re: duck id?!?!

With more duck experience you'll learn to identify them by the way they fly too. Shape of flock, number of birds in the flock, height of flight, the way the flock cuts, they way the birds come on approach as well as the way they light on the water

I'm getting better but i think some hunters with the luxury of seeing literally thousands of birds per year base their expectations of hunter knowledge on years hunting instead of birds observed.

It would take me 5 or more years to see the total # of birds some of you boys see and even then I would still not see the same vast variety. Experience in the field is so important.

Although I am working hard to learn more and certainly see the value in that knowledge I wont go so far as to say "if you duck hunt you should be able to identify everything on the wing". It simply is not necessary. Know as best as possible the birds that have reduced limits or that do not contribute to your aggregate bag, otherwise blast away.

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Know as best as possible the birds that have reduced limits or that do not contribute to your aggregate bag, otherwise blast away.

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Best way to do it when you're starting out. Just learn what those birds look like the best you can and at least be mindful of them if you see/shoot em.

Aka mottled duck.

Back to the numbers of weidgon in LA they aren't rare traditionally in the top 5 in numbers across the state. We have killed 27 so far this season. We tend to kill a ton of them but that's in Venice so I don't count that completley.

I've only killed 1 or 2 widgeon


I don't see thousands of ducks but I can tell you
Woodducks bob their head while flying.
Teal are obvious.
Spoonies are obvious
Blackjacks have extra short wings and fly extra fast.
Gray ducks fly usually in flocks of 4-7 and have a lot of white and make a distinct sound you can hear from a ways away.
Pintail are obvious.
Canvas backs are huge and clumsy fliers.

I agree wait if needed but if you have no downed ducks yet, or only have dead ducks that have no special limits, raise that gun and fire.


3 teal in hand and a duck flys by= BAM
Oops it was a not a teal it was a woody.

Who the frick cares certainly not green jeans. You have a 4 duck bag that is completely legal.

Next flock comes in...what are they?
Not sure? Shoot only one.


See my point?

When pintail was closed

Or when canvas back was closed.



3 teal in hand. Duck flies by. Bam


You just cost yourself if green jeans saw