collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: 200 hen mallards  (Read 4262 times)

Offline krout81

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 629
  • Location: Tacoma, Washington
200 hen mallards
« on: July 25, 2015, 06:10:17 PM »
I did a round of golf at North shore golf course and at the 12th hole there was a large water hazard.  On the side of the water and in the fairway there was at least 200 mallard hens.  I did not see any ducklings or a single greenhead.  any thoughts as to why they are still here?  I was thinking mates all got killed so strength in numbers.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2015, 06:37:43 PM by krout81 »
Flinging Arrows with Thunderhead 125's since 1992 
Why Change now?

Offline HunterDan3

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 3
  • Location: Washington
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2015, 06:44:14 PM »
More than likely there were drakes in the flock. In the summer time drake mallards go through a process called molting, this process leaves the drake mallard with little resemblance to the male details... like green head. In other words the molting makes them look like a hen

Offline Colin

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2013
  • Posts: 616
  • Location: Monroe
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2015, 07:59:10 PM »
My understanding was that they are immature birds that haven't come into their first color. I think one of the only ways to tell them apart is from the white wing stripes. I never can though.

Offline h2ofowlr

  • CHOKED UP TIGHT
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2008
  • Posts: 9063
  • Location: In the "Blind"! Go Cougs!
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2015, 08:20:13 PM »
Probably still not starting to color up yet.  Usually takes place August & Sept.
Cut em!
It's not the shells!  It's the shooter!

Offline krout81

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 629
  • Location: Tacoma, Washington
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2015, 08:21:16 PM »
Nope they all had the hen mallard blue on the wings.  So do they mold the gray too?
Flinging Arrows with Thunderhead 125's since 1992 
Why Change now?

Offline Bigshooter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 6366
  • Location: Lewis Co
  • High Wide And Heavy
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2015, 08:23:14 PM »
Lesbians
Welcome to liberal America, where the truth is condemned and facts are ignored so as not to "offend" anyone


"Borders, language, culture."

Offline krout81

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 629
  • Location: Tacoma, Washington
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2015, 08:26:41 PM »
Lol.  I looked at em all pretty close,  I have seen pairs with ducklings all over just thought it was weird.  Maybe they are all pairs with no babies
« Last Edit: July 25, 2015, 08:35:37 PM by krout81 »
Flinging Arrows with Thunderhead 125's since 1992 
Why Change now?

Offline h2ofowlr

  • CHOKED UP TIGHT
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2008
  • Posts: 9063
  • Location: In the "Blind"! Go Cougs!
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2015, 08:38:04 PM »
 :tup:
Cut em!
It's not the shells!  It's the shooter!

Offline bowtechian

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 388
  • Location: whidbey island
  • Groups: rmef,wwa,nra, & du
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2015, 03:33:43 PM »
Any chance they may have been gadwal ??

Offline wa_archer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 59
  • Location: Wenatchee Wa
  • Groups: BHA, RMEF, DU, Wen. Sportsmans Assoc.
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2015, 04:59:33 PM »
most likely molting and juvenile drakes, have to pay attention to the bills, hens orange, drakes yellow that doesn't change.
In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsman. FDR

Some go to church and dream of hunting others go to the woods and think of God

Offline krout81

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 629
  • Location: Tacoma, Washington
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2015, 01:22:29 PM »
Went back to course and they are starting to change.... Guess its a bunch of hold over pairs that didn't have any ducklings.   Maybe they will be inclined to come visit my decoys opening day :-) :chuckle:
Flinging Arrows with Thunderhead 125's since 1992 
Why Change now?

Offline 270Shooter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 3828
  • Location: Yakima
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2015, 06:48:07 PM »
I'm sure they were just a bunch of juveniles with se mature hens mixed in.

Offline McCRIZZLEY

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 269
  • Location: WSU
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2015, 10:36:43 AM »
The juvenile male in the image above has a pretty orange beak...

Offline wadu1

  • Grumpy
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 6600
  • Location: Tacoma
  • RMEF, DU, NRA, PFE, NWTF
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2015, 12:44:25 PM »
I did a round of golf at North shore golf course and at the 12th hole there was a large water hazard.  On the side of the water and in the fairway there was at least 200 mallard hens.  I did not see any ducklings or a single greenhead.  any thoughts as to why they are still here?  I was thinking mates all got killed so strength in numbers.
I'll check them out and see, it's only 5  minutes away from me. Yesterday at about 1500 (4:00) I saw about 75+ geese near the pond and on the fairway.
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Offline jkononen

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 447
  • Location: Sedro-Woolley, Wa
Re: 200 hen mallards
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2015, 04:29:18 PM »
I thought 1500 was 3:00?
we live for the nights we never remember with the people we'll never forget

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Springer 2024 Columbia River by Blacklab
[Today at 02:35:54 PM]


Springer Fishing Opportunity 3/29 & 3/30 by Blacklab
[Today at 12:48:56 PM]


Long Beach Clamming Tides by dilleytech
[Today at 12:39:19 PM]


Let’s see your best Washington buck by abhold87
[Today at 12:03:27 PM]


Bearpaw Season - Spring 2024 by bearpaw
[Today at 11:45:41 AM]


Walked a cougar down by Rainier10
[Today at 11:17:49 AM]


SB 5444 signed by Inslee on 03/26 Takes Effect on 06/06/24 by hughjorgan
[Today at 09:03:26 AM]


Average by lhrbull
[Today at 07:31:56 AM]


CVA optima V2 LR tapped hole for front sight by Remdawg
[Today at 07:09:22 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal