Saw a new clutch the other day!

[jlm]

I think this is very unusual but I saw a small clutch of mallards (and the hen) the other day down on the river. These are city birds I believe so maybe they are more prone to having later clutches since many do not migrate. Anyone else see recent clutches?

[JEV]

I took a drive on my Dad's property the other day and checked out the pond. There was a group of 8 mallards that took off. I would guess they were early spring hatches. There was also a hen mallard with a clutch of young ones. They weren't real small, but they weren't huge either. The hen took off but the ducklings just ran out of the pond into the tall grass.

JEV

[B. Amish]

last week i seen a fresh brood of woodies around rothsay. the young were still yellow puff balls.

if you see anything born in august they won't be flying by opener because it takes them roughly 60 days to fly

[cmoredrakes]

They are really getting int o groups now down by my house. {don't think i'm crazy} There was a flock of at least 20-25 on the pond where we shoot. Good sign . i'm so pumped already!! And there's like another whole month of September 'till the season starts.

I guess goose huntin' will have to do ;lol.

[sheepheadslayer]

last year opening weekend on sunday went and floated a small river and came around a corner to see about 6 teal swimmin, pulled up and shot the outside bird, the others flapped across the water to get in the cattails. I was so suprised i didn't shoot. Here it was about six young woodies and they couldn't fly yet. Floated the river the next week and they could fly but were sure small and dumb. Weird???

[Dean Schellinger]

That is wierd, those little ducklings are difficult shots. So small and hard to hit. But when you connect that little meat is tender!

[sheepheadslayer]

usually swat one then the rest in the air but these babies didn't get in the air.

[outdoor ran]

I love duck hunting but you will never see me shooting baby ducks that can't fly. I almost had to remove a little mallard out of the boat landing yesterday. Little dude did not want to give up his spot. I'am surpised no one went over and yelled at him to hurry it up like they do with people

[sheepheadslayer]

If i had known they were young woodies i would not have shot, thought they were teal, i don't think many people could have been able to identify them until up close.

[outdoor ran]

That would be tough to tell, I should of said I wouldn't shoot them on purpose.

[Roosterslayer05]

Two years ago on opener i was jump shooting a creek and i shot this big drake woodie. Then a little later I shot this real small mallerd. It could fly but it was smaller then the woodie and when i cleaned them there was quit a bit less meat. It was definatly a real young mallerd.