The fat red leg Canadian Mallards are here!

[RumRiverRat]

Did an afternoon hunt today.

Corn field that was harvested 2 days ago, not plowed yet.

4 man limit of Green heads.

Just fat Canada Prairie Pothole Region Mallards.

[jparrucci]

Did the same this morning with 6 guys

[skee0025]

It figures. I work straight through to the WI deer opener then its deer hunting for a week. By the time the deer season ends the waterfowl season will be closed. Maybe next year...

[B-man715]

I hunted my favorite mallard late season slough yesterday and didn't see a thing. They are not in NW Wisconsin yet..... Won't be long though!

What parts of Minnesota were you guys hunting in??

[steve1111111]

Mallars legs start to turn red this type of year which is caused by a hormonal change. It has nothing to do if they are from Canada or not.

[mallardnwalleye]

Nice,

Been hittin the green beans for a month now.

Glad to see the Canadian red legs are here instead of those orange legged locals or no Dak birds

Out of the four I cleaned last week 1 still had pin feathers and 1 was thick with fat.

The big bright Mallets will be here till the end of the season

[Markula]

What's the point of posting baiting regulations?

[Jaspernuts]

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[BrdHunter01]

Mallars legs start to turn red this type of year which is caused by a hormonal change. It has nothing to do if they are from Canada or not.

I thought it had to due with the mallards diet?

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[fishhound2013]

Gotta love those giant "Northern" Mallards. We love to give guys that think they are a different species a hard time around our place.

[steve1111111]

Every duck season, waterfowlers eagerly await the arrival of flights of mallards from the north. The big push of these hardy birds usually occurs on the heels of an Arctic cold front or blizzard, often late in the duck season.

Legend has it that these late-arriving mallards have bright red legs and feet because of cold temperatures in northern latitudes. This is partially true, in that ducks do have increased circulation in their extremities in cold conditions, but this process doesn’t affect the coloration of their legs.

In reality, the legs and feet of drake mallards turn bright red because of rising testosterone in their bodies. This hormonal surge occurs in association with courtship activities that take place in late fall and winter. Just as the comb of a rooster or the wattles of a gobbler turn blood-red during the breeding season, so do the legs of drake mallards while pairing. Older, heavier mallards, typically begin pairing earlier in the fall than juvenile birds, so they are the first to exhibit bright red legs. These mature birds also are more capable of withstanding bitter cold weather, which explains why the “northern redlegs” are often especially large birds and are among the last to arrive on their wintering grounds.

[CANOPY SAM]

Fascinating! I somewhat sheepishly admit, the same thing happens to me!

[mallardnwalleye]

Every year the red legs show up.

Every year someone makes a comment on them.

Every year someone stirs people up about them intentionally and unintentionally.

Every year someone gives us the science behind it.

Every year someone gives sarcastic responses

Every year some one shoots limits of them and that's the part I like.

Bring on more of the green beans, softball heads and the green monsters of the north.

It's gettin cold -they're here

[mallardnwalleye]

On a side note:

There are mallards that stay north longer and winter further north than other mallards. These birds are mostly drakes and are a larger size than the average mallard. They aren't a subspecies but ones that have adapted to the cold with a larger body mass.

There are also mallards of a smaller average size in areas that have less nutrient dense food.

This ought to get the conversation going

[UMC]

I don't know of any science to back up that mallards that stay north longer are bigger. I've shot mallards in December that are pretty small. There are variations in any species, some mallards are bigger than others but I doubt that it has much to do with when they migrate.

[Ufatz]

Well fellas, I have hunted mallards from north of Fairbanks to Hay River Alberta to the Montana Highline to NW Minnesota. That makes me unquestionably the resident Forum expert and here is what I say:

First, the observation posted above about testosterone in drakes turning their legs red is true. If you doubt it, next time you're in "that" mood quick drop you pants and look at your legs.

Second, the only true way to tell a Canadian mallard is by staying absolutely still and churchmouse quiet as a flock passes. If you hear "Quack Quack....eh?" you are seeing Canadian mallards.

Note: this is only true if they are Western Canadian Mallards.

[walleye18]

now thats funny right there!....gotta get a kleenex and wipe the laughter tears out of my eyes now.

[Gordie]

Fascinating! I somewhat sheepishly admit, the same thing happens to me!

Don't ask change your name Red Legs,, I mean Canopy Sam

[Markula]

On a side note:

There are mallards that stay north longer and winter further north than other mallards. These birds are mostly drakes and are a larger size than the average mallard.

This ought to get the conversation going

You're partially right.

There is a simple term for theses ducks. Say it slowly...

Adults.

[fishgutz77]

Pounded some drakes yesterday, two had double curl one had triple curl.

and yes, red legs. Imagine that.

[walleye18]

I think its all a timing thing...I have seen thousands of birds in harvested corn. The looked like small green headed blimps.

Big ducks, little ducks, in between ducks...there all the same. The get my heart going and the taste buds poppin!

Heres some fatties we got into recently. Good, solid shoot. Not the best we have had but fun.

Best part of it was watching the dogs and my two boys hoot and holler...and yes, they burned alot of powder/shot a ton....but thats what its all about...right?

[img:center]

[Gordie]

walleye18 that is sweet and what do you mean not the best That looks like the best fun anyone could have.. Oh BTW I love the green head, green truck correlation

[walleye18]

Gordie...thanks for the compliments...color compliments that is. Did not plan that one.

We have had some great shoots over the years and yes, this was a good one. Shot in West central MN.

Best one we ever had was in ND. As you know, ND can be crazy good.

For 2 hrs, we never fired the guns....on the command of the farmer that was with us.

He told us that if we shot, we were never allowed back on his land....he said it with conviction that we didnt want to test his words.

We had about an easy 3,000 to 4,000 mallys workin us. The snows were coming off of the roost about 1 mile away and where we set up was in their flight path. The snows were so thick, that my brother got shat upon 6 times in 2 hrs.....funny to say the least. His nickname from that day forward is shat head.

When we finally got the green light to shoot from the farmer who was in the layouts with us, it was a limit for 8 of us in short order.....47 greenies and one bull sprig.

That was the first and last time the farmer ever hunted with us....he still thinks we're all nuts for hunting waterfowl.

Oh well, to each their own.

I think the cold snap happening right now will end waterfowl for next year. Some places yet to hunt but the end is near.

Got one more hunt to do (that the wife lets me go on) - in WA, starting on 1/18/14 for 3 days. Buddy from college lives out there. Pacific Flyway is really nice. Mally's/Sprigs are nice fattys. Will post pics when I get back.

Can't wait for 2014 in MN and ND....planning already!

[CANOPY SAM]

Hey Gordie! At least Ufatz admits it happens to him too! Geez! Ha ha ha!!!!

Man Walleye18, you gotta have some patience to sit and listen to the landowner tell you not to shoot with THAT many birds overhead!!! Wow! What a PILE of greenies!!!

They aren't many things in this world that make me more jealous then that picture right there! Congrats on a GREAT hunt!!!!

[Gordie]

There were about 30 red legs in the creek by my hose yesterday to bad the season closed in this area earlier in the week well I will wait until next year for those beautiful red legs... wait the season may open earlier and close earlier. Guess they get a free pass until they get south.