Cinnamon Teal

The Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) is a strikingly beautiful dabbling duck native to North America, characterized by its vibrant chestnut-red plumage and distinctive green wing speculum, which sets it apart from other species. Males display a rich, glossy plumage during the breeding season, while females are more cryptic, showcasing mottled brown feathers that provide excellent camouflage. One of the unique features of the Cinnamon Teal is its playful and agile flight, often occurring in swift, low-altitude formations, making them a challenging target for hunters. Successful hunting of this species typically involves early morning or late afternoon excursions to wetlands and marshes, where hunters can use decoys and calls to attract these social birds. Overall, understanding their behavior and habitat is essential for an effective and responsible hunting experience.

Cinnamon teal hunts typically take place during early fall’s special teal season in the western U.S. and northern Mexico, where guides use small boats or ground blinds along flooded rice fields, marshes, irrigation canals, and desert wetlands. Hunters rise before dawn to set out floating or stake-out decoys and employ soft calls to draw in these wary, early-migrating waterfowl. Packages usually include experienced guides, field transportation, use of boats or blinds, decoy spreads, and on-site field dressing. Small groups ensure personal attention, and lodging ranges from rustic camps to basic hunting cabins, with meals provided or arranged locally. Compliance with federal and state bag limits, steel-shot requirements, and waterfowl regulations is included, making Cinnamon teal hunts accessible and rewarding for both newcomers and seasoned shooters alike.

Cinnamon teal hunts typically operate from waterfowl camps or lodges situated on lakeshores, marsh edges, or river deltas. Accommodations range from full-service lodges with private or twin rooms to more rustic bunkhouses or heated tent platforms nearer to the blinds. Sleeping arrangements usually consist of standard beds in lodge rooms or cots in bunkhouse and tent setups. Heating is provided by propane wall heaters, wood-burning stoves, or built-in climate control in lodge facilities; cooling may include ceiling or portable fans and, in higher-end lodges, air-conditioning during warmer periods. All camps feature communal areas for gear storage, cleaning, and meals, ensuring a smooth transition between early-morning departures and late-day returns in variable weather conditions.