Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: ducks4days on June 16, 2023, 09:10:19 PM

Title: What makes a big duck?
Post by: ducks4days on June 16, 2023, 09:10:19 PM
Just curious what qualifies as a big duck iin this state ? What does a widgeon need to weigh 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, the magical 18.8lbs plus ? 
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: metlhead on June 17, 2023, 09:09:21 AM
Corn makes big ducks. And weight is not really imortant. It is how they feel in their feather that really matters. I've sen teal ruling the pond. Now that is a BIG duck.
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: Stein on June 17, 2023, 12:07:26 PM
I've never weighed any kind of bird.  I haven't weighed a big game animal either.

If the wigeon has it's gullet full of grain and you can feel the fat over his sternum bone then I'm a happy hunter.
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: boneaddict on June 17, 2023, 12:24:59 PM
I like full adult plumage.   I hate when I shoot an immature or first year
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 10, 2023, 10:35:09 PM
Never weighed a duck to determine size.  I have shot some very large mallards over the years where they were noticeably bigger than the other greenheads.  The only birds I have weighed are big westerns and turkeys.

In regard to wigeon.  Sometimes I see some dandy ones that are all plumed out that just stand out.  I have shot a lot of them over the years.
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on July 11, 2023, 06:26:49 AM
You can see big ducks at the pond in the cemetery in Yakima...very large bread fed beasts....A close second are the cross breeds in Sportsman Park...Easy to decoy these ones . Snyders bread bags scattered around any large grass fields. I like to capture them live and fatten them up at home...Whole wheat bread puts the marbling on them pretty quick. Me and Elmer like those friquiseed Daffy breasts. A close third are the Northerns that come into the Toppenish Reserve the day after the season closes.
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: ducks4days on July 11, 2023, 09:14:39 AM
You can see big ducks at the pond in the cemetery in Yakima...very large bread fed beasts....A close second are the cross breeds in Sportsman Park...Easy to decoy these ones . Snyders bread bags scattered around any large grass fields. I like to capture them live and fatten them up at home...Whole wheat bread puts the marbling on them pretty quick. Me and Elmer like those friquiseed Daffy breasts. A close third are the Northerns that come into the Toppenish Reserve the day after the season closes.

I had to walk around the park at Lake Washington with the wife a couple months back, the hybrids there are no joke big, fat birds. There are dozens of Easter ducklings let out every year by the people in renton, any that make it through the eagles are too fat to fly and just hang out all year long. If there was a way to hunt the lake without having my tires slashed I would jump on it in a second. Those bread fed ducks would be some seriously good table fare. 
Title: Re: What makes a big duck?
Post by: hdshot on July 13, 2023, 03:30:52 PM
You can see big ducks at the pond in the cemetery in Yakima...very large bread fed beasts....A close second are the cross breeds in Sportsman Park...Easy to decoy these ones . Snyders bread bags scattered around any large grass fields. I like to capture them live and fatten them up at home...Whole wheat bread puts the marbling on them pretty quick. Me and Elmer like those friquiseed Daffy breasts. A close third are the Northerns that come into the Toppenish Reserve the day after the season closes.

I had to walk around the park at Lake Washington with the wife a couple months back, the hybrids there are no joke big, fat birds. There are dozens of Easter ducklings let out every year by the people in renton, any that make it through the eagles are too fat to fly and just hang out all year long. If there was a way to hunt the lake without having my tires slashed I would jump on it in a second. Those bread fed ducks would be some seriously good table fare.

Tires and now former hunting partners will equal big problems. 😝 
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