Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: lokidog on January 29, 2016, 01:49:00 PM

Title: Probably my last Mallards of the season
Post by: lokidog on January 29, 2016, 01:49:00 PM
Took the dog out this morning and had a decent shoot, even though none came in to my decoys.   :(  I got one pretty Red-breasted Merganser drake and a hen Bufflehead.  As usual, the Mallards were all dropping into a pond that is off-limits. I moved to a more exposed spot, closer to the pond, and got lucky that two bailed out to me before I left.  I knocked both down which caused the rest to flush and I managed to get two more, all drakes.   8)

As I was taking photos, two flew right over me, from behind, going back into the pond.   >:(  But then, as I packed up my decoys, they flushed out and came by me. I knew I hit one on the first shot as it shuddered, then my shell failed to eject. I glanced down to clear it and when i looked up the bird had just vanished.  I think it went down in brush, but we spent over an hour trying to find it to no avail.   :(

Any more hunts for me this year will be on the outer side of the island, maybe I can get a Harlequin yet.

Title: Re: Probably my last Mallards of the season
Post by: CP on January 29, 2016, 02:01:57 PM
Nice pile of birds.  :tup:
Title: Re: Probably my last Mallards of the season
Post by: ICEMAN on January 29, 2016, 09:00:19 PM
Great job Loki....

Flying steak!

And I know you will eat that merganser against some purists objections.  I have eaten merganser and it was just fine.
Title: Re: Probably my last Mallards of the season
Post by: Mark251 on January 29, 2016, 09:10:32 PM
Great job  :tup:
Title: Re: Probably my last Mallards of the season
Post by: lokidog on January 30, 2016, 10:14:04 AM
Great job Loki....

Flying steak!

And I know you will eat that merganser against some purists objections.  I have eaten merganser and it was just fine.

Thank Ice, I've been on an eat Merganser crusade for a while now.   :chuckle:  Our favorite way is as Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes and gravy.   :drool:

On a sidenote, I saw hardly any Mergansers in the few times I have been out this year, especially compared to the hundreds last year.
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