  They’ve only had one good hunt on Lake Somerville, so it was Randy’s next to last choice.

If FCS hunters ever hunt Lake Waco they’ll” hunt either in the Flat Rock hunting area or in the South Waco hunting area.  Depending on where they hunt, Waco is 56 miles further than Lake Granger (97 miles from Randy’s house), so they’ll have to leave an hour earlier than they would if they were going to hunt Lake Granger.  Note that all hunters who hunt on Lake Waco must sign a Disclaimer and Waiver of Liability and have it in their possession while hunting.  Also, duck hunters on Lake Waco must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material (144 square inches on both chest and back) and some type of orange headwear when leaving their hunting destinations.  In addition, no hunting is permitted around Waco Wetlands.  Randy has yet to hunt Lake Waco, so the jury is still out on it.

Where they hunted depended on lake levels and hunting reports that Randy receives from various sources.

Costs:

• The participants (excluding Randy, if Cam is being used) will split the vehicle and boat gas (the amount depends on the distance traveled and the number of people sharing the gas), boat launch fees (if applicable; no more than $5 each), and toll road fees (if they take any).  Randy has to replace Cam’s starter batteries, trailer tires and wheel bearings, etc. more quickly due to taking FCS members and guests on duck hunts than he would if he didn’t take FCS members and guests on such trips; therefore, he’s exempt from the above expenses.  If you look at what he spends on the above, he guarantees you that he’s not making any money on these trips.  If they’re not using Cam, Randy will join the other participants on splitting the vehicle gas and toll road feeds (if they take any).
• They’ll stop at Whataburger on the way to the lake and might stop for second breakfast or brunch on the way home.
• There is a shared boat launch or state or county park fee, in most cases.

What to Bring:

• Texas hunting license and migratory bird endorsement and federal duck stamp.  If you bought a super combo license it includes your hunting license and migratory bird endorsement but does not include a federal duck stamp.
• Shotgun.  A 12 gauge piston-operated semi-automatic is recommended (but keep them clean, as if they get gunked up they’ll stop working).  A recoil (aka inertia)-operated semi-automatic takes second place (as they kick more than piston-operated semi-automatics), followed by a pump (or slide)-action.  A plug is required for semi-automatics and pumps capable of holding more than two shells in the magazine (almost all of them are) while hunting migratory game birds.
• Camo or dull non-cloth shotgun case.  If hunting from Cam, a floating case is recommended.  If your case is bright you’ll need to hide it well if hunting on land.
• Two boxes of steel shot (Winchester Xpert/Remington Sportsman/Federal Waterfowl/Kent FASTEEL Loads steel shot or HEVI-Steel shotgun shells, for three-inch chambers (if your gun is also chambered for three inches), in 2, 3, or 4 shot.  Get the 1300 – 1500 FPS variants with 1 1/4 oz. of shot (in 12 gauge), as you’ll have more shot and you’ll have a better pattern.  10 gauges and 3 1/2? shells in 3 1/2 inch-chambered 12 gauges are overkill for ducks.  Steel shot (if of adequate size) will kill ducks – there is no need for HEVI-shot, Tungsten, Bismuth, etc.  You’ll pay a lot more for those shells and they aren’t needed.  You’ll not need more than two boxes and will probably shoot less than that.  Several times hunters haven’t shot at all.
• Camo or dull blind bag, shell bag, vest, or bandoleer.  If hunting from Cam, a floating blind bag is recommended.  If hunting from land and your shell bag is bright (e.g., a red HEB shopping bag) you’ll need to hide it well.
• Headlamp or cap light (waterproof is recommended).
• Camo outer hunting clothes, including cap/hat and a face mask or face paint (face coverings are absolutely essential as oily skin glows in a duck’s eyes).  As you never know when it will rain, bring rain gear.
• Waders (absolutely essential).  Uninsulated breathable waders are recommended for warmer hunts.  Neoprene breathable waders are recommended for colder hunts (if you wear 5mm thick neoprene waders on a September teal hunt you might cook yourself).  Hunters don’t put their waders on until they reach the lake (unless they have uninsulated breathable waders).
• If hunters hunt from Cam, they’ll not need a bucket, stool, or chair, as Cam has fishing chairs and benches.  However, if they have to hunt from shore (because the cover is too far from shore and Cam will stick out like a sore thumb) they’ll use Cam to ferry them to where they’ll hunt, beach him 100 or so yards away, and sit in the cover.  In which case you’ll need a bucket, stool, or chair.
• Ear plugs or muffs (electronic ones allow you to hold normal conversations).
• Non-mirrored shooting glasses or sunglasses (optional).
• Drinks and snacks (optional; drinks are highly recommended).  There are storage compartments in Cam to put drinks and snacks in.
• Bug repellent (optional, but recommended).
• Game shears (optional), small fillet knife, a gallon-sized Ziploc bag, and a small hard or soft ice chest to take your ducks home in, if you get any.

Randy has seven life jackets and three ponchos in Cam, so you won’t need either one.  However, you can bring your own if you want to.

Randy has extras of many of the items that are listed above (such as waders, floating shotgun cases, stools, small and medium-sized ice chests, headlamps, etc.) and will happily loan things if you let him know that you would like to borrow something before they leave.  Of course, if you borrow something and break or lose it Randy will expect reimbursement.  He’ll also expect reimbursement if hunters shoot his decoys and they’re damaged beyond repair or if his motorized duck is submerged while in their care (water will fry its motor).

Here are examples of sitting in cover (three of the pictures include a mesh blind):

Randy usually starts out with a improved cylinder waterfowl choke if the ducks are coming into the decoys.  If all he’s getting are shots as they fly past (pass shooting), he’ll switch to a modified or full waterfowl choke.  Clay target chokes sometimes shoot tighter with non-lead (e.g., steel) shot (e.g., a modified choke will often perform as a full choke with non-lead shot).  A choke that delivers that performance should say that on the choke.

Randy has 111 decoys (32 mallards (including 28 decoys, two quiver ducks, a swimming duck, and a wind-activated duck that he only uses when it’s windy enough to spin its wings), 26 pintails, 16 redheads, 13 teal (including a motorized teal), 11 gadwalls, six canvasbacks, six buffleheads, and a widgeon; however, he’ll only bring decoys for the types of ducks found on the lake that they’re going to.  For example, he’s never seen canvasbacks or buffleheads on Lakes Somerville or Granger, so those decoys will stay in his garage when they hunt there.  He’ll bring between 60 – 72 decoys to the lakes, due to Cam’s space limitations.  For ponds, when there is a pond that they can hunt on, he’ll just bring 12 to 24 decoys (depending on the size of the pond).

Expectations

These hunts are a service to FCS members and guests, but Randy will enforce the below expectations:

• Follow his instructions and abide by the FCS Bylaws Regarding Conduct.
• Pay for your share of truck and boat gas and and park entrance fees/boat launch fees.
• Pay for items (that are not yours) that you broke or lost (including decoys that you shot and sank).
• Help (including helping get Cam back on his trailer).
• Control your dog (a dog that wants to go play with the decoys or charge the ducks as they are coming in will ruin the hunt).
• Talk quietly, especially when ducks are coming into the decoys (ducks can hear you and will veer away).
• Show up.
• Be on time.
• Don’t have a pattern of canceling at the last minute.
• Read Randy’s emails and don’t ask questions that have already been answered in the emails (and you would’ve known the answers to if you had read the emails).
• Return Randy’s phone calls and/or emails, if he asks you a question or asks you to acknowledge something.

For WMA and coastal hunts, contact Clayton Carrier if you have any questions.

For lake hunts, contact Randy if you have any questions.