Got My Wood Duck Hunt Squeezed In

[Patocazador]

Sunday was the last day of duck season here and I wanted to hunt some woodies so I took a chance and went back to my pond that I hadn't hunted all year.

Right at first light a pair of woodies came in and flared when they spotted me. I picked out the darker one (the drake) and downed him. While my dog was making the water retrieve, 4 more pairs came in and spooked before getting in range.

We waited another 40 minutes but that was it ... no more ducks. So my grand total of ducks for the year was 4 black-bellies and one wood duck. Not much, but better than nothing.



Late season drakes have their nuptial plumage and are gorgeous. They're even prettier on a sunny day.

 

[Armored farmer]

That's a beaut!
Get him mounted?!

 

[redneck2]

Get him mounted?!

I’ve got two mounted from twenty years ago. Still beautiful

 

[Patocazador]

That's a beaut!
Get him mounted?!

I've got a pair mounted on part of a hollow tree as if nesting. The drake is as good as this one.

In 2005 and '06 nine of us made February trips to an area 80 miles east of Mexico City and loaded up on beautiful drakes of pintails, redheads, widgeons, and all 3 teal species plus Mexican ducks. One guy also got a beautiful drake shoveler. Everyone thought that the cinnamon teal drakes were tops. They don't get wood ducks down there though.

Cinnamon Drake: