Texas duck hunters are bracing for another warm and dry early teal season opener. The teal are doing likewise. Current observations indicate good numbers of blue-winged teal still remain in the northern breeding grounds, but those birds are expected to begin moving this way as cool fronts start to develop and hunting seasons in those regions get under way. New this season, Texas hunters can take up to six teal daily, an increase in the daily bag limit of two from previous seasons. The possession limits for all migratory game birds has also increased and is now three times the daily limit, which cannot be applied obviously before the third day of the season. For ducks, including teal during the early Sept. 14-29 season, the possession limit is 18. For many Texas duck hunters, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) Program allows economical access to quality hunting on the state's wildlife management areas (WMA). With a $48 APH, available for purchase wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, hunters have regular access during the season to some of the state's prime managed wetland habitat. The hunting is typically good, but as TPWD biologists are quick to point out, there are no guarantees when it comes to migrating ducks. In East Texas, teal are showing up on area reservoirs, but don't appear to be holding long. "We're obviously dry all across eastern and north Texas," said Jared Laing, TPWD waterfowl biologist for East Texas. "I have been seeing handfuls of birds here and there, but have not seen any big numbers yet. Maybe this weak front will push some birds in." Laing noted most wildlife management areas in East Texas remain dry except Richland Creek WMA, which has several new waterfowl units coming online this year. Duck hunters are urged to share observations in the field opening weekend via Twitter at #txtealopener and by following @tpwdhunt.