The worst I have ever tried were mudhens. I have heard that they eat them down south but I have never found a way to prepare them that would hide that horrible taste. I have even asked for recipes on this forum from people who claimed to eat them but never received any replies.
if you mean marsh hens down here in Charleston they are pritty good eats in my mind... then again i'v been rased on them. we always cooked them like chicken. baked, fried, stewed... ect. my dad says that in the summer when you're fishing and you can't quite land the big one, or when the crabs arn't in the areathe marsh hens are right there to laugh at ya.