Eating waterfowl?

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Rugdoc

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On a BC hunting web site some guys are having an Internet brawl over whether it is appropriate to use an unoccupied blind.

One of the correspondents who seems to be an avid duck hunter in the spot in question responded to another's response that it must be a good place to go to for tasty duck meat by replying:

"Tatses as good as fresh coyote over an open fire!!!"

Yes, that is his spelling.

Anyway, it made me wonder how many others go out and kill ducks and geese and have no interest in eating them.

I hunt them because my wife is crazy about eating mallards and Canada geese.
 
The only things I kill and don't eat are rodents/vermin. Everything else goes well with potatoes.:D
 
I had an aquaintaince who was an avid waterfowler. Went out hunting with him once, he had a trailer dedicated to the gear, was the best caller I have ever heard and really knew what he was doing. We limited on ducks and Canadas. After the hunt I took my 8 ducks and 8 geese and he wanted me to take more. He also wanted to give the farmer his whole share. Later he got pinched by F&W for having dozens of uncleaned rotting birds in his garage.

Guess he loved waterfowl hunting, but didn't much care for the taste. I haven't spoke with him since. If you don't like the taste at least process it and donate it or give it away. Don't let them rot in your garage.

Myself, I like duck and goose meat.
 
I also like eating Geese and "dabbling" ducks.

Don't like the diving, fish-eaters very much though.
I try to avoid shooting the latter, so I do not have to eat them.

It is a crime to waste game meat.
Predators, not so much, lol.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
Rugdoc said:
Anyway, it made me wonder how many others go out and kill ducks and geese and have no interest in eating them..
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Lots..I know many. Even a couple who use the ducks, and geese from the feezer, along with fresh ones for bear bait...

Rugdoc said:
I hunt them because my wife is crazy about eating mallards and Canada geese.
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I love duck roasted up with stuffin...I only go out a few times to satisfy that..
 
whether it is appropriate to use an unoccupied blind.
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On crown land? Yes of course it is appropriate if it is un occupied. Should you plan to be there saturday AM of course not. Just cause you drag some garbage out onto the marsh and throw it in the best hunting spot does not give you preferential use of the land. Waterfowl spots on a given marsh/body of water are not all equal one spot could give you a limit 40 mins after sunrise and a place 100 yards away could leave you watching coots and dragon flies. Obviously repect and good karma have a place in the equation but as a life long blind borrower who always cleans up the "other" guys shells, garbage and never touches a stashed deek, chair etc I say if it is unoccupied you are free to use it. Myself I would move along if the claimed builder showed up BUT I have had guys lie to me and tell me it was there build when all they did was throw another board on or sprinkle some cattails on an ancient blind. If a blind gave you ownership then I'd be happy to spend the summer building one every 40 yards around half the lakes and ponds in western canada, it would be nice to have private hunting preserves with out paying the property taxes.

With regards to eating duck, Dabblers/puddle ducks are the best food in the bush. Anyone who says a mallard does not taste good is either a very inept butcher or an idiot. Often there is a marshy smell while you are cleaning em but none of that remains in the meat. You have not lived till you have eaten duck liver. Goose is a luxury item beyond compare. My favorite food in the world is eggs bendict with crispy fried goose fat................... gotta go swab out the 870 and flock some deeks
 
personaly for me i think its unethical to kill something and not eat it or make use of its carcass somehow. leaving dead animals that you just killed to the elements to rot is just wrong. the exception to this train of though is vermin ofcourse.
 
Seems to be the trend these days when on the Praries with waterfowl numbers being strong. Fill up the freezer and chuck them out in the spring. I know guys that openly brag about killing limits day after day...simply because they can. And whoe even eats the things anymore?

A lot of Americans IMO are in the same mindset. Limits every day and pout like little childred when they don't "limit" one day. Outfitters put them onto some fine shooting...at the expense of a local guy with a couple sons he wants to introduce to waterfowling. See ant outfitter in my parts and you can be "gifted" all the unwanted geese ya can carry. Great bear bait...
 
Fish eating ducks I avoid shooting but Canada geese and puddle ducks - Hell Ya!

If someone says they don't like them then they obviously do not know how to cook! Here are some of our favorites...

- Pulled goose (tastes like pulled pork)
- Goose/duck roast
- Meat pies (the kids LOVE these)
- Goose jerky

I'm hoping to try some homemade goose foie gras this year.
 
Limits every day and pout like little childred when they don't "limit" one day
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That makes me pretty upset, the current generous limits are self regulating IF the shooter cares for the game with respect. Plucking, cleaning, prepping 10 geese and 8 ducks a day interjects a level of conservation. Sure you can hang your 54 bird possession limit for the 3 days it takes to get em but then you are done for the year until you EAT some of them. I hope the C/Os out there are paying attention if the attitude about not eating waterfowl is so strong I am sure they can get some convictions either through blabber or by finding them in bait piles.
 
Tried canadas and a mallard slow cooked for 7 hours yesterday. Used a bunch of oils and spices and water to keep it moist. It just fell apart and I'm looking forward to leftover sandwiches.
Bugs me when people leave animals out there.
 
daveg01 said:
Fish eating ducks I avoid shooting but Canada geese and puddle ducks - Hell Ya!

If someone says they don't like them then they obviously do not know how to cook! Here are some of our favorites...

- Pulled goose (tastes like pulled pork)
- Goose/duck roast
- Meat pies (the kids LOVE these)
- Goose jerky

I'm hoping to try some homemade goose foie gras this year.
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I'm going to have to try that. I usually wrap the breast in bacon and cook 'em low and slow. Cut it like a roast.
 
Goose makes some real nice jerky in the old smoker that is all I know. I don't eat everything I shoot but have a list of guys that do so nothing gets wasted.
You would be suprised how many guys that cannot hunt any more love to have a fresh duck or goose. I would not shoot it if I didnot plan on someone eating it.
 
"On crown land? Yes of course it is appropriate if it is un occupied. Should you plan to be there saturday AM of course not. Just cause you drag some garbage out onto the marsh and throw it in the best hunting spot does not give you preferential use of the land. Waterfowl spots on a given marsh/body of water are not all equal one spot could give you a limit 40 mins after sunrise and a place 100 yards away could leave you watching coots and dragon flies. Obviously repect and good karma have a place in the equation but as a life long blind borrower who always cleans up the "other" guys shells, garbage and never touches a stashed deek, chair etc I say if it is unoccupied you are free to use it."


Exactly. That is the point of view of one side in the debate.

Then there is the other side. By guys that don't even eat ducks apparently.
 
Then there is the other side. By guys that don't even eat ducks apparently.
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too funny,

Bottom line is that unless the builder has a lease on the ground the crown supports your right to occupy the blind for up to 2 weeks (IIRC) if the blind builder interfers with your occupation of the blind and flares some birds that you might have shot then he/she is interfering with a legal hunt and is open to being charged for such. There is no debate about it the law provides the remedy.


FOR THE RECORD THOUGH : I am not in favor of ruining someone's day by occupying the blind they worked hard on and I would be very embarrassed if I ruined someone's plans or detracted from the enjoyment they deserve afield. I would however not sit where the birds aint flying while a blind sat empty where the birds wanted to be.


The "eating" debate can be easily resolved by checking on the price of truly organic waterfowl at a respected butcher's shop, or by ordering one at a french restaurant. Maybe we just have high brow taste but everytime a goose bounces off the water my wife says "cha-ching" and my kids say " excellent" (in an evil cartoon bad guy way). Waterfwoling is way too expensive and way too much work to do it simply for the murder of a beautiful animal.
 
I agree with other posters here that every bird harvested should be consumed. I hunt waterfowl, but do not enjoy eating it (except the geese). I always clean the birds, however, and can usually find homes (read stomachs :D) for them in a few days. Freeze if necessary, make great birthday and xmas gifts too (okay, that last part was a joke).
 
Cooking up a pot of gumbo with some honkers from this morning. Gonna be tasty in about another hour.

My puppy is getting most of the hearts, livers and necks as well.

Feathers are going in the compost.
 
Honker thighs are also great if braised like lamb shanks.

Some stock, red wine, cinnamon, cumin, bay leaves, some thymes and rosemary. Cook with some veg, I like carrots, onions and beets.

Few hours in the slow cooker and you got yourself a meal.
 
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