Chris, I'll agree that perhaps some people have trouble distinguishing drakes from hens early, but I can't recall ever having that problem. And we shoot a lot of wood ducks every year. Some days, my son and I will shoot two limits of nothing but woodies, which is 14 ducks out here. I was up at my club a few days ago, saw tons of woodies and could tell drakes from hens. Now, during that first 15-20 minutes before sunup at this time of year, I'll agree with you that they can be tough to tell apart then.