Duck plumage color question?

[catman71]

A friend of a friend just got his greenwing teal back from a taxidermist and dang if it doesn't look great. I have never seen one colored so nice, especially during hunting season. Now this guy is the type to do what he dang well pleases, is there a way to tell the duck was not taken in MN during our hunting season? Or is it possible to get one that nice?

[TV BOY]

I shot a beautiful drke greenwing in ND a few years back. Of the three ducks I have mounted it looks by far the best!

The drakes definately but on their sunday best this time of year, not as easy to see them that way in the fall.

[ChuckN]

I shot one gorgeous drake GW teal in the fall, in MN, right out my front door. In fact it's one of my favorite pics with my dog I have on my desk. Wish I would have mounted that bird, but teal are my favorite to eat!

[hanson]

Here's a drake green wing that my brother shot in the fall. Looks good to me. Every now and then, you'll get a nice one.

[poutpro]

I'd like to see the picture catman.

[catman71]

sorry I don't have a picture and I don't know how to post one if I did.

hanson, that is a great looking duck, I love to shoot teal and have never got one that nice, I always figured if I wanted full color that I'd have to go to Alabama or something.

[hanson]

That bird was shot in NW MN about 4 years ago during the regular waterfowl season. Like I said, sometimes you'll get a nice one. The scarcity of fully plumed drakes like that in the fall is definitely what makes them a trophy.

[topcat3820]

Well, now you made me pull out the camera and show off my favorite mount. This was shot about a half hour North of my place here in the "frozen North" of Manitoba in October a few years back. Alabama... ??? Come up here for some 12 pound walleyes and shoot as many ducks and geese as you've ever wanted in the fall .

[Fish&Fowl]

Beautiful pics, look like spring birds with those colors. Wish I could get a chance at a big drake in the fall, but by the time the season opens up here they're pretty much gone. The few I've shot haven't looked anything like that. Guess the only way to get one is get out every possible chance I get. Tough job but somebody's gotta do it!

[wyldewal]

Topcat, awesome mount gives me another idea for my next bird.

[fishermann222]

It was most likely a legally shot bird, birds shot in the spring are very easy to identify. The drakes actually have a penis that sticks out. If you cut it off, there is a large hole there instead. Any taxidermist would be able to tell this right away.

How do I know you may ask? Where I live in alaska it is legal to live a federal subsistance lifestyle. Which means we can duck and goose hunt in the spring. I usually just hunt one weekend, right after breakup, and only shoot drakes to protect the birds a bit. It is illegal to mount birds killed in alaska under federal subsistance regulations, and you can tell easily as I explained before. I wish I could as there are some BEAUTIFUL drakes shot.