last year was a fine year so far as bands go.
these 2 were killed by me and a buddy of mine in missouri on the same morning, about 15 minutes apart:
i've been at it a long time and this was my first banded duck.
later that year (well, middle of january) doubleR and myself hunted eiders and brant up in and around the cape cod area. first bird of the week, ramsey killed a banded eider. you don't see many of em according to our guide and the old decoy maker we visited w/ that morning:
the last week of the season, doubleR also killed a banded wood duck when we were hunting.............hence, his "gator's holding out on me" comment.
i would LOVE to put a pic up, b/c they were good, but ramsey saw fit to toss my camera in the water.........THANKS buddy!
that was 4 i saw killed last year, before that, it was about 15 years in b/t me actually seeing one. bands, in my experience are a strange thing. some folks just seem to kill em while others never seem to. call it luck or opportunity, i don't know, but i think some of each applies.
gator