collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Young drake or hen?  (Read 3816 times)

Offline Kain

  • Scalpless
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 5859
  • Location: Vantucky, WA
  • VantuckyKain
Young drake or hen?
« on: January 24, 2021, 03:39:25 PM »
Went out yesterday for a solo kayak hunt.  Saw a lot of bird but they were skitish.  Circle 8-9 times then bug out or land way far out and swim away. I got a few groups and singles to commit.  Got about 6 shots and came home with these three.  The middle one has a lot of green on the top of its head but an orangish bill.  It seems pretty late to see a younger drake but what do I know, Im new to this.   :chuckle:



Offline full choke

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 2764
  • Location: Maple Valley
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2021, 03:44:13 PM »
From what I have gathered over the years- the bill doesn't lie. The consensus would be that is an old hen mallard. Very common. I guess the hormones go wonky when they get up there in age.
"If you think our wars for oil are bad, wait until we are fighting for water..."

Offline Kain

  • Scalpless
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 5859
  • Location: Vantucky, WA
  • VantuckyKain
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2021, 03:50:35 PM »
From what I have gathered over the years- the bill doesn't lie. The consensus would be that is an old hen mallard. Very common. I guess the hormones go wonky when they get up there in age.

Thank you. I posted on a facebook group and two others said the same.  Old hen.  Thats cool.  She came in alone.  Dont know if that matters. 

Offline Mfowl

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4460
  • Location: westside
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2021, 04:02:49 PM »
The only time I shoot a hen is when I'm certain it's a drake!  :tup:
Fish hard, hunt harder!

Offline Kain

  • Scalpless
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 5859
  • Location: Vantucky, WA
  • VantuckyKain
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2021, 04:07:03 PM »
The only time I shoot a hen is when I'm certain it's a drake!  :tup:
:chuckle:  Yeah I really thought it was a drake.  The green on the top of the head was pretty bright in the sun light.  When I picked it up I was confused. 

Offline str8meat

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 385
  • Location: central washington
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2021, 04:30:52 PM »
Due to the current trans gender rage I would say very confused on what it identifies as  :chuckle:
watch yer top knot

Offline wadu1

  • Grumpy
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+31)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 7391
  • Location: Tacoma
  • RMEF, DU, NRA, PFE, NWTF
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2021, 06:01:23 PM »
It looks like a eclipse phase mallard drake. I've seen them in the early season, but you never know what strange things that happen in nature.
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Offline Sneaky

  • Savage
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 896
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2021, 06:39:57 PM »

Offline Kain

  • Scalpless
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 5859
  • Location: Vantucky, WA
  • VantuckyKain
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2021, 06:57:24 PM »

Thank you.  I have not seen that before.

Offline DOUBLELUNG

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 5837
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2021, 01:50:47 PM »
Most likely a hermaphrodite (both sex reproductive organs).  Other possibilities are an anatomical female with testosterone overproduction, or an anatomical male with overproduction of female hormones.  I don't think it is an eclipse drake with its seasons messed up because the bill color, head plumage and top white line of the wing patch all show female traits.
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline huntindoc

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Sep 2009
  • Posts: 136
Re: Young drake or hen?
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2021, 04:45:30 PM »
Gad mallard?  Aka brewers duck?

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

GO 2025 15th Annual Hunting-Washington Christmas Gift Exchange by Dan-o
[Yesterday at 10:44:18 PM]


Selkirk bull moose. by Wanttohuntmore
[Yesterday at 10:14:01 PM]


Seekins PH3 by Hitsman3
[Yesterday at 08:21:48 PM]


Mule Deer Management Zones by Swervingtrouts
[Yesterday at 07:53:26 PM]


Degreasing A Deer Skull by buglebuster
[Yesterday at 07:03:57 PM]


Is it a conflict of interest by Barehunter
[Yesterday at 06:42:37 PM]


Smelt ? by Crunchy
[Yesterday at 06:27:35 PM]


Dodge 48re transmission recommendations by Fastass350
[Yesterday at 06:23:00 PM]


Late Achery Hunt 💥VIDEO💥 by DWAT
[Yesterday at 06:08:24 PM]


This year, last year by C-Money
[Yesterday at 05:41:15 PM]


"Any Deer" GMU's - Proof of Sex? by luvmystang67
[Yesterday at 05:30:13 PM]


Montana Cutting Deer Licenses by muleyguy
[Yesterday at 05:28:37 PM]


Who knows electric bikes? looking at Quietkat options by Broomd
[Yesterday at 05:24:20 PM]


Wildlife Obsession Duvall WA Taxidermy Closing its doors by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 03:59:08 PM]


Ice fishing for walleye by castnblast
[Yesterday at 03:14:07 PM]


Idaho's new Deer/Elk License System by kentrek
[Yesterday at 02:46:41 PM]


Shooting someone else's injured buck - etiquette question by kodiak06
[Yesterday at 02:40:16 PM]


Archery world in Lacey has any good deal before closing? by eddyr
[Yesterday at 12:59:25 PM]


Hunting DNR Natural Area Preserves by pianoman9701
[Yesterday at 11:46:01 AM]


Homemade saltwater fishing gear by metlhead
[Yesterday at 11:17:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal