Yes sir, Happy Mallards!!! Spoonies, Shovlers, Smiley Mallards....etc. The smartest ducks in the duck kingdom......:hihi: The pup made some really nice retrieves. One spoonie tried diving to evade her, and she pinned it underwater to make the retrieve. Another went down in thick woods behind us and she had it in about 3 mins. We had a game warden interupt the hunt at about 830. As I was walking out of the field over to his truck a Bufflehead flew between me and his truck. I have never shot a bufflehead and I was shocked to even see one. Needless to say I was NOT happy with Mr. Game warden.
We noticed that spoonies seemed smarter in the first split, well at least they were in east Louisiana. We were debating if there was some natural selection going on over recent years, and maybe they get smarter. I have had bad shooting days and shot at the same spoonie three and four times. Hell I have had them land as I was shooting at something else. Mergansers would be the dumbest bird out there by far, just don't see them as much now.
That's so true. I can remember knocking down two and have the third one circle back and come lite. I'll say this, I'd prefer eating them to mallards, any day. As long as they have a good color and are not skinny and red.
You are the second person I have heard say that. Where we hunt on the Pearl the spoonies are always filled with worms.
Yep, I've also called in singles shot and missed, then called it right back for the kill shot. I have also seen blue wing teal swing back around if you drop their mate, pretty often too. Its funny because everyone has a stigma about spoonies, I did as well, but my first year to duck hunt in TX that was the duck I bagged the most. They are actually a very good duck to eat. I have learned to embrace the spoonies. :hihi: I even plan to get a drake mounted eventually.
I think most of the male species are pretty and worthy of a mount. I knew a guy who had a bunch of different species (males) mounted and on one wall. It was neat.
