Help identifying these ducks
- Thread starter JR86
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Mmmm, merganser. My mouth is watering............
That does it !! I've just lost it... LOL !!!
I've had a hankering for a duck for a while now, saw some in the store, not sure what they were, just said young duck on the label, but after reading this thread, I've suddenly lost my taste for a duck! But, if I could find a Muscovy duck, I would buy it right a way.
we buy duck occasionally instead of chicken - there are some good producers of "so-called organic" duck ... presumably some sort of domestic breed. It is good and my kids devour it (as they do venison)- but domestic raised duck is fat and there is always lots of grease to deal with after the cooking.
I do it the old school way - very similar to duck confit. Cut the duck into pieces and trim the larger fat pieces and hanging skin. Salt the duck very well - be generous with the salt. Layer everything in a roasting pan and cover with lid or foil. Roast at 325 for about 1 1/2 hours and then uncover. Add potato pieces to the pan, making sure the rendered fat covers them well. Continue roasting for another 45 minutes or so to crisp the skin. Remove the meat and potatoes, ladle most of the rendered fat into a jar and put the pan back in the oven at 375 until the crackling pieces are almost crispy - maybe another 15 minutes. The meat will be tender and succulent and the potatoes are to die for. Use the rendered fat - which will turn white in the fridge - to fry eggs, potatoes etc. It is also nice spread on a piece of home made bread with a bit of salt and paprika, a hot pepper and a shot of vodka.
Yeah, it's my first season duck hunting. Flying down the river at you they often seem to look like wood ducks. I knew the bufflehead. Golden eye is the biggest one we weren't sure about, mergansers we were pretty sure. Thanks for your help guys. Thanks for nothing from the #######s who go out of their way to put people down. 
Yeah, it's my first season duck hunting. Flying down the river at you they often seem to look like wood ducks. I knew the bufflehead. Golden eye is the biggest one we weren't sure about, mergansers we were pretty sure. Thanks for your help guys. Thanks for nothing from the #######s who go out of their way to put people down.
I think you should be pretty pleased with yourself IMO! You went duck hunting with a buddy .. and you came home with ducks! ... lots of "experts" don't accomplish that!
I will try that ... may lay off the spread though ,,, as a kid I recall adults frying bread in bacon fat. It tasted great and was very crunchy --- and probably back then when so many grew with no central heating they could consume food like that and burn it off. I think today some of us would be getting a lecture from our doctors on Cholesterol levels - although I imagine the vodka helps!!
was it you, or maybe it was Old Smokie that said to save all duck fat and caramelize shredded cabbage in it? I did finally try it once a while back, but I was too loaded to remember what it was like. Will try again one day.
thats for sure ... most processed foods these days are going to kill you prematurely or make you stupid ... or both! Problem is that even the stuff that used to be natural is getting adulterated like table cream - read the ingredients on that stuff lately?.
Got a few smaller ducks I'm not entirely familiar with on Saturday in SW Ontario. Hoped some savvy hunters could help identify. Only took one picture though so this is all I've got to go on now.
They were hard earned lol
Thanks for the help
Looks to me like you were hunting the thames river? But as with the ducks, Its a bufflehead on the left, second not sure but looks like merganser and third Looks like a merganser or coot but cant tell from the pictures.. Wing patches would help. 4th looks deffinately a merganser, and mallards to finish.
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Starting at far L, Bufflehead (hen),- two merganzer's, - common goldeneye or whistler (hen), - three drake mallards
The Bufflehead is tasty eating the nick name for them is "butter balls",... Merganzers you generally don't even bother wasting a shot shell on but if you do breast them out and put them in spaghetti sauce, white winged scouters fall into the same category,... common golden eyes or whistlers are also tasty,.. mallards are good eating.
On your Christmas list put; Duck Identification Book, if you don't know what birds your shooting you should not be shooting them as a general rule. You should be able to look at them flying, swimming, walking or dancing and tell what type of duck it is and the gender. Takes time and practice.
The Bufflehead is tasty eating the nick name for them is "butter balls",... Merganzers you generally don't even bother wasting a shot shell on but if you do breast them out and put them in spaghetti sauce, white winged scouters fall into the same category,... common golden eyes or whistlers are also tasty,.. mallards are good eating.
On your Christmas list put; Duck Identification Book, if you don't know what birds your shooting you should not be shooting them as a general rule. You should be able to look at them flying, swimming, walking or dancing and tell what type of duck it is and the gender. Takes time and practice.
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Yeah, it's my first season duck hunting. Flying down the river at you they often seem to look like wood ducks. I knew the bufflehead. Golden eye is the biggest one we weren't sure about, mergansers we were pretty sure. Thanks for your help guys. Thanks for nothing from the #######s who go out of their way to put people down.
In all fairness to the #######s, you should really learn how to identify the ducks before you pull the trigger. If that means putting your gun down for a few seconds and letting them land in your spread while you try to ID them, it might just save your ass in the long run. It's not hard to go over your daily limit of 1 black duck as they look very similar to mallard hens. It's also likely that you'll have a grebe drop into your spread in the future. And it's certainly possible that you'll shoot another merganser if you don't take some time to learn.
I know it's your first season out, so spend the winter and next summer learning your ducks for the next season. It takes a lot of practice.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
Yeah, it's my first season duck hunting. Flying down the river at you they often seem to look like wood ducks. I knew the bufflehead. Golden eye is the biggest one we weren't sure about, mergansers we were pretty sure. Thanks for your help guys. Thanks for nothing from the #######s who go out of their way to put people down.
I think you missed some of the point being made. What if by not being able to identify the ducks you had in hand you had shot something that was not allowed to be harvested? You are fortunate that the birds you could not identify did not land you a fine is all!!
The first time on here I have been referred to as an a#####e for trying to help someone. Spank spelled it out very clear some ducks in some areas are not to be taken or perhaps just one taken. If your shooting first and figuring out what you got afterwards your leaving yourself open to being fined if stopped by the CO. You will find they have zero tolerance or a sense of humor on these matters. Learning to ID your ducks first saves you shot shells, puts only what you want in your game bag, and saves you dollars and embarrassing moments with the CO. Same idea as going moose or deer hunting and shooting an animal you have no tag for.
We have answered your query and identified your ducks to help you learn, many of us have tried to further your education by pointing out the benefits of duck identification before shooting.
We have answered your query and identified your ducks to help you learn, many of us have tried to further your education by pointing out the benefits of duck identification before shooting.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
"please identify the funny looking duck with the white head and hooked bill"........
