Seasons/Limits for Mergansers

[MountainMel]

I called W.D.F.W.'s  S.W. WA office last Monday & left a message, but have not heard back from anyone... Does anyone know if there are seasons and/or limits on Mergansers? When I was a youngster, the limit was 15 per day, Common or Hooded Mergansers. I cannot find them mentioned anywhere in the Waterfowl/ Migratory Bird regulations.

[Pete112288]

I believe they treat them as part of your regular duck limit. But I am not positive about that.

[Stein]

I believe they treat them as part of your regular duck limit. But I am not positive about that.

That's what I thought as well.

[fowl smacker]

I believe they treat them as part of your regular duck limit. But I am not positive about that.

Yep

[Special T]

The last time Washington had a seperate bag limit was in the 1980s

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[lokidog]

Yes, part of the limit. It's too bad since I don't think we would make much of a dent in them with a bonus five birds or something like that.

[Stein]

Yes, part of the limit. It's too bad since I don't think we would make much of a dent in them with a bonus five birds or something like that.

Yeah, especially since they eat fish like salmon and not many people are going to shoot one if it means they might be able to take one less mallard home.

[Bill W]

Yes, part of the limit. It's too bad since I don't think we would make much of a dent in them with a bonus five birds or something like that.

This is how the limit used to be.  When the duck population took a downturn around 1990 and the limit was cut to 5 the separate mergie limit was eliminated.  When the duck population rebounded and was revised back to a limit of 7 the separate mergie limit wasn't re-instated. 

My first triple was mergies.

[lokidog]

Yes, part of the limit. It's too bad since I don't think we would make much of a dent in them with a bonus five birds or something like that.

This is how the limit used to be.  When the duck population took a downturn around 1990 and the limit was cut to 5 the separate mergie limit was eliminated.  When the duck population rebounded and was revised back to a limit of 7 the separate mergie limit wasn't re-instated. 

My first triple was mergies.

Five at once has been my max.    We were a quarter mile down the shoreline by the time the dog brought the fifth one in the current was running so hard.

[eglseder]

In a state that is so worried about salmon populations, it is absolutely absurd that there is not a separate 5 bird limit for them. No one wants to waste there slots on darts. I still try to shoot some of the salmon eating b*******!!

[buckcanyonlodge]

Someone on here once called them shoot and release ducks and got spanked pretty bad for such a statement..

I hear they make great table fare.

[Norman89]

Tasted like raw spawned out pink salmon to me, dogs loved it though!

[lokidog]

Someone on here once called them shoot and release ducks and got spanked pretty bad for such a statement..

I hear they make great table fare.

Maybe things taste better on the Westside....   

I find them more mild than other diver ducks, especially Goldeneye. Bufflehead might be a bit less "flavorful". If you know how to cook, you can make just about anything, well, except liver,  decent to eat. And, the legs/thighs are barely stronger tasting than those of a Mallard.

As with all of my divers, I grind the breasts and make Salisbury Steak, served with mashed potatoes and gravy, yum!. The leg/thighs I toss in with the rest of my ducks and slow cook them and serve them with whatever sauce I have a hankering for, though it is usually an apple-onion curry.

[Bill W]

Someone on here once called them shoot and release ducks and got spanked pretty bad for such a statement..

I hear they make great table fare.

on a separate note, people trap mice and rats and don't eat them.

[lokidog]

Someone on here once called them shoot and release ducks and got spanked pretty bad for such a statement..

I hear they make great table fare.

on a separate note, people trap mice and rats and don't eat them.

Rats and mice don't have a season and are not considered Game. I shoot Starlings for the same reason I trap mice, I don't eat them either. I would never shoot a game bird and leave it lay. If I wasn't going to eat it, I would find someone that would. That is what I do with deer livers....

[Bill W]

mergies have been uncontrolled (other than hunting) for the past 30 years.  They aren't the main reason salmon counts are down but every little bit helps.  The USDA was going to work on cormorants this year but I don't know how covid affected that.  I volunteered for that but they wanted full time USDA employees.

[dilleytech]

I have eaten a few mergansers and they tasted fine. Would love a open season on them. I hate seeing them sitting by the dozens outside of the hatcheries getting fat on salmon smolts. Cormorants would be a blast to shoot as well for the good of the salmon.. or whales or whatever excuse they right up.

[Stein]

You can shoot 7 a day.  I know one spot where you can whack a few on occasion, but if you have a honey hole that is publicly accessible and legal to shoot, post it up.  I would do trips to help out fish, get the dog some retrieves and see a change of scenery.

I have only killed a few and they were late season and ended up in summer sausage with the end of season freezer cleanout.

[metlhead]

anybody who wants, mouth of the Cowlitz is loaded, especially when the smelt start showing on January. Two close launches, Gearhardt in Longview and the Ranier ramp.