To shoot... or not to shoot?

[scout/sniper]

I soak all ducks overnight in milk.
I never made sausage with them....sounds delicious.

[BiggLuke]

...HOWEVER....   mallrds are bigger, right?
so the question still stands: 7 Teal, or 2 Mallards?

[scout/sniper]

2 mallards.

[waoutdoorsman]

I shoot and eat whatever flies in the dekes first. I have acquired a liking to the taste of diving ducks. Although the one merganser I shot this year will be my last...
So to answer your question I'd take those rascally teal first

[scout/sniper]

....However....
If the teal came in first I would go home with teal. 

[Mfowl]

With the exception of opening day, I seldom have the chance to shoot 7 teal. Seems they mostly just buzz the dekes at shooting light and thats the last I see of them for the day. If I had a good enough spot I would try to shoot 7 drake teal, I think that would be a fun bag to go for. However most of my hunting spots, mallards are the target species. So even if the teal are thick, I'll usually hold out for the mallards. No mergs, spoonies or goldeneye's. GE's are the toughest ducks to clean hands down, its like they"re skin is superglued to their meat.

[BiggLuke]

I know what you mean.... when you breast out most ducks, trying to breast out a diver sucks.

[sakoshooter]

I wonder how many of you "won't eat this or that duck" have ever tried any of those ducks???
Shovelers? Cooked up two shoveler breasts last week right along side of two teal breasts. My wife and I couldn't tell the difference. Not the first time either.
Mergansers: I've eaten more of them than I can count. I usually cook them with mallard breasts just because they're the same size. Can't tell the difference. Couple of my hunting partners over the years laughed at me until they tried them. Now they all shoot/eat them.
There's only two ducks I don't usually shoot: Bufflehead and Goldeneye. Bufflehead are just too darn small and cute and Goldeneyes are way too hard to skin. Besides, the WDFW requires a special duck stamp to shoot Goldeneyes on the west side now.
I Put a cup of flour, lots of black pepper, lemon pepper, Lawry's seasoning salt and a granulated steak rub. Mix it all together in a bowl. Stir in you duck breasts until coated well. An 1/16" of olive oil in a large fry pan on med heat until hot. Add duck breasts. Cook hot and fast. Brown one side, flip and lightly butter the top(browned)side. Flip when ready and lightly butter the last side then remove so they are cooked approximately med or med well. Cut up on your plate and shake Lea & Perins Worchestorshire sauce all over them. Melt in your mouth. This is mine and my wife's favorite duck recipe.
Don't believe all thos wives tales you've been told about how good or bad such and such is. Try them for yourselves. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Remember, those mallards you're waiting for while passing up those Teal are still sitting on the sewage treatment pond eating all the corn that floats, LOL.

[lokidog]

I eat mergs, saves a few fish and they taste fine in a curry.  The buffles are small but on about the same level as mergs for taste.

To answer the OP's ??  I would shoot five teal while waiting for the two mallards.   

[JLS]

Seven dead teal without a second thought.

[Brad Harshman]

Good question.  Its been my practice to pass on the teal at first light.  I hold out for mallards but it looks like teal day then I'll take a couple ( if I can hit those amazingly fast birds).

[boneaddict]

I am looking for a really nice Teal to mount, so Teal first Mallards second.   That wouldn't always be the case.   I shoot the crud out of mergansers.   I like to steelhead....

[grundy53]

I am looking for a really nice Teal to mount, so Teal first Mallards second.   That wouldn't always be the case.   I shoot the crud out of mergansers.   I like to steelhead....

Save a fish (or thousand) shoot a merganser...

sent from my typewriter

[boneaddict]

    A-men!!!

In fact, ask if I'd rather shoot 7 mergansers or 7 mallards.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Not sure about the birds mentioned? I shoot the all black ones with long skinny legs and a white bill.