Non "Minnesotan" Duck

[HugoBox]

I had a first yesterday. A buddy and I shot two White Winged Scoters (both hens). In many years of waterfowling in Minnesota I've never seen one before let alone shot one. My brother took a couple photos so if he's smarter than me maybe he can add them. What other ducks have you seen or shot that aren't typical to Minnesota. Also I was in the Metro area - if I was closer to the Great Lakes I woudn't have been so surprised.

[Heartman]

Hey - that's pretty cool. I shot a hen scoter a few years back in late October in the McGregor area - big with wierd bill, and absolutely devoid of any body fat - lots of yellow fascia tissue though. Completely different than the fat ringnecks, mallards, and widgeon we were shooting at the same time.

[RBuker]

I had two very black ducks buzz my decoys last year. I didn't shoot because I didn't know what they were. This year I'll be ready...

[sdstatekid]

My cousin shot a surf scoter last year in late october out here in south dakota. I took it in and showed one of my professors, he said he had never seen one out here in 30 plus years.

[BoxMN]

Here is his scoter pair:

They were pretty big ducks. Never saw one here in MN in my 30 years of hunting.

[ChuckN]

Awesome!

I hunt big water a lot in the late season and I passed on a pair of White Wingers (drake/hen) some years ago. I had my limit of bluebills when they made a wide circle around the spread, and the white flash on the wings made me think bluebills. Then they came within 10 yards of my blind and I was until I realized . Too late. They were gone! I recall they were the size of mallards.

Let me know how they taste.

[trailratedtj]

my buddy shot a madarin duck 2 weekends ago. Bueatiful duck. Said it was fly with a flock of wood ducks. I researched the bird and found it to be native to the contient of asia. Its supposably was or is listed as endangered. Of course he probably would of let it pass if he knew that. Its flight path i believe was from russia to south asia and the japanese islands, how it got off over into the minnesota is amazing. his buddies must have made hi mmad or his gps is off.

[LABS4ME]

Escapee from a duck breeder... Happens often enough! My buddy shot a Golden Pheasant about 20 years ago... same thing, escaped form a breeder.

Good Luck!

Ken

p.s. I hope he mounted it! Probably THE most beautiful duck in the world!

[Rainman]

I was going to say the same thing ESCAPEE. I know the person who shot the Mandarin duck and where he shot it. Ever go to the local fair and look in the poultry shed? You will see them entered in the show from breeders in the exact same area where shot!!

[heartattack22]

Well I was about to post pics but this thread answers my question. My brother shot a white winged scoter yesterday morning. It came in right after a flock of bills. It was huge compared to the bills...my brother shot a hen and a drake two years ago here on Vermilion also. I think this sustained east wind may blow more non-native ducks into our hunting areas. Just adds some excitement and the chance to see ducks that we don't normally see.

[french_lake_kid]

Wow they are beautiful! Kinda look like a woodie 2.

[trailratedtj]

Quote:

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I was going to say the same thing ESCAPEE. I know the person who shot the Mandarin duck and where he shot it. Ever go to the local fair and look in the poultry shed? You will see them entered in the show from breeders in the exact same area where shot!!

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rainman, do u hang out with this fella?

[spivak]

The Minnesota Ornithologist's Union HSOforum (MOU) in their bird alert section for Duluth has black, surf, and whitewinged scoters all listed for this last week. It may have been updated. The birds were seen in the Duluth harbor. Also mentioned Harley's and Ruddy's.

[bluebill]

i hunt big water late season shot my first one 15 years ago we get a crack at atleast 1 a year about the time the swans are migrating waiting for a king eder

[lanyard]

I've seen them out by Hutch and pretty sure we saw three in SW metro two weeks back.

When you see a duck and say "what the???".... might be a scoter.

[tearin' lips]

We see a few black scoters every once and awhile up on Rainy. We haven't shot one yet and I never really knew what they were until I watched "Border Patrol"

[hanson]

Congrats man!

I've shot one Hen White-Winged Scoter in my life as well in NW MN of all places. It must have been lost as it was flying with a young drake Redhead. The pair came in, my bro dropped the Redhead and I got the Scoter. We then spent the next hour trying to figure exactly what in the heck it specifically was.

[HugoBox]

Its a wierd year - I shot two hen Goldeneyes yesterday morning - also in the metro. Is there a freeze up happening that no one told me about?!

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

Hugo I seen a few buffelheads yesterday in Lake elmo. I also shot a hooded. I usually see buffelheads later in the year. I have never seen a hooded out there before. I have been looking for a drake to mount. I saw it buzz me and I knew it was a hooded. It was during the first few minutes of shooting time. So I wasn't sure if it was a drake. So I shot it, dam hen.

[HugoBox]

Jimmy -

I'm not surprised you saw some buffleheads. I drove by a slough on Sunday just between White Bear and Manning on 96 and I'd estimate the bunch of buffleheads in there at a few dozen. Its posted pretty heavy though so I didn't bother stopping to ask for permission.