Fishy mallards

[DivingDuckDetlor]

A few weeks back my friend and I harvested some mallards out of Cowichan bay, to my surprise they had an extremely strong fish taste and the widgeon was delicious. Can everyone please give me some ideas on prep to help prevent this for my next mallards.

thanks in advance

[Big Lew]

Don't shoot resident mallards near salmon spawning rivers and estuaries.
Large flocks are much less likely to be eating rotten salmon. Mallards either by themselves
or in small groups of less then 8 are probably resident. If in doubt, shoot one and then
smell under it's wing where it would wipe it's bill....if it smells fishy don't shoot anymore.

[wideopenthrottle]

Don't shoot resident mallards near salmon spawning rivers and estuaries.
Large flocks are much less likely to be eating rotten salmon. Mallards either by themselves
or in small groups of less then 8 are probably resident. If in doubt, shoot one and then
smell under it's wing where it would wipe it's bill....if it smells fishy don't shoot anymore.

I see lots of ducks in the sewage lagoons down near the airport....so sniff for a farty smell... you may want to avoid those as well...heheheh

[lorneparker1]

Don't shoot resident mallards near salmon spawning rivers and estuaries.
Large flocks are much less likely to be eating rotten salmon. Mallards either by themselves
or in small groups of less then 8 are probably resident. If in doubt, shoot one and then
smell under it's wing where it would wipe it's bill....if it smells fishy don't shoot anymore.

Do you have a link of some science stating that mallards by themselves or in groups less then 8 are residents?

[Big Lew]

Do you have a link of some science stating that mallards by themselves or in groups less then 8 are residents?

After hunting ducks in southern BC for approx. 52-53 years, often around salmon spawning rivers, my statement
'mallards either by themselves, or in small groups of less then 8 are probably resident' has been remarkably
accurate and consistent within those areas. Of course it wouldn't necessarily be consistent with hunting
the foreshore or fields not near those streams. I presume the OP was asking for pointers and suggestions from
experienced hunters, and that's what I offered when considering he mentioned hunting Cowichan Bay into which
both the salmon spawning Cowichan River and Meade Creek flow.

[lorneparker1]

After hunting ducks in southern BC for approx. 52-53 years, often around salmon spawning rivers, my statement
'mallards either by themselves, or in small groups of less then 8 are probably resident' has been remarkably
accurate and consistent within those areas. Of course it wouldn't necessarily be consistent with hunting
the foreshore or fields not near those streams. I presume the OP was asking for pointers and suggestions from
experienced hunters, and that's what I offered when considering he mentioned hunting Cowichan Bay into which
both the salmon spawning Cowichan River and Meade Creek flow.

So no science then? How do you know with bird in hand let alone in flight if its a resident or not? Also there aren't many spawning salmon around in Dec. Maybe the odd coho but everything else has been washed away with the storms. Sorry man, but insinuating that flocks of 8 or less are "probably" residents, is completely ridiculous.

[kyleklassen]

Ahhhhh...yes I have heard the elders speak of the great meades creek salmon runs of yore. Could walk across there backs, and the ducks, oh the ducks, they still speaketh of them in hushed tones.

[Big Lew]

I'm confused by your seemingly hostile attitude toward my statements even though
I've tried to explain what I've personally noted within my hunting areas for many years.
It that's not what you've experienced, then wouldn't it be more productive to say just
that then to suggest I don't know what I'm talking about? In my area the eagles are still
eating leftover rotting salmon, the small groups of mallards I see almost every day when on
my walks along the Dewdney slough are doing so as well. On the other side of the dike are
vast fields often holding huge flocks of both ducks and geese. These large flocks never frequent
the slough. I've not shot any mallards or geese from large flocks that stunk of rotten fish.
I have shot many from the Harrison, Stave, Dewdney, and Fraser back sloughs over the years
that were fishy. The large flocks on the Fraser and Harrison don't seem to have fishy birds either.
I used to hunt Hayward Lake above the Ruskin Dam. Literally 100's of mallards would come from
the valley fields to roost on the floating debris and boom sticks. None of them smelled of rotting fish,
yet mallards in the river below the dam did. That's my personal observations sir, and if you can't
accept that as it is, but would rather have 'scientific' evidence and imply that my hunting experiences
are 'ridiculous' then I guess you're not the person I have thought you were. Good hunting to you, sir.

[lorneparker1]

Not hostile at all.
You made a ridiculous statement saying resident birds are in groups in less 8 birds. That is completely not true. imagine a newish waterfowlerfowler reading that and going out and skunking day after day because all he has is pairs decoying perfectly and he doesnt want to shoot them because they are probably resident birds...

The truth is there is no way to tell if you shot or are shooting at a resident bird or not. And the fact that they are resident or not has zero baring on whether they are fishy tasting or not. location and diet definitely play a role. No question. Flock size. No

Happy hunting to you as well.

[Glenny]

Even worser, mallardy tasting fish. Ziiing! Whos into the nogs tonight? lol