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While hunting this passed weekend i was picking up decoys and as i was pickin up the last decoy the boat was floating over toward some trees. I looked at the base of a tree and saw the tail of a mallard drake sticking straight up out of the water. It was only about 4 inches out of the water. I motored over and looked and sure enough it was a mallard drake sitting vertically under water. I grabbed its tail and pulled it out and it was stone dead. When i dropped it back in the water it floated like a normal dead duck. I have always been told that a duck will dive and grab a hold of anything to stay under but in the same respect have always been told that an animal will never drown itself it will resurface eventually...any thoughts?

I have seen it once, pulled a hen mallard out of about 18" of water. Saw the same thing you did, nothing but the tail and she too, floated normal when I dropped her.

I dont think they drown themselves, I think they dive and hangon with the intentions of letting go and resurfacing but they die from the gunshot wound sin the meantime.

I dont know if they do it intentionally or not, but I have seen it happen several times. I also have a buddy that completely drains his property to plant for the next season and he claims he has found birds tangled under the blind or in the chicken wire from the old boat slip, etc....

I think Doc is probably right....they either die from the wound or in a desperate attempt to get away they try to get through too much cover and get tangled up trying stay under and escape....

I for a fact know them sobs are chinese suicide mallards. They will see the enemy k-9 approaching and go down and hold on till they see the light. I have never seen it but Gator told me its the truth.

grnhed wrote:they either die from the wound or in a desperate attempt to get away they try to get through too much cover and get tangled up trying stay under and escape....

I agree 110%

Wood ducks are notorious for commiting suicide diving!

Grey ducks are the worst about that in my book. It has been a mystery for years about ducks diving down and getting tangled or bitting on something. It is worse if you don't have a dog. Strange behavior.

It is on my list to ask "The Big Man Upstaris" about when I get there.

RedEyed Duck wrote:

grnhed wrote:they either die from the wound or in a desperate attempt to get away they try to get through too much cover and get tangled up trying stay under and escape....

I agree 110%

Definitely agree. Ducks do not "grab ahold" of anything to stay hid. The simply get hung up in something.

arduckslayer wrote:

RedEyed Duck wrote:

grnhed wrote:they either die from the wound or in a desperate attempt to get away they try to get through too much cover and get tangled up trying stay under and escape....

I agree 110%

Definitely agree. Ducks do not "grab ahold" of anything to stay hid. The simply get hung up in something.

I am neither agreeing or disagreeing.....But, how the Feck do you know that?

I will be damed I seen it before wit my own eye. The good one.

I've seen it....they will dive and grab hold of anything they can to keep from coming up.....I believe that they die in the process and "hold on" due to riga setting in....I believe they are more scared of being caught than dying...think about it....your ass has just been shot and now someone's chasing you.....I'd hold on till death too!
St.

I had it happen last year. I was about 5 feet from a duck when he went under. I stood there for 10 min waiting for him to come up and he never did. I went back and finished the hunt, then walked back over and he was floating right where I was standing before.

happens all the time... pump another round into em if they look like they might have a little life left in em while falling.

RiverDuck wrote:
I am neither agreeing or disagreeing.....But, how the Feck do you know that?

Before you start dropping F-bombs on people you dont know read my original post, not the copied version of said post.....if you werent dropping the F-bomb on me then I'm not too worried about it....

never seen it with a mallard but a f***in woodduck is wprlds worst bout the best solution is if he still swims wen he hit the water shoot him agin