Scored a rare duck!

[Flycasting]

Brody (LH2) and I hit the marsh about an hour before shooting time. We walked about 3/4 of a mile and set up the dekes. A few minutes after shooting started I dropped a nice American Wigeon. It was my 1st duck and I was very excited. After Brody and I got a few other ducks over the next few hours (mostly spoonies) we had another group of wigeons come into the dekes. I pounded one with my 2nd shot. As I was walking back with the duck, Brody asked me what it was. I told him I thought it was a wigeon, but thought it looked different from the one I had shot earlier. Brody looked it over, and we couldn't decide if it was. Instead of a grayish head, it was red. It's feathers on the belly were heavily speckled.

As we got to the truck, Brody got a call from a friend. He described the bird, and his friend said it could be a Eurasian Wigeon. Brody said he had seen pics before and thought that sounded right. Well, he checked it out 1st thing when he got home, and sure enough it was.

Many of the sites I have looked at list it as very rare in the US. It's found heavily in Northern Siberia, and winters in Europe.

Brody will post pics when he gets a chance. []
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[lunkerhunter2]

You have got to be the luckiest person i know Tyler!
If we had moved over another 150 yds, we would have shot 3 geese and limits of ducks. Next time.
I did some research on these ducks too, and found the same things you did. They are also found heavily in france.
I have spoken to 5 avid duck hunter friends and 2 taxidermists today and NONE have ever seen one in person or heard of one being shot in UT. I guess you should have not breasted it out. Oh well, it had a full pattern in it anyway. You just need to shoot a banded drake this weekend.[]
Google "Eurasian Wigeon" and you will see the distribution.
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[Flycasting]

Thanks for posting the pics, and for showing me the ropes of ducking hunting. I've really enjoyed it. []

Next time those geese are toast! They are gonna get a taste of Black Cloud! [angelic]
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[fishinfool]

Nice! I guess it's to late to stuff it.ha ha way to show the kid how to hunt brody good on ya man.
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[Theekillerbee]

Sweet man. Too bad it isn't later in the year when the plumage is so much nicer! Either way, nice kill.
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[fshslyer36]

You and LH2 are wacking these odd and rare ducks yearly you need to quit hunting at the zoo
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[Flycasting]

No kidding. It's tougher and tougher each year. The darn elephants keep walking through the dekes! [:p]
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[bottomwatcher]

What a trophy! I was wondering if the duck looked any different than the others in the flock when they came in? I like to shoot at the odd-ball ducks in a flock that look out of place hoping to score a rarity.
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[NVWalt]

I know I am pretty new here on your board but your Eurasion Widgeon is just an uncommon bird here in Utah. I see a few every year here in Utah and in Nevada while out doing my bird watching thing. Very beautiful bird and a fine trophy for you...Walt
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[lunkerhunter2]

It is extremely uncommon in UT. I still have not talked to anyone who has shot one or mounted one. That is where the rarity comes from. Woodies are rare to hunters too, but go to Layton Park and there are hundreds of them. See the difference??[]
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[NVWalt]

I am not talking about at the parks but out where you also duck hunt. I got to say though that when it comes to those wood ducks I think the parks are the only places they like to hang out with some resident woodies also. But it still is a beautiful bird and a fine trophy.The bear river refuge had some Eurasion widgeons up there last week in fact...Walt
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