You don't have to go too far into Alberta to be within their breeding range but they usually head straight west or east for a coast. This guy musta thought he was a mallard since he arrived with three of 'em.
Nice rare bird for MT during season. I shot one once in another state years ago. Was great till I tried to clean it. Gave up plucking it and tried skinning it. Needed vice grips. Then eating it though it was a chew toy.
Birders around here see a few scoters and long tail ducks usually before opener on local lakes as the head south and back to the ocean. I saw a harlequin once on my place but during spring migration on it way north to some high mountain stream to breed.
I had the opportunity to hunt out of a friend's layout boat on the big water south of Long Island, NY during the early part of sea duck season in October a few times nearly 25 years ago. We managed all three scoter species but this one actually had better color than any of the white-wings I bagged out there or in Wisconsin or Washington. Kind of a neat migration route. http://seaduckjv.org/infoseries/wwsc_sppfactsheet.pdf
Yeah, they've got quite a vault around their body; tough to skin. Not bad tasting or tough in my opinion but I stir fry or stew most of my ducks. Doubt I'd try roasting one. :wink:
I take a different approach from you two. I only target drake whitewings and longtails in MT specifically for the trophy value....can usually find a few puddle ducks to eat. :biggrin:
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