Canadian Ducks

[GooBack]

Just wondering if anyone here harvested any canadian ducks this season? I seen on the pictures thread that Chub guy killed some nice canadians. Anyone else?

I only got one this year.

[Gordie]

How you tell if there Canadain ducks.... After you shoot they go A other than the birds from NoDak I think I got three drake mallards all big and 3 curlys

[BrdHunter01]

I can usually tell by the amount of fat on the bird when you clean it (you'll be able to tell if you cleaned a MN mallard)... We shot about a dozen or so but it was really slow. We weren't really sure at first because they didn't have as much fat as were used to but they def. weren't MN ducks so we figured they must have been from CA..... But they must have been the early migraters because we shot them when it was 70 degrees on opening of deer season... Not the big old oversized footballs we usually get though...

PS: Saw more mallards and geese this evening then I saw all year on any given evening (I"m usually out looking 4-5 nights a week). Tons of geese but not as many mallards as I saw last year, might need another NW wind for those to be here... To bad the seasons over Their finally showing up

[walleyehunter80]

I have never known anyone to claim they could tell where a duck came from by its fat content.

From what I always thought, a northern mallard was a northern mallard, a mallard that came from northern minnesota, canada, or north dakota.

Not sure if there is really any way to tell for sure?

[dukhnt]

The second to the last day of the season I had a flock pass by kind of high. I thought they were doing the feeding chuckle. But the could have all been saying eh, eh, eh, eh. Although I didn't see their passport on them so who knows.

[Superduty]

I'm pretty sure you have to go to Canada to be certain about shooting Canadian mallards...

[fishgutz77]

We saw hundreds and hundreds of mallards today goose hunting I'm sure some of them where canadian and all the geese where at least buy name. only knocked down four between the three of us today.

[Gordie]

I'm pretty sure you have to go to Canada to be certain about shooting Canadian mallards...

[GooBack]

How you tell if there Canadain ducks....

They stink of cheap whiskey and expensive smokes.

But yeah...usually, they are easy to identify. Just look at some pictures.

[Quackaddict9]

I don't care where the ones we shot this year came from...

I don't know though, I did not clean any birds to get a positive identification.

[zackthehunter]

my uncle said you can tel if they are canadian ducks if they hve red legs. he calls them canadian red legs. he gave me one last year and it was huge we almost mounted it

[Lunker]

Not sure about the canadian birds. Most of my mallards this year were early season locals, but I did shoot a couple of big boys later in the year. Not sure of their ethnicity though...

Found this on the DU site.

"The legend of red-legged mallards has been perpetuated for decades. These are thought to be the big birds from the far, far north, usually late to migrate, and all sporting bright red legs when they do arrive. They might not show up before late November, the timing being dependent upon where you live. As engaging as that tale may be, there is a biological explanation. Hormonal and dietary changes are the real causes for red legs and large body size-each being tied to breeding activity.

Most dabbling ducks become paired in winter, many months in advance of when actual nesting occurs. Body weight, plumage coloration, and performance displays help individual ducks advertise their mating abilities. Consequently, most dabbling ducks must fatten up before they can successfully compete for a mate. These stored body fats are usually obtained while on southern migration.

So, the real reason you do not see hefty, red-legged mallards early in the fall is because pair bonds have not been formed, breeding hormone levels are low, and summer fat reserves have been depleted. Quality of habitat and an abundance of foods on key migration and wintering areas are critical in aiding the annual events that ultimately influence reproductive success.

[chub]

It's been my experience that the Mallards shot around deer opener are the biggest ones of the year. The real late season birds seem to be smaller, scrawnier birds, though nicely plummed out.

Not sure if it's because they're the late hatch birds from way up yonder, or they just deplete themselves on a long migration.

As far as telling a Canadian Mallard from one of U.S. decent.....good luck unless you find a Maple leaf tattoo on one of 'em.

[GooBack]

Not sure about the canadian birds. Most of my mallards this year were early season locals, but I did shoot a couple of big boys later in the year. Not sure of their ethnicity though...

Found this on the DU site.

"The legend of red-legged mallards has been perpetuated for decades. These are thought to be the big birds from the far, far north, usually late to migrate, and all sporting bright red legs when they do arrive. They might not show up before late November, the timing being dependent upon where you live. As engaging as that tale may be, there is a biological explanation. Hormonal and dietary changes are the real causes for red legs and large body size-each being tied to breeding activity.

Most dabbling ducks become paired in winter, many months in advance of when actual nesting occurs. Body weight, plumage coloration, and performance displays help individual ducks advertise their mating abilities. Consequently, most dabbling ducks must fatten up before they can successfully compete for a mate. These stored body fats are usually obtained while on southern migration.

So, the real reason you do not see hefty, red-legged mallards early in the fall is because pair bonds have not been formed, breeding hormone levels are low, and summer fat reserves have been depleted. Quality of habitat and an abundance of foods on key migration and wintering areas are critical in aiding the annual events that ultimately influence reproductive success.

The one canadian duck i got this year came in with another. a pair. i got the one, dropped it like a rock with black cloud. it didn't have red legs though but it was "paired up".

Now im really confused.

Chub i think i saw you on the lake the sundAY before the season closed. you were setting up right when we were leaving. did you get anything?

[mudslinger]

Yep, I must have shot some then. Cause the ones I shot smelled of Windsor.......or was that my breath from the night before???? hummmmmm

Seriously though, I had a few flocks towards the end that I would feel comfortable saying were Canadian.

[RumRiverRat]

All the Mallards I shot did not have passports.

So I would say no.

[GooBack]

lol

[Lunker]

I also hear a good way to tell is if they are wearing hockey jerseys...

[JPowell]

Yah..."A"

[jigginjim]

A freind knew it was the north flight, just to the vast numbers of birds, that hit a lake at one time during the late season. Mallard numbers had to be over 5,ooo, looked like gnats that buzz you in the summer. Greatime to hit the swamp.

[RumRiverRat]

Yah..."A"

Eh not A.