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Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
#8094291
12/18/20 03:37 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
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OP
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Seems like a harsh assessment Our Obsession with Greenheads Is Ruining Duck Hunting as We Know ItWho Are These Greenhead Purists? Southern duck hunters take the lion’s share of the blame for only shooting green, as well they should. Killing mallards is woven into the fabric of southern hunting society. And for a long time, they didn’t have to bother with Stahlman’s scrap ducks because there were an abundance of juvenile mallards willing to die over the MOJOs. But times have changed. There are typically fewer migration days each season, and greenheads are getting older (thus wiser), and avoiding hunting pressure (we’ll get into this part later). And while there are more species of waterfowl are dropping in to the southern rice fields each fall (I’ve seen it), the boat ramps still bustle at the public green timber tracts with hunters who are in pursuit of mallards only. https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/h...unting-mallards-is-ruining-duck-hunting/
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094304
12/18/20 03:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,554
ducknbass
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Seems like a harsh assessment Our Obsession with Greenheads Is Ruining Duck Hunting as We Know ItWho Are These Greenhead Purists? Southern duck hunters take the lion’s share of the blame for only shooting green, as well they should. Killing mallards is woven into the fabric of southern hunting society. And for a long time, they didn’t have to bother with Stahlman’s scrap ducks because there were an abundance of juvenile mallards willing to die over the MOJOs. But times have changed. There are typically fewer migration days each season, and greenheads are getting older (thus wiser), and avoiding hunting pressure (we’ll get into this part later). And while there are more species of waterfowl are dropping in to the southern rice fields each fall (I’ve seen it), the boat ramps still bustle at the public green timber tracts with hunters who are in pursuit of mallards only. https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/h...unting-mallards-is-ruining-duck-hunting/Well that looks like to me his specifically talking about Arkansas. And he is saying there are plenty of ducks to hunt in flooded rice but the hunters want to hunt the public green timber. now let's put this together is he upset that people aren't spending $2,000 a gun to lease a single pit blind in a rice marsh instead of going to public for a small sweet 16 fee? Without needing to read the rest of the article I can tell that the author is an idiot. if by some chance the state of Arkansas leased up a million acres of rice and opened it up for public hunting people would be wall-to-wall hunting rice but in Arkansas your ducks are on private rice or public timber those are your choices.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094305
12/18/20 03:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,645
garrett
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I never understood the mallard snob thing, they are by far the post populated species in north america by x3. Shooting mallards is like setting up on station one at the skeet field, never moving and bragging you busted 24 out of 25. People like them because they are easy to work, bring down a group after group of pintails if you want to impress someone
Attention rickym, this is not a troll post, just a good hearted fun type of post
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: garrett]
#8094309
12/18/20 03:54 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,554
ducknbass
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I never understood the mallard snob thing, they are by far the post populated species in north america by x3. Shooting mallards is like setting up on station one at the skeet field, never moving and bragging you busted 24 out of 25. People like them because they are easy to work, bring down a group after group of pintails if you want to impress someone This is why I don't hunt pintails.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094340
12/18/20 04:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325
Giblett
Bird Dog
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I'm happy if I get a few shots at woodies flying down the creek and don't have to get up at 230 am and got to experience some great duck hunting in the late 80'sand 90's on Sulpher but the ducks just aren't there like they used to be and there was no competition. Son will be here in the next week or so and he has already asked if we can go shoot a few wood ducks can't wait.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094374
12/18/20 04:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 636
dawgkllr
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Just means there's more teal for me!
That old crackheaded commie (Bernie Sanders) has lost his damn mind.. in 1983
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094396
12/18/20 04:54 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,189
Smokey Bear
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I grew up hunting mallards in harvested crop land and flooded timber. They are the easiest ducks to learn to call and work. There is a beauty to the predictable way they respond to call and decoys. I understand the affliction...
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094470
12/18/20 06:15 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,005
Whack n stack
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I have always preferred a mixed bag myself.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094478
12/18/20 06:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,837
Adchunts
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I duck hunted a lot in Arkansas and Oklahoma, before moving to Texas in 2016. This is my take:
Mallards are one of the few duck species where it is easy to distinguish the males from the females. They are also the most plentiful duck in some flyways. Shooting only greenheads means you took your time and picked them out of the flock and made good shots with no "accidental" kills. It is not an easy task. I would compare it to only shooting older deer, or deer that met a minimum rack size requirement. Takes patience and discipline.
I have only been on a few hunts where we were able to only shoot greenies. I am not opposed to mixed bags, and that was typically the case. I should also mention that all my hunts were on public access areas. May be different on private leases.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094584
12/18/20 08:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,866
texasdude28
Extreme Tracker
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I enjoy greenheads as much as anyone else, but I prefer a mixed bag with a pintail and wigeon and maybe others.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094598
12/18/20 09:16 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
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The author seemed to have a high regard for spoonies, hard to take him seriously
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094731
12/18/20 11:13 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,087
2flyfish4
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If I lived in Arkansas I would hunt the flooded timber for mallards and wood duck when conditions were right. When they weren't I would hunt the pits for a mixed bag.
Mallards are awesome, but I still love a mixed bag. Teal, pintail, wigeon and mallard are my favorite species. But also live the opportunity for canvasback, red heads, wood ducks, gadwall and a big wad of ringnecks will get my blood pumping.
Instagram - 2flyfish4
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: 2flyfish4]
#8094764
12/18/20 11:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
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If I lived in Arkansas I would hunt the flooded timber for mallards and wood duck when conditions were right. When they weren't I would hunt the pits for a mixed bag.
Mallards are awesome, but I still love a mixed bag. Teal, pintail, wigeon and mallard are my favorite species. But also live the opportunity for canvasback, red heads, wood ducks, gadwall and a big wad of ringnecks will get my blood pumping. I grew up in Arkansas also.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: bill oxner]
#8094777
12/19/20 12:03 AM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,243
Biscuit
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If I lived in Arkansas I would hunt the flooded timber for mallards and wood duck when conditions were right. When they weren't I would hunt the pits for a mixed bag.
Mallards are awesome, but I still love a mixed bag. Teal, pintail, wigeon and mallard are my favorite species. But also live the opportunity for canvasback, red heads, wood ducks, gadwall and a big wad of ringnecks will get my blood pumping. I grew up in Arkansas also. Love that truck too
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094856
12/19/20 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,429
BDB
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I don't agree with that assessment.
When I see a group of teal or woody's, me thinks of a group of airhead school girls. when I see gaddy's or wigdeon I envision nice girls that quiet didn't make the cheerleader squad. When I see cans or pintails I envision Miss America contestants.
But when I see a big group of greenheads, Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders is all I can see.....swimsuit edition.
And when I see a spooner, overweight girls they let on the squad to be pc.
How can that be ruining duck hunting?
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: BDB]
#8094862
12/19/20 12:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 879
WalkSoftly
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Tracker
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I don't agree with that assessment.
When I see a group of teal or woody's, me thinks of a group of airhead school girls. when I see gaddy's or wigdeon I envision nice girls that quiet didn't make the cheerleader squad. When I see cans or pintails I envision Miss America contestants.
But when I see a big group of greenheads, Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders is all I can see.....swimsuit edition.
And when I see a spooner, overweight girls they let on the squad to be pc.
How can that be ruining duck hunting? This assessment made me laugh
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094899
12/19/20 01:18 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,534
rickym
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I suppose those Dallas girls are about as dumb as they get.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8094980
12/19/20 02:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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According to the migratory bird hunting activity and harvest report published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hunters killed more mallards in Arkansas than anywhere else during the 2019-20 duck season. No other state comes close.
During the 2019-20 waterfowl seasons, hunters in the Mississippi Flyway killed about 1.45 million mallards. We killed about 510,000 mallards in Arkansas, or about 35% of the total. That dwarfs the number killed in Minnesota (166,366), which was second.
In Oklahoma, they killed 113,463 mallards.
Overall, hunters killed 1.091 million ducks in Arkansas in 2019-20, including 213,397 gadwalls, 169,668 green-winged teal, 55,754 northern shovelers and 65,375 wood ducks. https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2020/dec/10/mallards-galore/
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: 2flyfish4]
#8095312
12/19/20 02:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,765
spacejunkie
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If I lived in Arkansas I would hunt the flooded timber for mallards and wood duck when conditions were right. When they weren't I would hunt the pits for a mixed bag.
Mallards are awesome, but I still love a mixed bag. Teal, pintail, wigeon and mallard are my favorite species. But also live the opportunity for canvasback, red heads, wood ducks, gadwall and a big wad of ringnecks will get my blood pumping. This was my favorite way to hunt them when I lived in Arkansas. Back against a tree in one to three feet of water with dekes sitting in a small opening calling them in and only shooting when you can see their orange feet. Man I miss that.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8095365
12/19/20 03:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325
Giblett
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325 |
I do too except it was on Sulpher improved cylinder and 7 1/2 skeet loads were deadly . No need to shoot any high fliers.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8095369
12/19/20 03:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325
Giblett
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325 |
I do too except it was on Sulpher improved cylinder and 7 1/2 skeet loads were deadly . No need to shoot any high fliers.
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Re: Mallard Obsession Ruining Duck Hunting?
[Re: ndhunter]
#8095393
12/19/20 03:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325
Giblett
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
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Well the hunt on the creek this am resulted in one mallard drake and just flat missed a pair of woodies then the downpour started oh well try again in the morning.
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