First Band of the Year

[BIGDOG253]

Got my first band of the year on a Greenhead  . It was banded this year, in the Basin somewhere. Not too far away from where he was shot.

Anyone else get any bands yet? Where was it banded?

[92xj]

This year in the basin as well. Was my first greenhead of the year on the opener.

[NW-GSP]

I've been hunting waterfowl for eleven years and have shot plenty of ducks but have never harvested one with a band.

[sakoshooter]

Congrats. 

[EWUeagles]

Never got a duck band but have a couple goose bands. Congrats on the first band of the year!

[BIGDOG253]

Our group got two more bands this weekend    We haven't checked where they were banded yet, but the duck on the left had some BRIGHT orange feet so I am thinking it was banded way up north.

[270Shooter]

Our group got two more bands this weekend    We haven't checked where they were banded yet, but the duck on the left had some BRIGHT orange feet so I am thinking it was banded way up north.

while it certainly could be from up north due to the excessive cold and migrations. The red color of the legs has nothing to do with a bird being a "northerner" rather it has to do with their breeding plumage.

[HunterDan03]

Our group got two more bands this weekend    We haven't checked where they were banded yet, but the duck on the left had some BRIGHT orange feet so I am thinking it was banded way up north.

while it certainly could be from up north due to the excessive cold and migrations. The red color of the legs has nothing to do with a bird being a "northerner" rather it has to do with their breeding plumage.

THANK YOU!!! Someone finally gets it!!

[duckmen1]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

[270Shooter]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

I've been hunting ducks about 5 or 6 years now and I've killed 8 bands. All of them were banded in wa. And nearly all of those were from the yakima valley which is where I hunt 95% of the time.

[h2ofowlr]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

Some also have the opportunity to hunt near banding locations, so your odds of shooting one go up significantly.   

[BIGDOG253]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

I've been hunting ducks about 5 or 6 years now and I've killed 8 bands. All of them were banded in wa. And nearly all of those were from the yakima valley which is where I hunt 95% of the time.

Our group got two more bands this weekend    We haven't checked where they were banded yet, but the duck on the left had some BRIGHT orange feet so I am thinking it was banded way up north.

while it certainly could be from up north due to the excessive cold and migrations. The red color of the legs has nothing to do with a bird being a "northerner" rather it has to do with their breeding plumage.

THANK YOU!!! Someone finally gets it!!

You guys were right! It was banded in Yakima and hatched in 2012. I always thought those bright legs meant it was a "northerner". You don't see them a whole lot in the early season.

[270Shooter]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

I've been hunting ducks about 5 or 6 years now and I've killed 8 bands. All of them were banded in wa. And nearly all of those were from the yakima valley which is where I hunt 95% of the time.

Our group got two more bands this weekend    We haven't checked where they were banded yet, but the duck on the left had some BRIGHT orange feet so I am thinking it was banded way up north.

while it certainly could be from up north due to the excessive cold and migrations. The red color of the legs has nothing to do with a bird being a "northerner" rather it has to do with their breeding plumage.

THANK YOU!!! Someone finally gets it!!

You guys were right! It was banded in Yakima and hatched in 2012. I always thought those bright legs meant it was a "northerner". You don't see them a whole lot in the early season.

that's because as the season goes on the birds are getting closer to the mating time. When there is an increase in breeding hormons their feet become very bright orange. Where at in the valley was it banded out of curiosity?

[BIGDOG253]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

I've been hunting ducks about 5 or 6 years now and I've killed 8 bands. All of them were banded in wa. And nearly all of those were from the yakima valley which is where I hunt 95% of the time.

Our group got two more bands this weekend    We haven't checked where they were banded yet, but the duck on the left had some BRIGHT orange feet so I am thinking it was banded way up north.

while it certainly could be from up north due to the excessive cold and migrations. The red color of the legs has nothing to do with a bird being a "northerner" rather it has to do with their breeding plumage.

THANK YOU!!! Someone finally gets it!!

You guys were right! It was banded in Yakima and hatched in 2012. I always thought those bright legs meant it was a "northerner". You don't see them a whole lot in the early season.

that's because as the season goes on the birds are getting closer to the mating time. When there is an increase in breeding hormons their feet become very bright orange. Where at in the valley was it banded out of curiosity?

Didnt get any more details other than it was banded in Yakima. The other bird was banded in Moses Lake in August 2015.

I still have yet to get a band from anywhere other than Washington. All my bands have been out of Moses Lake, Yakima, or Olympia.

[Fungunnin]

Got my first band this year. Wigeon hen banded in Cali in March of 2014

[Darkinnovation]

Shot my first seaduck this year and he was banded. Banded in 2008 but he was hatched sometime in 2005.

[Cougar125]

Awesome luck on the bands.  I've only ever gotten 1 band, towards the end of the season 2013/2014, but think I got the lottery with it.

Double Banded Drake Harlequin:





INFORMATION YOU ENTERED:
About your Band/Bird

Band number: 0925-72631
Marker info: LEFT LEG BAND #3: BLUE
Species: Harlequin Duck
How obtained: Shot.
Status of Bird/Band: Dead/Left On Bird
Date of recovery: Jan 17, 2014
Location of recovery:
Coordinates: REDACTED Island County, Washington, United States

About You:

The reporter of this encounter was the person who encountered the bird or band (or someone who reporting it in behalf of the finder) List of contacts:
1. Everett
Coupeville, WA 98239


INFORMATION FROM OUR FILES:
Species: HARLEQUIN DUCK
Date banded: 08/20/2004
Banding Location: LK MC DONALD, MONTANA, USA
Age: WAS TOO YOUNG TO FLY WHEN BANDED IN 2004
Sex: MALE

[Tealer]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

I have had over 800 birds through my hands this year with out a band.

Last year I shot 2 banded mallards, two collared cacklers, and a double banded Cackler.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[outdooraddict]

I CANT WAIT UNTILL I FINALLY GET A BANDED BIRD. I WAS SUPPRISED AT WHEN SOME OF YOUR REPORTS CAME BACK, MOSTLY OF WHEN THE BIRD WAS HATCHED OR BANDED, I WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED A WILD DUCK WOULD BE BORN IN 2005 AND STILL FLYING TODAY.  HOW LONG WILL THEY LIVE

[h2ofowlr]

I CANT WAIT UNTILL I FINALLY GET A BANDED BIRD. I WAS SUPPRISED AT WHEN SOME OF YOUR REPORTS CAME BACK, MOSTLY OF WHEN THE BIRD WAS HATCHED OR BANDED, I WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED A WILD DUCK WOULD BE BORN IN 2005 AND STILL FLYING TODAY.  HOW LONG WILL THEY LIVE

26+ years for some of them.

[kodiak 907]

That is an awesome old scoter.   Oldest sea duck I've ever shot with a band was eight years old.

[knighttime25]

Got a snow goose band a couple weeks ago, haven't called it in yet. Only band this season so far

[mburrows]

It seems that certain strips of flyways see a lot of bands where others see close to none. My last trip put me up to an even 200 ducks just this season and last combined. Been hunting ducks for 13 years. Still haven't got one. So seems I'm on the wrong strip of the flyway for bands.
Great job guys

I have had over 800 birds through my hands this year with out a band.

Last year I shot 2 banded mallards, two collared cacklers, and a double banded Cackler.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seems like they always come in bunches. You'll get a handful one year then nothing the next.

Best for us was 17 banded honkers in one year...they were all from one flock though believe it not on the early goose hunt.

[SurfingScooter]

Might sound strange but I got a banded Teal from the east coast a couple years ago, was banded in Maine.  Not sure if it was a error in their system, but I have the letter to prove it somewhere at home.

[vandeman17]

Might sound strange but I got a banded Teal from the east coast a couple years ago, was banded in Maine.  Not sure if it was a error in their system, but I have the letter to prove it somewhere at home.

I shot a mallard that was banded in New York 7 years before I killed him.

[SurfingScooter]

Might sound strange but I got a banded Teal from the east coast a couple years ago, was banded in Maine.  Not sure if it was a error in their system, but I have the letter to prove it somewhere at home.

I shot a mallard that was banded in New York 7 years before I killed him.

.       Must have something to do with their return trip north from the gulf, they must decide to follow a flock headed north west instead of back of the east coast that's my theory.

[Tealer]

Might sound strange but I got a banded Teal from the east coast a couple years ago, was banded in Maine.  Not sure if it was a error in their system, but I have the letter to prove it somewhere at home.

I shot a mallard that was banded in New York 7 years before I killed him.

.       Must have something to do with their return trip north from the gulf, they must decide to follow a flock headed north west instead of back of the east coast that's my theory.

It's all about the ladies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[johnnyaustin44]

Got a harli band last year. Only one he had was the plastic one. No metal band on the other leg. Haven't heard any info on it though. 

[Darkinnovation]

That is an awesome old scoter.   Oldest sea duck I've ever shot with a band was eight years old.

Thanks man.

[BIGDOG253]

Got another band this weekend. No better way to end the season 

It was banded August 15th, 2012 in Yakima. Same as the one we got a few weeks ago.

[USCGhunter]

Banded near scappoose Oregon 2014 and anchorage, Alaska 2015

[hunting4sanity]

A couple of years ago we got two on a hunting trip near Tri Cities, one was a Canadian banded bird at least 13 years old and the other band was worn smooth enough we couldn't make out any numbers at all.

[Ice_man]

Got these two bands this last weekend. Mallard from George Washington August 2015 and pintail from Ohio August 2008.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk