It’s that time of year.

While the temperatures are brutal, there is a sense that is about to change as the best time of year for local outdoors action unfolds.

Hunting season is less than two weeks away with the kick-off of dove season and while dove counts are solid (as usual), dry conditions could make things challenging for hunters.

Local hunters with good freshwater sources should score on birds early and late. Local dove hunts area almost never outstanding like those in other parts of the state but very few go home empty-handed either.

Teal season runs Sept. 12-27 and once again those with freshwater will bag birds. A lot could change between now and then like a tropical storm hitting the coast and covering the prairies with water, but if it doesn’t, look for those with flooded agriculture to bag lots of blue wings.

Marsh hunters will probably do alright but there will not be as many limits as in the fields. This year’s crop of blue wings is at record proportions, so if there is any kind of cool front moving through the northern prairies, blue wings will pour into our region in large numbers.

I say “pour through” because these ducks migrate as far south as Venezuela. In fact, I saw blue wings there while fishing for peacock bass in December 1999. Migration never ceases to amaze me.

If the pecan tree in my yard is any indication, the mast (acorns, nuts) in the woods could be all over this year. If that happens, expect the bulk of the bow season deer activity in the Pineywoods to be around natural food crops. I have seen deer totally avoid feeders for pin oak flats just a stone’s throw away. Keep that in mind while hunting this year.

And let’s not forget the fishing.

There has been stellar flounder fishing in the bayous along the Sabine River this year, and when that happens, in my experience the fall run is phenomenal.

Expect lots of flounder this year and if you’re serious about getting the big ones start hitting these bayous and the north end of Sabine Lake around the middle of October.

The bull redfish are starting to move into the surf heavily for their annual spawn and will keep growing in number into October. The great thing about that is we have plenty of beach here in Southeast Texas offering free or very inexpensive fishing access.

This is just the beginning and we will be giving you the inside information throughout the coming late summer/early fall period and beyond.

To contact Chester Moore, e-mail chester@kingomzoo.com. You can hear him on the radio Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI or online at www.klvi.com.