King of Ducks

[jbeaumont21]

Large and fast, Canvasbacks ducks are in a class by themselves.

https://www.chron.com/sports/outdoors/article/Large-and-fast-Canvasbacks-ducks-are-in-a-class-1641577.php

[eglseder]

Lots of season left so was hoping others could share stories/pics of their success shooting their bucketlist duck.

Like you, I have been after that Bull Canvasback. And first off, Congratulations on an awesome bird!!! This week I officially started to dedicate all my hunts to target canvasbacks. My late stepfather, who passed of cancer, had a whole bunch of cork bluebill decoys that he used to use in Canada back in the 80s and 90s. I found a few cork canvasbacks in there as well! I have wanted to put these decoys to use for a very long time and did it this week. First hunt, I dropped my bluebills in about 15 minutes from setup which was kind of neat on its own because of the cork spread. I was seeing Canvasbacks flying here and there. Had some skirt the decoys and I missed the first 3 I saw before I connected on a hen that decoyed beautifully! Not 15 minutes later, out of nowhere, a bull can comes zipping across and over top of my decoys. I dropped him! It was a really good feeling getting that bird and over my stepdad's decoys on top of it all!! Two days later I shot a trophy bull and that bird is headed to the taxidermist! Watching cans buzzing around is like nothing I've ever seen before and possibly the most amazing species that I have targeted!

[jbeaumont21]

Lots of season left so was hoping others could share stories/pics of their success shooting their bucketlist duck.

Like you, I have been after that Bull Canvasback. And first off, Congratulations on an awesome bird!!! This week I officially started to dedicate all my hunts to target canvasbacks. My late stepfather, who passed of cancer, had a whole bunch of cork bluebill decoys that he used to use in Canada back in the 80s and 90s. I found a few cork canvasbacks in there as well! I have wanted to put these decoys to use for a very long time and did it this week. First hunt, I dropped my bluebills in about 15 minutes from setup which was kind of neat on its own because of the cork spread. I was seeing Canvasbacks flying here and there. Had some skirt the decoys and I missed the first 3 I saw before I connected on a hen that decoyed beautifully! Not 15 minutes later, out of nowhere, a bull can comes zipping across and over top of my decoys. I dropped him! It was a really good feeling getting that bird and over my stepdad's decoys on top of it all!! Two days later I shot a trophy bull and that bird is headed to the taxidermist! Watching cans buzzing around is like nothing I've ever seen before and possibly the most amazing species that I have targeted!

That's awesome man!  Congrats!! Looks like a nice one, super bright white on the back.  Who are you going to use for a taxi? 

By the way I ended up eating the first immature bull can I got.  He wasn't shot up at all so I plucked and breasted him out and pan fried fat side down.  I have to admit it wasn't as tasty as a mallard.  My wife did not like it at all and she likes duck. Tasted more livery like you'd expect from a diver duck.  I'm sure they taste different in other areas of the country depending on what they eat. Still, not sure why they were considered such a delicacy back in the day. 

[eglseder]

I'm not sure on taxidermist yet. Need to do a little research, but seems like Seth Lane's work is pretty legit. Was also eye-balling whidbey island taxidermy. But I'm going to shop around a bit and research. Have to do the hard part of picking out a pose too! So many good ones to choose from.

I wonder if it was the fat. I've always heard that you want to make sure all the fat is off the divers. I ate some canvasback a couple nights ago and it was legitimately the best duck I've ever eaten. I've got lots of old duck hunting books and they all talk about how good cans are. I was impressed! Wild celery seems to be the ticket.

[LongBomb]

Lots of season left so was hoping others could share stories/pics of their success shooting their bucketlist duck.

Like you, I have been after that Bull Canvasback. And first off, Congratulations on an awesome bird!!! This week I officially started to dedicate all my hunts to target canvasbacks. My late stepfather, who passed of cancer, had a whole bunch of cork bluebill decoys that he used to use in Canada back in the 80s and 90s. I found a few cork canvasbacks in there as well! I have wanted to put these decoys to use for a very long time and did it this week. First hunt, I dropped my bluebills in about 15 minutes from setup which was kind of neat on its own because of the cork spread. I was seeing Canvasbacks flying here and there. Had some skirt the decoys and I missed the first 3 I saw before I connected on a hen that decoyed beautifully! Not 15 minutes later, out of nowhere, a bull can comes zipping across and over top of my decoys. I dropped him! It was a really good feeling getting that bird and over my stepdad's decoys on top of it all!! Two days later I shot a trophy bull and that bird is headed to the taxidermist! Watching cans buzzing around is like nothing I've ever seen before and possibly the most amazing species that I have targeted!

That's awesome man!  Congrats!! Looks like a nice one, super bright white on the back.  Who are you going to use for a taxi? 

By the way I ended up eating the first immature bull can I got.  He wasn't shot up at all so I plucked and breasted him out and pan fried fat side down.  I have to admit it wasn't as tasty as a mallard.  My wife did not like it at all and she likes duck. Tasted more livery like you'd expect from a diver duck.  I'm sure they taste different in other areas of the country depending on what they eat. Still, not sure why they were considered such a delicacy back in the day. 

I did a project on a sewer lagoon one fall.........therefore i dont eat ducks or geese.

[jbeaumont21]

I've decided to take mine down to Josh in Molalla. Here is the pose I'm going with, except it will be attached to a piece of wood on the wall.

[jbeaumont21]

Finally got him back from the taxi. I think Josh did a great job!

[jbeaumont21]

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[jbeaumont21]

He looks angry

[h2ofowlr]

Finally got him back from the taxi. I think Josh did a great job!

Neck is a bit messed up.  Did it tip over on the drive home?

[follow maggie]

That looks awesome.

[fowl smacker]

Cool bird.  I would not be happy with that mount and just having straight up wire showing from the wood to the duck.

[jbeaumont21]

Lot of critics on here.  I'm happy with it and I guess that's all that matters. The bird was shot in the neck so had some damage he had to work around. I think he did a good job with what he had to work with.

[Jake Dogfish]

Looks good! 

[EmeraldBullet]

Nice mount. I really love the pose