Ducks in ND 2023

[CatDaddy]

Not a duck hunter, but figured I'd share......

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/north-dakota-duck-brood-survey/

 

[bigv]

I read many of the duck numbers are down in the dakotas. Wonder if cuz of drought conditions, maybe even that bird flu that swept through, i suppose habitat loss.

 

[Jiffy]

What's the coot outlook?

 

[Wall-eyes]

In central ND we have been plenty wet east not so good I see. Really good last year. I thought there was plenty of slough holes to hold birds for us. Habitat some maybe not as much where we hunt.

 

[riverview]

What's the coot outlook?

ive never seen a flock of coots, they just appear one day and then there gone?

 

[Traxion]

ive never seen a flock of coots, they just appear one day and then there gone?

They actually migrate in semis and greyhound busses each night. At least that’s my theory, they appear and disappear yet never fly?

 

[Jiffy]

Can they even fly? I've just seen them run across the slough like Jesus.

 

[870XPRS]

ive never seen a flock of coots, they just appear one day and then there gone?

Had a couple land in a wheat stubble field one time. I shouldn't say land, they crashed and tumbled about 3 times before coming to a stop...pretty comical.

 

[Jiffy]

Has anyone tried to eat one? They're so ugly I can't even clean them to get to that point.

 

[Fly Carpin]

Has anyone tried to eat one? They're so ugly I can't even clean them to get to that point.

According to the Cajun I went to grad school with, they make a damn fine gumbo
https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/coot-gumbo

 

[Jiffy]

Yeah well I've heard coon is good in gumbo from a Cajun I was in the Corps. with. I just took his word for it. No thanks!!!!

 

[Captain Ahab]

Can they even fly? I've just seen them run across the slough like Jesus.

Guy from my hometown said they hibernate in the mud. That's why they call them Mudhens. Let's just say he's taken some flak over that.

 

[Kurtr]

The Cajun call them pouldeau. I made a pastalaya with some last year and didn’t tell anyone. It was all gone at the end of the night.

 

[espringers]

They migrate at night in flocks. This isn't Google spectatorship. Unless I am completely mistaken, I've seen and heard em with my own 2 ear balls more than once in my 5 decades on this planet. Mind you... I tend to be all sorts of out there after 7 pm. So, take it fwiw.

 

[tikkalover]

The Cajun call them pouldeau. I made a pastalaya with some last year and didn’t tell anyone. It was all gone at the end of the night.

I like your thinking

Feed the company/relatives the shitty tasting stuff and keep the good stuff for yourself

 

[NDSportsman]

They migrate at night in flocks. This isn't Google spectatorship. Unless I am completely mistaken, I've seen and heard em with my own 2 ear balls more than once in my 5 decades on this planet. Mind you... I tend to be all sorts of out there after 7 pm. So, take it fwiw.

Yep, they migrate at night. They are actually really good flyers they just suck at landing and taking off. Their feet are too far back like a loons. Their built for diving.

 

[guywhofishes]

I suspect they fly at night because they're self-conscious about those gigantic clod-hoppers they have hanging out behind them in flight.

 

[bravo]

If you're feeling adventurous...

 

[fireone]

Has anyone tried to eat one? They're so ugly I can't even clean them to get to that point.

I had a science prof in college that put on a game feed. No labels. The coot went before the duck.