Duck ID

[chub]

Not to sound to "preachy", and I know people are at various stages in their waterfowling experiences, but one thing I notice, and not just here, but there seems to be alot of people out there that have no clue as to what they are shooting.

Had one guy once, a president of a local MWA chapter(seriously), that shot a drake Wigeon and almost wanted to fight with me, that it was a Bluebill(Scaup). While it did have a pretty blue bill... .

Had some guys wack a pile of Mergansers once and corner me at the landing to show me all the nice "Wood ducks" they had shot. "...wow they're around pretty late this year".(the lake was frozen over).

I think this year, with the wonderful Bluebill regs, if the CO's want, they'll write alot of tickets, if we get a decent early Bill migration.

Guess my point is, study up, carry a field guide and watch and know what your shooting at.

Rant off....

[dan z]

I hate them type of people (if it flies it dies type of guys) I know its early in the season and some of the ducks are tougher to id but come on, if ya have to ask yourself what is it after its dead your asking for it. thier are to many ducks out thier that you can just have one or none, so hit the books and study up on flight patterns, colors, and sounds.

I'm with chub on this one.

[gonefishin11]

Shoot to identify...

[mnwaterfowler13]

I agree, with the current restrictions, at least a basic knowledge of identification is necessary. I had a basic understanding before, but I had to take a fisheries and wildlife techniques class in college where we learned how to indentify by the wing to be failsafe. I was not new to duck hunting this year, but what I learned makes it so much easier and a better duck hunter overall.

[dan z]

Had some guys wack a pile of Mergansers once and corner me at the landing to show me all the nice "Wood ducks" they had shot. "...wow they're around pretty late this year".(the lake was frozen over).

that just makes me sick espcially if they were commons them things are four times the size of square tails

[icefishing21]

I agree with all of you. expecially since you can only kill one hen mallard. alot of people who dont know what they are shooting at will just start shooting into flocks of ducks and out drops 2 hens. i think bird ID is a very important thing.

also, last year me and my buddy cole were out hunting in savage when we walked up to a group of 4 guys and asked them hows the hunting. they said "its pretty good so far, we already have 5 blue bills". So i said oh cool can i see them? they said sure and when they held them up, they had 5 ringnecks in their hands.

Also, last years opener i walked up to a group of guys and they said "look we shot a bunch of teals". And when i walked up to them they had a bunch of wood ducks.

[BigWadeS]

I gotta say it's pretty easy when you just target greenheads to not screw that up, any other waterfowl, if you can't identify one hang up the gun or go out with experienced guys to help you identify them

[dan z]

the easiest duck to id is a pintail big bright breast(usually) and a dark head, love to see that dark head just behind the group of mallards droppin in.

mallards are always around so hope you can ID them

[Hammer Handle]

You have to start young. My nieces and nephews always identify before shooting and "shoot for the pretty ones".

One way to "force" people to shoot the males...pick the ducks. They learn fast that if they shoot an immature duck (not all "pretty" with a green head or whatever), they have to fight with the pinfeathers.

I saw hunters a few years ago blast at a loon. They thought they missed, but it died on the other side of the lake. I spoke to them, and they argued it was a big mallard for "loons don't fly".

[WALLEYENUTZ]

I like to ground check'em.

[Fish&Fowl]

Anyone ever notice how bull cans look a lot like nice drake mallards at the right angle?? We had one come straight in until about 15 yards and all I could see was the nice maroon chest and light belly. As I pulled up it turned sideways, revealing it's true identity. I have only shot one can, so I figure now that I can't shoot them they will continue taunting me all year