BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[bnow0707]

I shot this bird this morning on the creek. It dove under water swam under the boat and came up 15yds behind the boat. It flew a few yards before I shot it. It never rose up or gained altitude like a duck. It has a pointed beak, a buddy said it was a common merganser.

[ChesterGolf]

Hard to tell but I think your buddy may be right. I was thinking a hooded merganser but didn't see a crown.

[bnow0707]

Can I take a more detailed pic that would help you tell. My mother flipped out when she came in and it was on the kitchen table. Let's just hope she doesn't open the freezer anytime soon!! HAHA!

[ChesterGolf]

It would be helpful to get a shot of the belly and maybe a close up of the beak. I still think it is the female hooded merganser but more info. would help.

[hunter777]

It's a dead duck.

[bnow0707]

Here is the belly. It didn't have any hood-like feathers like a wood duck. I saw a bird similar to this while scouting a new place to hunt it was just bigger and darker.

[Serious Hunter]

By your description of the encounter, and judging by the feet being the largest part of its body, it's some kind of diver/swimmer/strange duck (or non-duck). One time hunting in fog a duck like that came zooming in. I blasted it. My retriever wouldn't even bring it in. (Bad sign.) I wouldn't eat it. Save your ammo. If it doesn't fly first, let it go.

[ChesterGolf]

It looks like a young hooded merganser and not mature enough to get the hooded look. The common merganser tend to be muck lighter than that. Did you eat it? Most mergansers have a fishy smell when plucked and cleaned and should be soaked to make them more desirable. I personally don't like the taste of them because of that fishing oily taste.

[bnow0707]

No I didn't eat it, I saved it in the freezer in case I needed it for more pics. The creek we were hunting is posted with a no fish eating advisory, so I don't eat them. I was kinda thinkin' it might be a immature somethin' since the feathers were fuzzy like a young chickens.

[GooseHunter Jr]

My first guess was a black duck...but know i have no idea!

[ADKBEAR]

It is a Coot they are kind of a mix between a fish duck and a shore bird.
Not much good to eat.

[WesternHunter]

No it's no Coot. Coots or are charcoal grey to black in color and have a distinctive white beak. Even a young coot that has the same color as this bird usually have a white throat. This guy is unlike any type of waterfowl I've ever seen. Where (what state) did you take it from?

[ADKBEAR]

WesternHunter wrote: No it's no Coot. Coots or are charcoal grey to black in color and have a distinctive white beak. Even a young coot that has the same color as this bird usually have a white throat. This guy is unlike any type of waterfowl I've ever seen. Where (what state) did you take it from?

I will admit that the colors are off a little but look at the head esp the bill and the feet and toes. This bird is a coot right down to the ground. Just a light color phase.

[WesternHunter]

The bill is what threw me. Likely a younger coot. The shooter said that this guy gained very little altitude, and that sounds like coot behavior when trying to get off water. You're right about them not being good eating, though their livers are good food for the retriever, it helps keep the dogs coat oily.

[Woodyard]

This is not a duck. It is a grebe. Don't show this picture to any game wardens.