All you duck hunters

[duck'n]

I forgot to post this over here (those that visit the refuge may have already seen it). Anyway, I started the 2006 big duck season with a banded pintail drake! He was not a pretty bird as he wasn't in his breeding plumage yet but here is a pic of the band. The certificate came over the Thanksgiving weekend. Turns out he was hatched on or before 2001 and was banded in 2002. He was released in Manitoba. Pretty cool. I have never shot a banded duck and have been duck hunting since the mid eighties...when lead shot was legal as long as you weren't on the coast! Just wanted to share the excitement.

[bloodtrail18]

Thats a cool experience. I shot a b/w teal that was banded in North Dakota.

[Les]

Love ducks with jewelry. Congratulations.

[LuBowhunter]

i guess its all about luck ive been duck hunting for about 10 years and i have 12 bands to my credit. plus 2 neck collars from geese

[duck'n]

It was really cool too because I didn't see it at first (and it was the first duck I shot). After him, I shot a spoonie but my buddy had hauled up and gone on walk about with his dog to chase a cripple. I went and got my spoonie...it was so small I thought it was a BWT whey they came in. Anyway, I was going to try and shoot a limit without any spoonies...not because I don't like spoonies but because we see so many and it was opening day....kinda like trying to shoot all whitewings during the whitewing only season. Anyway, I saw it was a spoonie and was a little dejected so I walked back and sat down. I nudged my pintail and it rolled a bit. Then it hit me, I hadn't checked for jewelry...BAM there it was! I was so excited then I couldn't stand it. I didn't think my buddy would EVER get back. Once he did we both celebrated and then I sat back to watch him swat a limit. I didn't care...I didn't want to shoot again. I just enjoyed the moment. Anyway, we got another trophy that morning...my buddy in the other group shot a bufflehead drake over a flooded grain field! That was a little weird too. It was a great start to the duck season for sure.

[BO-N-ARO]

Very nice!!
My son has photographed some rudy ducks in Dallas by EDS this year !!!

[Good Texan]

That is awesome. I have been duck hunting for years and still have not killed a banded bird. Congrats!

[Trykon514]

congrats on the jewelery. love them ducks coming into the spread

[TBryan]

congrats!! i have yet to get a pintail.

[duck'n]

The pinnies are THICK down here this year. I guess they always are on the coast but we are getting alot of them inland as well. Also saw a HUGE group of Ruddy's on one of our spots....hadn't seen Ruddy's in a long time. My buddy shot a real nice Cinn Teal over the Thanksgiving holiday. It has been a productive year for the ducks. I just gotta tear myself away and do a little more bowhuntin!!!

[m'gobo]

congrats on the band. I have duck hunted for a few years but have yet to get a banded duck.

[Bill]

Very nice duck, no bands for me in 5 years of waterfowling.

Our Nov weather has been so warm and nice the dumb ducks died opening w/e in the refuges, and the smart ones are sticking in the closed zones or flying high. We're all wishing for weather to start pushing them south towards Mexico and bring in a new crop of dumb ones!