In a Word, It Should Be Good, Or As Biologists Tend To Say -- "Average."




Jason Hardin, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologist, provided the following notes on spring turkey season overall, including where to hunt and when:

“The Edwards Plateau has always been the hot spot for Rios,” Hardin said. “The Cross Timbers always has the second-highest number of birds harvested. The reasons we have so many Rios in the Edwards Plateau, the Cross Timbers and in the coastal sand plains of South Texas is due to the availability of roosting habitat. The most limiting factor for Rios in most cases is adequate roosting cover.

“Rios prefer to nest in the biggest and largest grove of trees around. These are typically associated with creeks and rivers. There is no lack of rivers, creeks and other waterways in the Edwards Plateau and Cross Timbers. The coastal sand plains is known for its distribution of large live oak mottes. These systems provide the Rios with adequate roosting habitat to better utilize the greater landscape. These areas typically provide rangelands dominated by native grasses and scattered shrubs, and these landscape features provide excellent nesting, brood-rearing and escape cover for adults and young alike.

“Our seasons are staggered (north zone and south zone) and they are also fairly long to better capture gobbling activity. Texas is a big and diverse state. This is true if you look east to west where we have a significant rainfall gradient, or if you look south to north where we experience a growing season gradient. A lot of hunters insist on hunting the opening weekend. However, this typically is only a good idea if we had a mild winter with adequate rainfall.

The condition of the hens will play a large role in when they begin to breed. Mild and wet winters lead to early green vegetation being available earlier in the year, which means hens are ready to breed earlier than in more droughty or colder winters.

“By allowing for a long season, we provide hunters with an opportunity to better capture breeding activity. It is really impossible in Texas to put a date on the calendar and know for certain year-in and year-out that gobbling activity will be where the hunter wants it.”

The general Rio Grande spring turkey season runs March 31-May 3, 2020, in South Texas and April 4-May 17, 2020, in northern counties. The north zone youth-only season is March 28-29 and May 23-24. The youth-only dates in the south zone are March 14-15 and May 9-10. For more information on this year’s season check the TP&WD website.

 




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Lake Sam Rayburn Current Weather Alerts

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Lake Sam Rayburn Weather Forecast

Wednesday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 88

Wednesday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 67

Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 89

Thursday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 69

Friday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 89

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 71

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 88

Saturday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 69


Lake Sam Rayburn Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 5/31: 164.91 (+0.51)



Lake Sam Rayburn

Fishing Report from TPWD (May 24)

GOOD. Water stained; 77 degrees; 1.31 feet above pool. The water has been calm, and this still water is an indicator that summer is around the corner. Water is off-colored. Bass are good on topwater frogs and senkos shallow. Crappie are coming out of the spawn with lots of small fish on piles biting minnows. White bass are good using jigs and minnows. Fish are starting to run on points, with a few on piles. Catfish are near the piles, deeper points and creek channels. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. Anticipate heavy traffic on the lake this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!

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