2012 - The year of the band?

[dukhnt]

This is my 26th waterfowling season. I have been on two hunts prior to this season where a banded duck has been shot. Of course it wasn't by me.

This year I have been on a total of 8 duck hunts and two of them produced a banded duck.

The first week I took my father-in-law on a duck hunt. He took down a nice drake woodie. When I picked it up I saw the jewelry. I congratulated him and found out it was his first ever banded bird.

It was banded last year in Cottonwood county. While I was happy for him I wondered to myself if I would ever shoot a banded duck. I have a half dozen banded geese under my belt but no duck.

Last saturday my dad, brother, and I went to our favorite duck hunting spot. It was my dads birthday so when I spotted a drake mallard coming in wings cupped, nice and low, I told my dad to shoot first. As he got up, the duck started to swing right to left. My dad shot, missed (a little behind). I followed that shot up with one that folded the mallard. I grabbed my camera to take photos of my brothers new dog retrieving the mallard. As the dog swam by, I saw this.

Banded mallard. Finally, my first duck with jewelry!

I could tell the band had some wear. Figured it was an older duck. Turns out it was banded in 2006. It was hatched in 2005 or earlier. And it was banded in Canada. This duck was atleast 7 years old.

Even though it was my dads birthday, he told me he was glad he missed it. Since it was my first banded duck.

[Andrew Erickson]

awesome pics! congrats on your first band

[Shane Z]

Everything happens for a reason and Im sure this experience will never be forgotten! Lots of hard work, early mornings and great memories leading up to this very cool story. Well deserved man!!

[TylerS]

Sweet! I still have never shot a band, period, after 12 years of waterfowl hunting. You've had a banner year in my eyes!

[rbs]

only ever shot a goose with a band...great season for you so far! Congrats!

[TruthWalleyes]

If you want banded birds...Just go hunt Talcot... Few years ago we went out there, I think between the 4 of us we had 7 banded mallards.

All shot at Talcot, All banded at Talcot...Not a whole lot of migrating there i guess.

[PerchJrkr]

Perhaps its true. We've put 18 banded geese down so far. 9 in one hunt

No banded ducks yet. Have heard of quite a few banded woodies shot though.

[TonkaBass]

Nice job! That retrieval shot is awesome

[ribsey_77]

I have been lucky enough to have bagged three banded birds. The latest was the basic mallard. A nice green wing teal, and the bull Can that I mounted.

[tracker x-2]

I also shot my first banded duck this year. drake woody at the taxis now!