Any of you hunt divers...on purpose?

[Wingman]

We have a ton of them around the ponds. Ring neck, bluebill, canvasback, ruddy, bufflehead, and some redhead. I know, I know..don't laugh at me..don't call me names..hehe but in other parts of the country(wherever that is) folks hunt divers to no end. They say it's very good fun, and I can see how it would be with those fast moving lil' dudes. Just wondered if any of you purposely set up for divers, besides the occasional ring neck that comes in to the "real duck" spread [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Wingman

[Blackduck]

Lots of people hunt divers on open water. It is a big deal on the Atlantic seaboard. You can always tell when a yankee is behind a marketing scheme when you see a clock or thermometer or picture with a nice group of ringnecks on it. People down here just don't usually buy into that type of hunting. I eat what I kill so shooting divers isn't high on my list when better ducks are around. I don't know of any recipe that taste better with scaup than with teal or greenheads. Sure you can soak them in motor oil and make a fair gumbo but that is about it. The two things that divers have going for them in my opinion are 1)they fly fast and are tough (physically), this makes them a challenge to shoot. Those little black darts are tough to hit. 2)Cans and to a somewhat lesser degree redheads are very pretty birds and I have shot many of either. Acutally no redheads. A big bull can is the "King of Ducks" or so I've heard. I have a place on my wall for the next one I shoot. The short answer is no- Not here in Mississippi have I ever set up just to shoot divers. Once or twice on big water in Louisiana's Toledo Bend but never here. Too many other better birds.


Let the candy bird settle first.

[CaptnT]

I once read that the ruddy was favored table-fare, being nicknamed "dollar birds", because the French chefs would pay a whole dollar for one, rather than the 25 to 50 cents apiece for others.

I've never eaten a ruddy, or shot one either. Fast little dudes. I did eat a canvasback last year, and was rather disappointed. Just give me a fat mallard, juicy teal or tender woody, thank you very much.

[Wingman]

No, I will never hunt divers when there are mallards and pintails to be had in the grain fields [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I just figgered that IF the big ducks were scarce or you just got bored in the afternoon, the divers would be a good way to pass the time. It still sounds fun to me.

Wingman

[Junior P]

If you are not on the central flyway you just about have to hunt divers somewhat. For instance we hunt the TN River here in East TN and it is open big water. We don't get the flights of mallards and gray's like you delta boy's. We set up and hunt for big ducks but if the bluebills, ruddy's, etc... do come in we shoot them. A whole lot of marinade and big fat piece of bacon helps them. One thing we do get more of is Black Ducks. We get quite a few and it is not uncommon to kill one in a morning hunt. When we hunt Arkansas we were surprised when a black showed up and our guide got really excited. Anybody know a reason why the central flyway does not get that many blacks??? [img]images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

[wicket]

I have, mostly Cans. FUN FUN FUN. I enjoy eating them too. To each their own on what they prefer to shoot. The owner of the marsh I guide at only shoots greenwings with a 28 gauge. Go figure eh? Without question he let over 100 mallards pass over him @ anywhere between 10 and 35 yards Sat morning and never pulled the trigger on a one of them. If all I had to shoot was ringnecks then thats what I would do, I just love to be out there hunting. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[ November 05, 2001: Message edited by: wicket ]

[Wingman]

Yeah, those dang jacks have two speeds....stop and wide open. They are fun! As far as black ducks..I can't say that I've ever seen one in the air. There are a few around here, but it seems like there are more on Atlantic coast.

Wingman

[CSA Duckhunter]

Wingman, we hunt divers almost exclusively here on the coast in S.C. We hunt a mixed bag like LA. Each year we kill a few wigeon, BWT, GWT, Blackducks, Mottled Ducks, Cans, BB, and alot of ringnecks. Mallards are not numerous or Pintails for that matter. Divers are extreme fun but not very tasty. Hunters in S.C. are experts at marinades and other rituals necessary to make trashy meats somewhat edible. I hunt very close to the ocean on big water with big decoy spreads. A lot of work downhere is needed to go duck hunting not to mention a lot of specialized equipment. It always amazes me we I go to MS with a dozen decoys and no boat and you can kill quality ducks the vast majority of the times!!!! You boys need to be thankful for what you got...By the way, I am not suggesting that hunting in MS does not require skill, I am just saying you all have much better opporntunities. The moral of the story is I suggest sticking with puddlers unless you want to try something different. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[acornman]

Wingman: I spent my formative years hunting ducks at Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee. Up there, they have 3 basic types of blinds...open water, timber, and grass. In the open water areas, blackjacks (ringnecks)are plentiful along with a fair number of canvasbacks, redheads, and bluebills. You are correct, jacks have two speeds...off and on...they can buzz your spread and get your blood flowing; they are challenging to shoot. They can be made to taste pretty good up there....down here in the Delta on the fish ponds...no,no,no......acornman

[WillieT]

My daughter and I hunt divers on the MS Gulf Coast because we lack the numbers of big ducks. We can run out in the Sound and set up for divers in about 30 minutes from home to set up.....takes us about 4 hours to get to the Delta.... The divers are tasty when grilled over a slow fire with a marinade of extra virgin olive oil, rosemary, lemon juice and a touch of Emerald's Essence!

[Wingman]

I have eaten Canvasback legs and they are kindey tastey. I do believe after poking around in the mud and fish poop in the bottom of these ponds, it would require excess doses of marinade. But those Can legs make KFC buffalo wangs look like toothpicks.

Wingman

[gadwall2]

We did, as a matter fo fact, set up for ring necks purposefully last year. I love trying to draw a bead on that little black blur as it races across the water. I will admit that I would rather hunt a big ole greenhead, but you take what your hole gives you. And last year, that was ringers.