What kind of duck is this it's my first time hunting

[notellumcreek]

What's the old saying.... If it flies it dies? 

[Stein]

When I started, I shot it and then figured out what it was.  I still am not 100% sure when I pull the trigger many times.  I know it is a duck and within range.

You can be picky if you want, but it isn't a requirement either legally or ethically.  If you aren't at the limit on any species, any duck you shoot will be legal.  No need to make it any more complicated than that unless you want to.

[Skillet]

I can easily identify mallards, teals, scuaps, gadwalls, and pintails. I've been on 4 hunts with experienced hunters this was just the first on my own. It's easy to see what is a duck and what is not so far. I've just never come across a wigeon yet.

That's cool, wasn't thinking you would mistake a duck for a goose - just that you can get quickly get yourself into an over-limit situation with hen mallards and pintails if you have trouble ID'ing the different "brown" birds on the fly.  It isn't easy at times.

How did you end up today?

[Stein]

WDFW publishes a book that is decent and I bought one from Delta Waterfowl that was pretty cheap and very good.

[Ajj828]

I can easily identify mallards, teals, scuaps, gadwalls, and pintails. I've been on 4 hunts with experienced hunters this was just the first on my own. It's easy to see what is a duck and what is not so far. I've just never come across a wigeon yet.

That's cool, wasn't thinking you would mistake a duck for a goose - just that you can get quickly get yourself into an over-limit situation with hen mallards and pintails if
you have trouble ID'ing the different "brown" birds on the fly.  It isn't easy at times.


Not very well just one wigeon. I don't know what's wrong with me when I hunt duck. I feel like I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time and miss so many ducks coming in. I don't call because I'm not good at it and I'm still practicing so I need Ducks to go to my decoys. In the morning I had a duck land sort of in my spread about 30 yards away but I didn't want to shoot it on the water and I feel like 30 yards is too far with a 26 inch barrel modified choke. I had 3 birds actually land in the spread but didn't want to shoot them on the water so i tried to scare them up and lost them. Had ducks fly straight infront of my face when I was not ready (I was like, "well it's pm I'm gonna pack up") and as I set my gun to get my bag a duck flys right to the decoys. Whenever ducks do fly by me and I'm "ready" I'm very hesitant to shoot. I can't make up my mind if it's too far of a shot or not. Usually they are like 35-40 yards away flying above and across my decoys: I think I need to pattern my gun so I have an idea for the distance. I just get frustrated because I feel like the ducks are always in a distance that's just too far away like 40 yards. Whenever I shoot i try to lead the shot too. I'll aim like 3 feet ahead of them at 40 yards. I feel like I'm doing everything wrong. I'm using 3 inch kents 2 shot and some 3.5 inch Winchester super x

How did you end up today?

[Chukar]

How did you know it was a duck!?!?
A series of "ducks" are on a no shoot/limited shoot list. As are "duck" like birds such as loons, cormorants, pelicans, cranes, herons, rails.
It isn't "you should probably know what you are pointing a gun at" also. It's actually "KNOW YOUR TARGET BEFORE YOU AIM"

If this was a big whitetail or muley shot during elk only or maybe Grizz instead of Blackie pictured up here y'all would be freaking out.

Nice you took a safe bird but that's an easy bird to recognize if ya did a bit of research before you hit the field.

[Dan-o]

Yeah, that Widgeon probably orphaned a couple grizzly cubs.

Do you find it tiring to walk on water?

[Chukar]

Nice youthful response
Is what is. Heap it on the guy who called a fellow hunter out on a mistake that should not have happened.
Now I'm gonna go wring out my shoes.

[crazywednesday]

Yeah, that Widgeon probably orphaned a couple grizzly cubs.

Do you find it tiring to walk on water?

Funniest post I've read in a while. Thanks for the laugh.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Dan-o]

#Widgeonlivesmatter

[jay.sharkbait]

I see the Huntwa ethics police are here too.

[Ajj828]

How did you know it was a duck!?!?
A series of "ducks" are on a no shoot/limited shoot list. As are "duck" like birds such as loons, cormorants, pelicans, cranes, herons, rails.
It isn't "you should probably know what you are pointing a gun at" also. It's actually "KNOW YOUR TARGET BEFORE YOU AIM"

If this was a big whitetail or muley shot during elk only or maybe Grizz instead of Blackie pictured up here y'all would be freaking out.

Nice you took a safe bird but that's an easy bird to recognize if ya did a bit of research before you hit the field.

I did do research I looked at all the birds and read the full rules on the wdfw website. The pictures on the website seem different. They have some small green area on the American wigeon wing and my wigeon has no green on the wing. Chances are if a bird is flying into your decoys it's a duck. If it had larger wings it's probably not a duck. If it doesn't fly like a duck don't shoot it. That's what I was going off of when I was in the field. And people would freak if it was a mule deer cuz those are so easy to see the difference between a black tail....same with a grizz and black bear. With ducks there are multiple types and people don't care because it's easier to make a mistake. With deer if you can't tell the difference between a black tail and mule you shouldn't even have a tag. It's probably more common to shoot the wrong duck that the wrong deer so people are not that mad

[206]

What's the old saying.... If it flies it dies? 

That's the saying I grew up with.

[Dan-o]

Sheesh now I have a picture in my head I can't get out;

Guy standing over a dead Grizzly;

"Sorry officer, I thought it was a widgeon."

[fisheral87]

#Widgeonlivesmatter