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How rare is a Bufflehead?
#5425975
11/17/14 03:41 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 263
cdoz35
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 263 |
Went hunting Sunday AM with bradybuck and some others and we shot a beautiful bufflehead drake. How rare are these in Texas? We have seen a few in the past, but never got one. I am considering getting it mounted. I read somewhere that Texas only holds about 4300 of these in the winter, if that is true then I would think they are pretty rare.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5425980
11/17/14 03:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
depends on the area... pretty common to shoot them on Big Tx lakes. But not that common. Iv only shot one.. he tasted good
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5425992
11/17/14 03:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,426
DuckCoach1985
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,426 |
Last year I got one off one of our private tanks near Austin.. only one I saw up here but there's usually a bunch down at the coast later in the season. Pretty good eating and they look great on the wall!
Last edited by DuckCoach1985; 11/17/14 03:45 PM.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: DuckCoach1985]
#5425994
11/17/14 03:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,867
LarryCopper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,867 |
there's a bunch down at the coast
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426121
11/17/14 04:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415
jdk1985
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415 |
Instagram @justinkingwoodworking
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: jdk1985]
#5426213
11/17/14 04:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,072
Limit Extender
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,072 |
Beaver can probably tell you the exact amount.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426224
11/17/14 04:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,095
FamousAmos
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,095 |
Only shot one, myself. Have seen some on one particular North Texas tank but no other place. I mounted mine.
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426227
11/17/14 04:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
Current birdcount of buffelhead in North Texas is 658. So yes, pretty rare. Havent had time to count them down the coast.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426233
11/17/14 04:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,594
Featherduster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,594 |
Just depends on where you hunt. I wouldn't call it a rare bird, but I wouldn't call it a common one either.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426237
11/17/14 04:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,891
txshntr
T-Rex Arms
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T-Rex Arms
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,891 |
We have a tank in West Texas that has them every year. It is a large government tank that was supposed to hold about 15-20 acres of water when full but it never held. It is about 4 acres most the year and about 4-6' deep at the deepest points. For some reason, they love it...as does every other duck in the area.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426270
11/17/14 05:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,203
Blake E.
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,203 |
I got one place we shoot them almost every time we hunt it. Cool little bird. If I ever kill one without clients im going to mount one.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426291
11/17/14 05:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 341
LukeDawg40
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 341 |
We had 3 drakes in our decoys Saturday morning. We usually kill 10-15 a year.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426342
11/17/14 05:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,485
CinchMan
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,485 |
Shot 1 around Coleman last year, wish I had gotten it mounted!!
Say When.....
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426346
11/17/14 05:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 16
Falconclaw08
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 16 |
We shoot at least a couple a week here around Brownwood
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: Falconclaw08]
#5426368
11/17/14 05:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,501
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,501 |
Have consistently seen tons of them west texas, and some seasons in NE texas. I shot a few over the years, but generally pass on them. I recall eating one that was surprisingly good, and tried to cook another one leaving the skin/fat on it, and it was dreadful. A hen/drake pair mount would be cool.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: Guy]
#5426379
11/17/14 05:57 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Have consistently seen tons of them west texas, and some seasons in NE texas. I shot a few over the years, but generally pass on them. I recall eating one that was surprisingly good, and tried to cook another one leaving the skin/fat on it, and it was dreadful. A hen/drake pair mount would be cool. Reminds me of steak gristle... I always cut that off too
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426530
11/17/14 08:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 219
bodydub
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 219 |
A buddy of mine shot a drake this past SAT. First time ever me seeing one and only his second duck he ever shot. I'm trying to get him to mount it casue it was a beautiful bird.............
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426654
11/17/14 09:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 140
TexaShot0341
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 140 |
Saw 5 of them rocketing across Conroe last year. Only time I've ever seen any, although apparently we get a few out here in west texas.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: DuckCoach1985]
#5426674
11/17/14 09:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 16
duck slayer13
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 16 |
We had about 25 total come in to our spread this weekend and my buddy had several come into theirs as well but out of all of those we only had 2 drakes. Didn't see hardly any last year but between me and 3 buddies we have already shot 6 and that was all last weekend.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5426686
11/17/14 09:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,953
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,953 |
From ducks.org
In 1992, the continent-wide breeding population was estimated at 1,390,000 birds. That may be more than redheads, but buffleheads are sea ducks and that is a continent wide population estimate, not a Texas wintering population estimate. Some barren looking big water areas I hunt in the north western Texas and Western Oklahoma, I often encounter buffleheads.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5427025
11/17/14 10:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 54
netboy
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 54 |
Lots of them on bays around Corpus.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5427069
11/17/14 11:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 248
Coot Hammer
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 248 |
A fat drake is my only goal this season! Came real close last season but didn't seal the deal. They are around, they just fly really fast about a foot off the water where I hunt. I want a fat little butterball drake laying on the shelf of my dead mount!
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: DocHorton]
#5427142
11/17/14 11:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,953
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,953 |
You must be looking at Texas totals. Some of those other states are much higher. The United states total I see is 199,487 about 31,000 down from 2009. 2009+2010 harvest totals Redhead 169,814 244,072 Canvasback 70,392 145,686 Lesser Scaup 222,066 287,907 Goldeneyes 88,644 80,859 Bufflehead 231,902 199,487 I think it all depends on where and how you hunt. In Michigan they killed over 30,000 Buffleheads in 2009 to our Texas total of 3737. In Texas we killed 207,963 Gadwall to Michigan's 4733.
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Re: How rare is a Bufflehead?
[Re: cdoz35]
#5427176
11/17/14 11:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 60
catwhacker
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 60 |
Shot 2 Bufflehead and one Goldeneye Sat. There were about 50 Bufflehead on the lake but didn't see many Goldeneyes. I'm in Michigan in the snow belt and not that many ducks have come through yet.
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