Got my first pintail

[WNM]

Two pintails, and two mallards. Had two ringnecks to finish off the limit, but they usually don't make it into my photos.

 

[imhntn]

Good lookin ducks.

 

[ElkStalkR]

Why not? Drake ringnecks are beautiful birds. They are a pain in the neck to clean though.

 

[dennishoddy]

Why not? Drake ringnecks are beautiful birds. They are a pain in the neck to clean though.

Not a duck hunter. Why are they hard to clean?

 

[criticalbass]

Not a duck hunter. Why are they hard to clean?

Skin is stuck to the bird much more tightly than most others if I recall correctly. My preferred cleaning method is to take breast and legs if the duck is big, breast only otherwise. Getting the body skinned is the only hard part. My usual time on a mallard is around two minutes. I do save hearts, and sometimes livers. CB

 

[ElkStalkR]

Yea, puddle ducks you can literally peel the skin off, but with most divers, ringnecks included, you have to cut the skin off with the knife like you are skinning a deer. Pain in the butt, takes twice as long to breast out. I think Goldeneyes are the worst though. Skin tight and thin.

 

[cowgirl23]

Good looking ducks congrats!

 

[Red Earth]

Excellent! I have only shot one drake this year...out of 150 ducks in the drink!