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Poll

Have you eaten Common Merganser?

Yes, tasted like other ducks.
8 (16.7%)
Yes, was "fishy", would eat it again.
1 (2.1%)
Yes, barf....
8 (16.7%)
No, but would try it.
20 (41.7%)
No way, ever!
11 (22.9%)

Total Members Voted: 48

Voting closed: January 21, 2015, 09:31:01 PM

Author Topic: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?  (Read 16289 times)

Offline lokidog

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Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« on: January 21, 2014, 09:31:02 PM »
I shot a Common Merganser the other day and there were some comments made about the inedibility of them.  So, tonight I did a taste test.  I made Salisbury Steak with it (ground up and seasoned), I also made Scoter and Oldsquaw.  Each meat was kept seperate but seasoned the exact same way. 

They were all excellent, in fact the Merganser was the lightest colored of them.  There was not a hint of gamey/ducky taste to it or the other bottom feeders.

Here are some dinner pics.  1. ground duck, Scoter, Oldsquaw, Merganser  2. seasoned duck  3. started cooking  4. cooked  5. plated

 :drool:

Offline seth30

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2014, 09:39:37 PM »
I would try it :tup:
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Offline sakoshooter

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2014, 09:46:54 PM »
I used to get teased for shooting, keeping and eating them until I convinced a few of my hunting partners over the years to try them. No more teasing. Can't tell the difference. Big ducks, big breasts also.
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Offline lokidog

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2014, 10:01:01 PM »
I used to get teased for shooting, keeping and eating them until I convinced a few of my hunting partners over the years to try them. No more teasing. Can't tell the difference. Big ducks, big breasts also.

You'd think they would have more meat since they are so big, but there is still quite a bit.  Merganser breast= 0.5 lb, two Oldsquaw= 0.75 lb, and three Scoter= 0.75 lb.  A few years ago I did a hunt at Moses Lake with some guys, the second day we shot about 20 mergansers (hardly anything else showed up), only one guy wanted some so I got a lot of duck.  I also got all of the legs from the whole weekend.   :tup:

Offline irishevox

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2014, 09:28:38 AM »
i usually mix the meganser i shoot with some other duck to mask the flavor, so i mix with mallard or even goose in some instance.  i will not eat meganser by it self
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Offline JLS

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2014, 09:39:13 AM »
I've eaten Hooded Merganser.  I grilled it side by side with Wigeon and Mallard.  I couldn't tell the difference.
Matthew 7:13-14

Offline Becky

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2014, 10:00:42 AM »
If you cooked it I'd try almost anything... you got everyone to eat raccoon at the BBQ and there was no odd taste to that.

Offline Special T

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2014, 10:10:09 AM »
Buddy had it, said it tased like liver.

I've eaten Coot before several times. First time i cooked it i couldn't tell the difference between it and other ducks shot. 2-4 time they all tasted like liver.

I've prepared it by soaking in Teriki sauce for 4 days before and it tasted fine, couldn't taste the meat just the sauce.  :dunno:
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Offline Atroxus

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2014, 10:35:34 AM »
That looks tasty. Any chance you could share that recipe?

Offline JLS

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2014, 10:42:54 AM »
Buddy had it, said it tased like liver.

I've eaten Coot before several times. First time i cooked it i couldn't tell the difference between it and other ducks shot. 2-4 time they all tasted like liver.

I've prepared it by soaking in Teriki sauce for 4 days before and it tasted fine, couldn't taste the meat just the sauce.  :dunno:

I detest liver.  I love duck.  If your ducks taste like liver, odds are you are overcooking them.
Matthew 7:13-14

Offline Special T

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2014, 10:52:19 AM »
I can tell you i didn't over cook the coots and that is what they tasted like...

IMO if you feed anything enough corn it tastes great! I don't think sawbills eat too much corn...
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

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Offline weathergirl

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2014, 03:24:31 PM »
Tasting these side by side last night, I have to say I actually thought the merganser was the LEAST "ducky" tasting of all three (and there was just a hint with the other two).  I'm kind of picky when it comes to duck (and other meat).  I don't like it if it is at all strong or gamey tasting.  I don't like organ meats, and I whine about "rutty" tasting deer.  So if I thought the merganser tasted mild (and yummy), then you should be convinced.   :chuckle:  (And lokidog isn't a bad cook either  ;))

Offline WSU

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2014, 03:30:45 PM »
I've tried it and it was nasty.  And I like liver, organ meat, duck meat, etc.  Maybe I'll try it again?

Offline Curly

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2014, 03:40:41 PM »
I think you guys that are saying fish eating birds taste good are just trying to convince more people to shoot those *censored*s.  They don't really taste good, but you might convince some hunters to thin the birds a bit............that is until they cook them up.  :puke:
 :)   ;)


I wish I could find somebody to give them to, or I wish it was legal to just shoot and leave lay like a coyote.  I wish cormorants were legal to pop too. :twocents:
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Offline singleshot12

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Re: Have you eaten Common Merganser or would you?
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2014, 03:53:31 PM »
I'm sorry Loki but I can smell the fishy smell just from looking at the pics :chuckle:

Tried merganser once years ago and it was pretty rank,maybe the trick is to disguise the flavor more when cooking :dunno:

The last mergansers I shot I stewed them up for my dog and within an hour he threw up all over the house,but he did clean it up and held it in the second time :chuckle:
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