Question – Duck/Goose fat..what does it mean??

Over the weekend I bagged a couple mallards from the same flock.
1 of them had absolutely no fat on it at all and the other had probably 1/4 inch and was a pretty good sized mallard…noticably larger.

They were out of the same flock but there are quite a few new mallards in the area than there were a couple weeks ago.

The question is….
Does the fat mean anything as far as the migration goes??
Getting ready to, is in the process of, having come from “up north” on its way south??

On the other hand… the one with no fat…does that mean it is a local that hasn’t started fattening up for the flight or maybe just come from so far it depleted its fat reserve??

Like to hear your thoughts.
I always thought/heard that birds with the fat layer are migrating and no fat means local bird.

There is an interesting twist to the story…I will add that after hearing what people have to say.
Thanks
JB

Our crew that hits northern ND each year has a very unscientific saying when cleaning birds. If we notice alot of fat, we say northern bird.

But from my experience, fat comes with age! . Could just be older birds vs. younger.

We hunt primarily snow geese in ND and these birds all have extensive fat layers. Now, do these layers come with age, or from the wheat fields of Canada?

Good question, I’ll be interested to hear what someone in the know has to say.

Eric

Our groups say the same thing. The more fat the bird has it must be from up north

I really think it is just a older bird.

I don’t think age plays a part in this situation.

Hey Buck I think they store the fat for breeding!!

I did read that they bulk up in the spring for the flight back north in case the breeding grounds are still covered with snow or food is in short supply.

I just can’t find anything on the fall migration and when they start bulking up for the flight south.

It is strange that some birds are fat and some aren’t especially in the same flock. We saw that in ND when we were up there…only 2-3 birds had any layer of fat at all. The rest had none.

The interesting twist to these birds…..
They were both banded. One this year(no fat) and one last year(with the layer of fat)….both in the county I hunt but in different areas of the county.

Are the birds the same age then? When you got the band info, they listed the ages as similar?

Perhaps its just genetics. Look at humans, some have fat, some don’t. Sometimes there’s a reason for the fat, other times not as much.

Eric

They are 1 year apart….the fatty one being a year older.

The fat one drinks Bud and the non fat one drinks Bud Select

Is this why I have gained weight all these past winters?

[quoteperhaps its just genetics. Look at humans, some have fat, some don’t. Sometimes there’s a reason for the fat, other times not as much.

Eric

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What are you saying????? I don’t think I like where your going with that analogy! What do ya think Buck? I think he’s calling some of us fat!

No. Just you Chappy!

John. I have noticed the same thing with geese. One you clean may have a lot of fat, the one next to it may not. I know later in the year, the geese seem to have alot of fat on them.

Chappy………… Not sure how a waterfowl post got personal? Are we a little sensitive lately?

I’ll tell you what, hop on over to Old Country Buffet, have an extra dessert, and maybe by 2 pm you’ll feel better!

If that doesn’t do it, it may be genetics!

Quote:

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Chappy………… Not sure how a waterfowl post got personal? Are we a little sensitive lately?

I’ll tell you what, hop on over to Old Country Buffet, have an extra dessert, and maybe by 2 pm you’ll feel better!

If that doesn’t do it, it may be genetics!

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Ya know……..I do turn 40 next week! I’ll bet I’ll be feeling really sensitive next Saturday night the 17th! Free beer at my house.

Beat ya there buddy! I will talk to the wife and I think we’ll be there!

I have read that they will go through a hormonal change that allows them to accumulate fat reserves for the fall migration. There are still a lot of unanswered questions.

Congrats on dual jewels!

Sully