Happy New year everyone. Killed some mallards with a group of friends this morning on a farm pond but didn?t take any pictures so I?ll post a picture from a couple days ago. Finally killed my first broadbill of the season the other day on a nice solo hunt. How is everyone else doing?

Shot my first ever redhead the other day puddle duck hunting. You could say I was pretty stoked.


________
Coastal NJ

Extremely jealous Craig. Still looking for my first. Congratulations

Craig, that looks like a perfect mount specimen, too!

 
Craig,

That's a fine Applehead ya got there.

They can show up from small farm ponds, to big water. Ya never know.

The first good one is always a thrill, and usually goes to the taxidermist.

Congratulations.


VP











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Congrats! Thats a beauty.

---

Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998

"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "

Terrie started 2021 off with her first black duck and first hen eider. And Pearl breaking in 2021 with a nice drake eider. Two weeks left in our season.




"Pass the Tradition Along"

It's fascinating that you can shoot a Black Duck and an Eider in the same hunt. Very cool.

Hi John,

There are a couple areas that I hunt where, especially in January, the black ducks start coming to the coast. And by that I mean, they are out to the coastal islands and along the seaweed covered shorelines. They are always a nice bonus.
"Pass the Tradition Along"

Troy, did you ever get a score on Terrie's buck from last year, after the drying period?

Congratulations Craig. Beautiful specimen.

The stampede of green wings and black ducks continues.

Along with some surprise visitors but I don't often get a chance to bag. My diver rig is a mix Of New and old wood and corks some dating back to the 1940s


M



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I never know which is worse: the sorrow when you hit the bird, or the shame when you miss.
http://www.hillmandecoys.com
Mullica Hill NJ

Thanks everyone, was a nice surprise decoying in to the black duck rig...

Was down your way recently sampling some of that teal action myself Jode. This fellow came in at mach 10 but was no match for the 20 gauge.


________
Coastal NJ

 
Jode & Craig,

You guys are killing me with those GWT. Fantastic!

Enjoy them while ya can.


Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

It scored 138 and change as a main frame 8.

The G3 on the deer's right side was about 7" and of course not counted due to it being an odd tine.














"Pass the Tradition Along"

Beautiful deer, a true buck of a lifetime!

Half way through the last day.

Then a Sugar Bowl tribute to victory.
Redfish on the half shell, boudin, turtle soup, and bread pudding with spicy rum sauce.

Saturday was our last day for coastal (non-sea ducks) ducks. Nice snowy day with a good number of birds flying. Had a nice spread as well. Mr. Reardon did yeoman's work chasing decoys and retrieving. There is are two Alan Eastman birds and one of Chris Finch's birds pictured along with a block carved by my friend Jon Detwiler.

Not sure if this is a hybrid mallard/black duck or just an ugly mallard. Came in with a hen mallard. Regardless it?s an interesting bird

Will, it is not a juvenile bird, as indicated by the lack of a "V" notch in the tips of the tail feathers, so I would lean toward an adult that has just not progresses to full breeding plumage.

Weather continues to hold, so the Scooter and I keep getting out. Water levels WAY up this week after heavy rain the past weekend, and it seems all the debris washing into the sloughs is making the birds skittish. Nevertheless, we keep managing to scratch out a few mallards.











Watching a flock of turkeys coming down from the woods on the hillside behind us provided entertainment on yesterdays hunt:






MLBob

"Art is like an ill-trained Labrador retriever that drags you out into traffic." (Annie Dillard)

....Here's to Joe Wooster, who made me realize that the useful could and should be beautiful; and who firmly believed that decoy carvers were the last free men in America.

https://www.facebook.com/KOOIdecoy?ref=hl

Thanks Vince, But I think the best quality of green wings are illustrated below.

For those who actually savor and enjoy cooking as much as the hunting. Here is a very tasty recipe, coffee rubbed duck. It is very reminiscent of a finely charbroiled steak.

I used Hank Shaw method for crispy frying a skin on duck breast. It is key to getting a delicious crispy skin.

https://honest-food.net/...o-cook-duck-breasts/

And then followed the recipe below.

https://www.ducks.org/...-rubbed-duck-breasts

For seasonings I followed the recipe but used Chad Myers paprika blend instead of straight paprika.

My wife Who does not enjoy Duck went back for seconds.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never know which is worse: the sorrow when you hit the bird, or the shame when you miss.
http://www.hillmandecoys.com
Mullica Hill NJ

Amazon.com : Traditional Hungarian Style Paprika - Hot (4 ounce) : Paprika Spices And Herbs : Grocery & Gourmet Food

Amazon.com : Smoked Paprika Chiquilin Tin 2.64 Oz (2 Pack) Pimenton Ahumado Spain Rich Smokey Flavor : Grocery & Gourmet Food

If you want a little more "fight" In your dish, substitute Spanish smoked paprika or Hungarian Hot paprika.

Will, not sure if you have any more pics of the side pockets, but they could help figure out if its a hybrid. Our group shot a F1 hybrid earlier this year that looks similar. The belly and side pockets were definitely black duck colored.

RL. I am undecided as it appears that the center tail feathers are missing and likely been molted but not fully replaced. The remaining tail feathers are very worn. The tips appear to be worn and have a retained tip. Juvenile birds usually have the V notch but sometimes the downy tip leaves the rachis. But retained adult feathers could also display that feature.

Looking over the rest of the bird I don?t see much in the way of adult characteristics besides the bill. Adult males should have long ago completed their molt. I?m wondering if it was just a late hatch male that was molting in some of the adult feathers. I?ll bet it was thin and not much fat and maybe muscle. Either way it?s molt was very delayed for either an adult or juvenile.

 
Jode,

Looks DEEEEeelicous, makes my mouth water.

GWT get a A+ in every category, far as I'm concerned.


VP











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920