Help Duck Identification

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

I shot this duck this morning. I thought it was a hen mallard. Once I got it home. I am pretty sure it's not a hen mallard. Here are some pics.

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

I feel completely stupid that I don't know what it is. All I know is I have never shot one before. Unless it is a really imature mallard.

[Bryce]

Consider yourself a certified spoonie wacker.

[trailratedtj]

its a hollywood

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

Thanks. So are they good to eat or anything? Or is it typically a duck you should let pass? They must not be that common around here.

[Swamp Scooter]

They have darker than average meat. Not the tastiest birds but it can be eaten.

[lanyard]

Jimmy, that's a mighty nice little muck raker you got there.

I recommend Lawry's Caribbean Jerk 30 minute marinade, for about 3 hrs.

Got mine at Spoonbill Bay this morning! looking forward to a tasty feast this evening!

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

Thanks. I will remember not too shoot them next time. We had a group of four come in. And we shot them all.

[bluebill]

smilling mallard aka shoveler

[waltinader]

Its a spoon bill and they taste just fine

[Abrams]

Tis a shoehorn. . . . .

[fish4cats]

Drakes can be beautiful in full plummage though. thats about all the good stuff I can say about them though.

[Lip'em]

I have yet to see a duck that loves decoys more!! Shot plenty of them before and in my opinion they taste the same as other ducks.

[lawdog]

The first dead spoony in our slough always costs the guy $5. YUCK!!!!

[Baerfisher]

First one to shoot one at our camp has to wear the "Trophy Duck" hat the rest of the day. Cammo hat with a Spoonie head mounted on the bill. Good Times.

[commander019]

Grind it up and throw it in for sausage with the rest, you will never know the difference. We pass on shovelers unless its a skillet day and the shooting is REALLY slow.

[WollMan]

smoked one in the head on sunday, tried to pluck it but smelled like Sh#t with the feathers off, they will decoy and fool you with their orange legs, but they are dump

[HUNTFISH69]

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Its a spoon bill and they taste just fine

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My thoughts exactly

[dirtking]

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Its a spoon bill and they taste just fine

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My thoughts exactly

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I have never had a problem eating them - due to the dark meat I usually breast them pick the rest of the ducks

[livintofish]

Spoonies are great, reguardless of their bad rap they are one cool looking duck, and lets face it, no duck tastes good. I once read a post on here that said somthing to the effect of even a sock would taste good merinated in italian dressing and seasoned with bacon wrapped around it (they all taste the same).

[hanson]

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Spoonies are great, reguardless of their bad rap they are one cool looking duck, and lets face it, no duck tastes good.

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I beg to differ. Mallard, Teal, Wood Duck and Canvasback are DELICIOUS! Most diving ducks take a little extra preparation to become tasty in my opinion.

Spoonies, Ruddy Ducks, and Mergies are the Tri-Fecta of non-shooters.

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

How do you prepare them with italian dressing and bacon? That sounds really good!! I usually do my ducks and geese in caribean jerk marinaide.

[hanson]

Marinate the breast(s) for a short while in Italian dressing. I then cut them up into smaller pieces, say... 4" long by 1/2" x 1/2" or something like that. Take a piece of bacon and wrap the piece of duck in it and use tooth picks to hold the bacon on. Then toss onto the grill. When the bacon is done, its time to eat! Works great with geese as well.

[fishermann222]

I never use to like to eat spoonies until i moved up here, man the spoonies taste as good as any duck down there. I don't know what it is, but they are awesome.

[Grant Pearson]

okay guys, if you absolutely had to choose: Spoonies, or coots?