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Shooting Forum - Firearms licencing information


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Duck Question

  • 30-10-2013 12:37pm
    #1
    kfod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 218 ✭✭


    Is there any reason not to shoot female ducks? I have been out after some daytime ducks and while having the chance to shoot females I don't, preferring to shoot a drake if possible. I know when your flighting them it's a different story.
    Is it ok (from a conservation point of view) to shoot females the same as males? If it is I will be able to shoot a couple more ducks this year :)


Comments

  • #2
    J.R.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,374 ✭✭✭J.R.


    No problems shooting hens.....it is perfectly legal.

    In many states in the USA they voluntarily shoot drakes only...'shoot the greenheads'..........this is to leave the hens to breed and multiply. As they often state, ' dead hens don't lay eggs'.

    As far as I know, the reason it is voluntary is that early in the season it can be impossible to tell hens from young drakes. When the moult is over & drake has his full colours then it's easier.

    I'd imagine it would be tricky to abide by at a flighting pond as dusk approaches....they practially all look the same!


  • #3
    kfod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 218 ✭✭kfod


    So during the daylight it probably is best to try and go for drakes only, as I have been doing.
    A bit later in the year when I go flighting they can take their chances :)


  • #4
    Eddie B
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,979 ✭✭✭Eddie B


    Unlike Pheasants, ducks pair up during the breeding season so i dont think it makes much difference wether you avoid shooting hens or not! It takes two to tango so a shortage of Drakes is prob as bad as a shortage of hens!


  • #5
    deeksofdoom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,027 ✭✭✭deeksofdoom


    Eddie B wrote: »
    Unlike Pheasants, ducks pair up during the breeding season so i dont think it makes much difference wether you avoid shooting hens or not! It takes two to tango so a shortage of Drakes is prob as bad as a shortage of hens!


    Yeah they pair up, unlike pheasants.


  • #6
    ejg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 809 ✭✭✭ejg


    I'd try to shoot males only. Yes they pair up for a short while, after that males form groups and ...go after females and try get rid of their first offspring. Females also might have lower survival rates on the nest due to fox etc. I watch a German TV nature show a while back where paid hunters went out in the early hours and picked off drakes in city parks with subsonics just to get numbers more even.
    edi


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