I don’t have a digital so sorry in advance. Hunted Friday night and Sat AM. As a group we shot 13 Mallards. 12 Drakes and 1 Hen 
. All but two of those ducks had a golden lining! Yep a thin layer of FAT! 
Looks like the first flights of Northern Mallards have hit central MN. A little luck and some more cold weather we should on our way to some great days. 
Anyone else see this the past couple days?
On Saturday morning I saw some northern mallards. They were not the brightest birds – last one flew over my canoe just as I was pushing away. Movement did not seem to scare him, he just kept on coming – he did not survive. The legs were orange, just not that bright orange we’ll see in a couple weeks – hopefully!.
First time posting pictures – hope this works.
On Saturday morning I saw some northern mallards. They were not the brightest birds – last one flew over my canoe just as I was pushing away. Movement did not seem to scare him, he just kept on coming – he did not survive. The legs were orange, just not that bright orange we’ll see in a couple weeks – hopefully!.
First time posting pictures – hope this works.
And the goose was even banded!
And the goose was even banded!
Chris,
What was your approximate location?
I was between Brainerd and Longville from Thursday through Sunday. Each day was something different. One day we would see several very large high flocks and the next day we would be decoying singles and pairs only.
We did shoot one drake redhead that seemed to have about a 1/2″ of fat on him. Good eatin’ and fun shootin’!
All of our mallards were clearly northern birds.
Chris,
What was your approximate location?
I was between Brainerd and Longville from Thursday through Sunday. Each day was something different. One day we would see several very large high flocks and the next day we would be decoying singles and pairs only.
We did shoot one drake redhead that seemed to have about a 1/2″ of fat on him. Good eatin’ and fun shootin’!
All of our mallards were clearly northern birds.
I was between bufallo and Clearwater all weekend. We hunted friday night just as the cold front hit our area. Most of these birds looked like they were on the leading edge of the front.
Same area sat. The shooting was done early.
I was between bufallo and Clearwater all weekend. We hunted friday night just as the cold front hit our area. Most of these birds looked like they were on the leading edge of the front.
Same area sat. The shooting was done early.
hey congrats on the birds and the band!
hey congrats on the birds and the band!
Other than the way they act…how does one tell the difference between a “local” duck and a “northern” duck?
Other than the way they act…how does one tell the difference between a “local” duck and a “northern” duck?
well, i have a feeling we might get into another debate, there just isnt a real positive way to know if they are or not. you may have hunted an area extensivily and all of a sudden there are a bunch of dumb birds that havent been in that area at all untill now, thats usually a good sign they are migrators. they are also sometimes in bigger flocks, up to 50-75 in some cases, and also seem to be a little bit bigger and more plumaged out than the locals you have been shooting
well, i have a feeling we might get into another debate, there just isnt a real positive way to know if they are or not. you may have hunted an area extensivily and all of a sudden there are a bunch of dumb birds that havent been in that area at all untill now, thats usually a good sign they are migrators. they are also sometimes in bigger flocks, up to 50-75 in some cases, and also seem to be a little bit bigger and more plumaged out than the locals you have been shooting
Yes, look for the REALLY orange feet, bright colored bills, very distince plumage and they are FAT. They will usually jsut flop right into the decoys if they just got here.
Yes, look for the REALLY orange feet, bright colored bills, very distince plumage and they are FAT. They will usually jsut flop right into the decoys if they just got here.
Quote:
well, i have a feeling we might get into another debate, there just isnt a real positive way to know if they are or not. you may have hunted an area extensivily and all of a sudden there are a bunch of dumb birds that havent been in that area at all untill now, thats usually a good sign they are migrators. they are also sometimes in bigger flocks, up to 50-75 in some cases, and also seem to be a little bit bigger and more plumaged out than the locals you have been shooting
I agree with this. But, the locals will all have much better plumage come November too, the young of the year birds will have grwon a bit more, and their fat will be up, and we already covered the feet thing in another post. Long story short, IMO there isn’t any genetic difference between mallards from Canada and mallards from here, except in how far they migrate. A few years back, my buddy shot a banded mallard the last week in October. The next week, I shot a banded mallard on the same pond. His came back, from the earlier bird, as being about 8 years old and banded in Manitoba. Mine came back as 2 years old and banded in Holmen, WI. Both birds looked about the same plummage wise. We actually shot the Canada bird a week early than the local.
the longer the season is along the more likely you are to have shot “northern birds”, but I don’t think there is truly anyway to tell unless they are being tracked or carrying a passport.
Quote:
well, i have a feeling we might get into another debate, there just isnt a real positive way to know if they are or not. you may have hunted an area extensivily and all of a sudden there are a bunch of dumb birds that havent been in that area at all untill now, thats usually a good sign they are migrators. they are also sometimes in bigger flocks, up to 50-75 in some cases, and also seem to be a little bit bigger and more plumaged out than the locals you have been shooting
I agree with this. But, the locals will all have much better plumage come November too, the young of the year birds will have grwon a bit more, and their fat will be up, and we already covered the feet thing in another post. Long story short, IMO there isn’t any genetic difference between mallards from Canada and mallards from here, except in how far they migrate. A few years back, my buddy shot a banded mallard the last week in October. The next week, I shot a banded mallard on the same pond. His came back, from the earlier bird, as being about 8 years old and banded in Manitoba. Mine came back as 2 years old and banded in Holmen, WI. Both birds looked about the same plummage wise. We actually shot the Canada bird a week early than the local.
the longer the season is along the more likely you are to have shot “northern birds”, but I don’t think there is truly anyway to tell unless they are being tracked or carrying a passport.
I have noticed a small film of yellow fat inside some birds later in the year. I have always believed that these are Northern birds. I may be wrong. But this is my assumption.
I have noticed a small film of yellow fat inside some birds later in the year. I have always believed that these are Northern birds. I may be wrong. But this is my assumption.
You may be right, but I would bet our local birds that have migrated on also develop this fat if you shot them down south. I think they all put it on for warmth and energy in winter and migration.
You may be right, but I would bet our local birds that have migrated on also develop this fat if you shot them down south. I think they all put it on for warmth and energy in winter and migration.
Your probably wright. I just like the thought of ducks from Canada in my Deke’s. Makes me think the shooting is going to be better.
Your probably wright. I just like the thought of ducks from Canada in my Deke’s. Makes me think the shooting is going to be better.
One other thing to remember…especially this year….is that there was a good late hatch up in Canada this year. Alot of those young birds will be small and scraggly.
But….they will decoy real good!
One other thing to remember…especially this year….is that there was a good late hatch up in Canada this year. Alot of those young birds will be small and scraggly.
But….they will decoy real good!
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