Hooded Merganser

[28 gauge 2]

Out yesterday morning for a duck hunt.Not much moving.Sat there from legal hunting time, till about 9:30 and only saw one seagull and one kingfisher.Just about to leave, when I noticed two birds below me and swimming my way.They came close enough for a shot.Was able to get one of them.It turned out to be a hooded merganser.First one of them have bagged in quite sometime.

 

[156821]

How are they for eating? On older fella I shoot with told me they are fish ducks and not great table fare. Any truth to that?

 

[FLHTCUI]

Last one I shot was 40 years ago...
From what I recall it was very greazzey

 

[Redsoilreaper]

Been a long time since I’ve shot one.

 

[28 gauge 2]

How are they for eating? On older fella I shoot with told me they are fish ducks and not great table fare. Any truth to that?

Like sea ducks, there are a bit fishy tasting, compared to ducks that eat mostly vegetable matter.

 

[28 gauge 2]

Been a long time since I’ve shot one.
View attachment 1044791

Very nice pictures.the drake hooded merganser is a very handsome bird.

 

[Hunter7]

Fishy but would make a nice mount.

 

[sundog57]

flank feathers are great for tying either spey salmon flies or trout flies to replace wood duck

 

[hoytcanon]

We have lots of Hoodies around but don't shoot them... prefer larger, better eating birds. FYI, "turned out to be," is not a phrase you should be using... you are required to know the species before you squeeze the trigger. Mistakes can happen in low light and hot action, but that does not appear to be the case in your story. I love late season hunting, but I stored the boat yesterday, earliest it has been put away in three plus decades.

 

[brybenn]

My buddy tried cooking them after disregarding my warning. His gf made his throw them and the pot out. His dog ate them

 

[28 gauge 2]

We have lots of Hoodies around but don't shoot them... prefer larger, better eating birds. FYI, "turned out to be," is not a phrase you should be using... you are required to know the species before you squeeze the trigger. Mistakes can happen in low light and hot action, but that does not appear to be the case in your story. I love late season hunting, but I stored the boat yesterday, earliest it has been put away in three plus decades.

Yes you are right.I knew they were mergansers.I guess turned out to be, was perhaps not the right choice of words.I just meant to say it was a drake,but perhaps added the turned out to be, as a way to make the story more interesting.:

 

[Waterfowler]

Soak in coke or milk for a day. Cut the breast in half, season, wrap in bacon and bbq rare/med rare.

Most people who complain about them have never actually eaten them.

Can they be strong, sometimes yes...but so can a big greenhead that's been feeding on snails, etc on a shoreline.

 

[28 gauge 2]

Soak in coke or milk for a day. Cut the breast in half, season, wrap in bacon and bbq rare/med rare.

Most people who complain about them have never actually eaten them.

Can they be strong, sometimes yes...but so can a big greenhead that's been feeding on snails, etc on a shoreline.

You are right about the taste,Waterfowler.Except in my area, it is black ducks and not mallards.