Incredible season so far....

[Blacktail135]

 40% of the ducks I've taken this year have either been banded or are a bucket list bird. Incredible season so far!

[Stein]

What?  I've yet to see a band on a duck in western WA. I've only been at it 5-6 years or so, but haven't shot one or been on a hunt where one was shot.

Let's see some pics, must be some good bucket birds?

[vandeman17]

are you hunting really close to a banding site?

[7mmfan]

I've killed a hundred ducks in the last 5 years or so, not a hardcore hunter. I've killed one handed bird. It was banded along Columbia somewhere.

[vandeman17]

I've killed a hundred ducks in the last 5 years or so, not a hardcore hunter. I've killed one handed bird. It was banded along Columbia somewhere.

I think I have 6 bands in my career and killed tons of birds. Buddy I hunt with a lot has also killed tons of birds with no bands

[KP-Skagit]

I have hundreds of ducks to my name in Skagit County and have not shot a banded one. I have shot a few banded snows.

Be interested to hear what your bucket list birds are! I have gotten a couple firsts this season myself.

[h2ofowlr]

I got a double banded goose on the early season hunt and two weeks ago I shot two banded mallards within a week.  Always fun to see where they come from.  I haven't shot any bucket list birds this year, but I don't imagine I will unless I travel to harvest a king eider.

[Blacktail135]

 My first duck of the year was a banded Mallard drake.

[Stein]

Where do they band ducks that might spend time in Skagit?

[vandeman17]

Where do they band ducks that might spend time in Skagit?

years back I shot a duck in the basin that was 8 years old and banded in upstate new york

[Blacktail135]

 Back when I used to keep a detailed, daily journal (weather, locations, ducks, patterns, numbers etc.) of my duck hunting I figured, on average, for me, I got a duck band for about every 250 ducks.

[PatoLoco]

Where do they band ducks that might spend time in Skagit?

I have shot banded ducks in Skagit County that were banded in Alaska, western Oregon, and one mallard that I shot on Christmas Eve that was banded in August of that same year a mile away (what most would consider a "local" duck). I found it interesting that it hadn't migrated south by then.

I'd say the majority of banded ducks shot in Skagit that I have heard of were banded in AK.

[Mfowl]

My buddy got a band on opening day a few years ago near Othello that was from California in August of the same year. I shot a drake mallard last year near Othello that came back as a wood duck from Idaho. The band itself was much smaller than other mallard bands I have, I have no doubt that it was meant for a wood duck.

[h2ofowlr]

Where do they band ducks that might spend time in Skagit?

Majority of the banded birds harvested in Skagit county are from Wrangle Island, Alaska, B.C. and Oregon.  Over the years they have also done limited banding in Skagit County, Snohomish County, Whatcom County and Island County.  Some of the locally banded ones I have harvested were Stanwood, Fir Island, Conway, Oak Harbor, Wiser Lake and Slater Rd.

[WSU]

I've only got two out of hundreds of birds.  One was a mallard from Alberta (shot in Monroe area) and one was a teal from the Yukon delta (shot in Olympia area).

[C-Money]

I been lucky enough to get 7 bands. Closest was banded in Ephrata, Furthest was remarkable. It was an extra large drake mallard, banded in St. Johns Newfoundland. I'd love to know that birds entire trip route. Other bands were Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, California.

[Bucks2Ducks]

I been lucky enough to get 7 bands. Closest was banded in Ephrata, Furthest was remarkable. It was an extra large drake mallard, banded in St. Johns Newfoundland. I'd love to know that birds entire trip route. Other bands were Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, California.

Newfoundland to WA? That's one I haven't heard of, pretty cool

[Stein]

I guess I only shoot the super smart birds that the banding guys can't catch.   

[full choke]

The last banded mallard I shot was near moses lake. He was almost nine years old, banded in Cataldo ID, and he had rice breast.

[Blacktail135]

 I gotta fess up before this thread gets too old or I forget about it. When I posted it I was at work reading about how Wuhan flu numbers were being skewed. So I thought, hmm, I can do that with my duck hunting so far this year. So I posted what I posted knowing that those that know duck hunting would call me out on it. Anyway, my original post of 40% still stands and this is how....I’ve shot 5 ducks so far this year. The first duck of the year was a banded Mallard drake. The last duck was a Eurasian wigeon drake that landed just outside my decoys. Just barely. I told my granddaughter that with #4’s in it was too far. He left and went to the north end of my swamp (275 yds away) and we watched him thru binoculars for 1hr and 20 min. Then he got up and flew right towards us and I shot him. Blind faces north, we had wind and sun at our back. It was almost like slow motion on a duck I thought I may never get. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! 😂

[boneaddict]

I been lucky enough to get 7 bands. Closest was banded in Ephrata, Furthest was remarkable. It was an extra large drake mallard, banded in St. Johns Newfoundland. I'd love to know that birds entire trip route. Other bands were Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, California.

I assume these are Washington birds.  If so holy smokes

[duckmen1]

100% of the ducks I've ever taken in the last 17 years were not banded. Up to 120 ducks in a single season. Now think of all those years. No bands.  congrats dude

[Blacktail135]

 Thanks. Numbers of ducks killed mean nothing to me anymore.....used to. Bands are a nice “bonus”. I would like to get mounted all of the ducks available to our flyway and a Eurasian is a good one to get. I see them on my place every year and have finally gotten one. Getting it with my granddaughter was especially special. I could shoot lots of ducks on my place if I really wanted but that’s not important to me anymore. I invite friends over that hunt with their friends and it’s (to me) fun to watch them enjoy a hunt that they normally wouldn’t have.

[Phishead]

Since we’re sharing band stories,about 10 years ago on a field hunt outside Ephrata we shot 13 geese in one go with 5 guys. 13 banded birds. No joke it felt like Christmas morning. All local birds of course but still pretty damn cool.

[Blacktail135]

 That’s a bunch of bands. Did ya’ hear any BB ricochet’a? 😂 Congrats!

[trophyhunt]

Stupid question here from someone who doesn't hunt ducks, why are bands so cool?  Are they rare?

[Stein]

In WA, particularly on the westside they are pretty rare as you can see in this thread.  No reason really, just something different and you can keep the band as a mini trophy to show Instagram how cool you are.  You can look up the band number online and see where the duck was banded, sometimes right next door and sometimes across the continent.

I don't know how many duck's I've shot in WA, maybe 250-300, and haven't got one.

[KopperBuck]

Bands are cool, sometimes. Couple places we hunt they're locally banded. We've had 7 bands in one day, and if we're hunting 3 or more I bet we average a band at least every other trip.

But there's tons of instaflatbrim - "FOR THE PICS!" - dbags out there that specifically target those types of areas to fill up their lanyard. So while I used to think it was neat before, I don't get excited until I see something from out of state or non-mallard. Seems the last 6 or so have been incorrectly sexed. Can't blame em, I ain't good with chickens either.

[wa.hunter]

I was hunting with a friend whom harvested a brant about 6 years ago that was both banded and collared..he was told it was a mature bird when banded 12 years earlier in Russia.

[metlhead]

Why are people that target bands dbags? Sounds like a challenge that some can't handle. Is the person that passes on a raghorn in hopes of a 6x6 a dbag?

[metlhead]

The science of migratory bird movement is pretty well established. And those bands are meant to be recovered. By the way, 33 limits this season and not 1 band. Almost 2,000 birds under my gun and I only have five to show for it. That is pretty low percentage but I still get a thrill every time I see the bling

[hunt4life]

It’s very simple math guys with lots of bands spend a lot of time hunting and it means they know how to hunt! My group of buddies we have killed over 500 snows this year not a single band!! 20 years ago we would have been 20 bands with that number! Things change I have bands from when I was 10 years old!! Anybody who thinks somebody is a d-bag for having bands is the the real tool!! Good thing I don’t do social media cause if you saw my group of buddies you would think we where all d-bags! It’s just the fact some guys kill birds 10% of good waterfowlers kill 90% of the birds in my book other the other 90% just don’t spend the time scouting and hunting correctly!! So many guys walk out no decoys all they have is 3 1/2 shells and sky bust so on that note before ya call a guy a d-bag cause he has bands on his lanyard look in the mirror and see who the real d-bag is!!

[KP-Skagit]

I gotta fess up before this thread gets too old or I forget about it. When I posted it I was at work reading about how Wuhan flu numbers were being skewed. So I thought, hmm, I can do that with my duck hunting so far this year. So I posted what I posted knowing that those that know duck hunting would call me out on it. Anyway, my original post of 40% still stands and this is how....I’ve shot 5 ducks so far this year. The first duck of the year was a banded Mallard drake. The last duck was a Eurasian wigeon drake that landed just outside my decoys. Just barely. I told my granddaughter that with #4’s in it was too far. He left and went to the north end of my swamp (275 yds away) and we watched him thru binoculars for 1hr and 20 min. Then he got up and flew right towards us and I shot him. Blind faces north, we had wind and sun at our back. It was almost like slow motion on a duck I thought I may never get. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! 😂

I was wondering how many birds we were talking when you first posted  Nice work! I have only seen one eurasian, they are on my list. And I would like to get a banded duck some day in my life.

[KopperBuck]

Lol. Waterfowlers have the tightest panties.

[WSU]

Stupid question here from someone who doesn't hunt ducks, why are bands so cool?  Are they rare?

To me, it was cool to see the bird's history.  The banded mallard was something like 12 years old and from northern Alberta.  Think of how many miles that duck had flown going back and forth 24 times, how many decoy spreads it had seen, etc. 

[KP-Skagit]

I don't think the d-bag sentiment is about people who like to shoot banded birds. The waterfowl threads on this forum seem to have a particular spite for young eager hunters that like to post their hunts online. I find it a touch ironic for a hunting forum.

[scotsman]

Never hunted ducks so a maybe dumb question..... if you shoot a banded bird do you call in a report? if not then whats the point of banding?

[full choke]

Never hunted ducks so a maybe dumb question..... if you shoot a banded bird do you call in a report? if not then whats the point of banding?

Yes.

[Sandberm]

Cant remember how i reported mine. I might have called the phone number on the band 

They send you a certificate telling you where it was banded . I shot mine on 1/10/2011. It was banded on 8/16/2005 at 4E High River Alberta Canada by a Mr Paul Pryor with the Canadian Wildlife Service. Bird was hatched in 2004 or earlier it says.

Interesting

[salt n sage90]

 I by all means am tickled when I get a band because you get the background of the bird and therein gain more respect for just how tough and enduring  these birds really are. I am not looking for bands when ducks decoy at all. I don't have a problem with people collecting bands or relishing the opportunity to hang one around their neck, its rare to get one so better enjoy it. Though I had an experience with a different sort. Quick anecdote:

I was taking a new hunter friend of mine out to a field I had permission to hunt from a farmer. The previous day I had knocked the heck out of them so I was confident. Get a call the night before from the farmers nephew that he and his buddies were setting up 2000 snow goose socks in the field and rather than we ruin each others hunts, said we could join them. It wasn't ideal but I didn't really have much other option. When we arrived to set up it was 7 individuals there (now 9 with us). Six were likely in high-schooler or a hair older, and one father. I was getting nervous but we were locked in now. Throughout the day I began to regret the decision. They proceeded to shoot pintails and mallard hens after the limits were filled, they would double, triple, and quadruple-tap birds that were already falling out the sky, and would shoot a cripple on dry land rather than go get it. I had to tell them to knock it off several times. A Eurasian Widgeon fell victim to the barrage as well as a banded mallard hen. All said and done somewhere around 40 ducks and half dozen snows. At the end of the day they drew "shells" out of a hat for who got the band and the Eurasian, and didn't want any of the ducks (no wonder they continued to pelt dead birds). My buddy and I cleaned all the birds and that was that. I apologized to my buddy and told him that isn't the way to do things at all. I think it was a good lesson but ugly.

The "collector" mentality or "d-baggery" of these individuals seems to be a younger generation deal in my experience*, perhaps with the advent of instagram, i dont know. Either way the attention they paid to the rare bird and the jewelry wouldnt have bugged me at all any other day, but their lack of respect for the sport cast a dark cloud on all their behavior the entire day. Its not about the limit, or the band, or "the bird". I think these boys had lost sight of what its about.


fyi, this was awhile ago, not this year.

[C-Money]

I been lucky enough to get 7 bands. Closest was banded in Ephrata, Furthest was remarkable. It was an extra large drake mallard, banded in St. Johns Newfoundland. I'd love to know that birds entire trip route. Other bands were Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, California.

I assume these are Washington birds.  If so holy smokes

Yes, Washington birds. Back when you got a certificate in the mail. I double checked the numbers and they match. Pretty amazing, and confusing why he ended up on the west coast...

[dilleytech]

When I lived in Yakima getting a banded bird was about 1/40 ducks. Now living in southern Washington I get a band per about every 400 ducks. It’s super dependent on where you hunt.

[Blacktail135]

I by all means am tickled when I get a band because you get the background of the bird and therein gain more respect for just how tough and enduring  these birds really are. I am not looking for bands when ducks decoy at all. I don't have a problem with people collecting bands or relishing the opportunity to hang one around their neck, its rare to get one so better enjoy it. Though I had an experience with a different sort. Quick anecdote:

I was taking a new hunter friend of mine out to a field I had permission to hunt from a farmer. The previous day I had knocked the heck out of them so I was confident. Get a call the night before from the farmers nephew that he and his buddies were setting up 2000 snow goose socks in the field and rather than we ruin each others hunts, said we could join them. It wasn't ideal but I didn't really have much other option. When we arrived to set up it was 7 individuals there (now 9 with us). Six were likely in high-schooler or a hair older, and one father. I was getting nervous but we were locked in now. Throughout the day I began to regret the decision. They proceeded to shoot pintails and mallard hens after the limits were filled, they would double, triple, and quadruple-tap birds that were already falling out the sky, and would shoot a cripple on dry land rather than go get it. I had to tell them to knock it off several times. A Eurasian Widgeon fell victim to the barrage as well as a banded mallard hen. All said and done somewhere around 40 ducks and half dozen snows. At the end of the day they drew "shells" out of a hat for who got the band and the Eurasian, and didn't want any of the ducks (no wonder they continued to pelt dead birds). My buddy and I cleaned all the birds and that was that. I apologized to my buddy and told him that isn't the way to do things at all. I think it was a good lesson but ugly.

The "collector" mentality or "d-baggery" of these individuals seems to be a younger generation deal in my experience*, perhaps with the advent of instagram, i dont know. Either way the attention they paid to the rare bird and the jewelry wouldnt have bugged me at all any other day, but their lack of respect for the sport cast a dark cloud on all their behavior the entire day. Its not about the limit, or the band, or "the bird". I think these boys had lost sight of what its about.


fyi, this was awhile ago, not this year.

Sorry about your crappy hunt. Men need to teach the young one’s (someway) what it’s really about. Somewhere along the way measuring one’s self-worth on social media has gotten in the way. 0-7 ducks in an outing, to me, is not the important goal, it’s the sights seen, things we talk about, watching nature, watching a great dog work etc. Doing it right is way more important to me than measuring me by numbers.