first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

you guys know i new, so ill finally got my first birds of the year today!!! (and remember i have a 6 month old Goldie, so its me in the water retrieving till he gets older)

im in north texas and got 3 birds this morning, but i dont know what the third bird is. Do you guys know? i think the first two are ring-neck ducks. i might be wrong though.

i also just finished my first cleaning and breasting of ducks. so any tips on how to cook up the meat?


thanks guys!!! im so hyped.

~drew

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

its a very nice Gadwall congrats

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

Yup its a Gadwall a drake I believe

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

Jerkey is a good choice....But soak it in salt water (really really really salty water) for about 24 hrs before cooking. Otherwise it will have a really strong game flavor. How much salt you ask? Go until you think, wow that is way too much....then put a little more. Put em in your fridge in the water for one full day. Then enjoy.

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

A bunch of talking on how to make jerky: http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=3171179

And that is two ring-necks and a nice gaddwal

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

Great job man! Thats the first pic ive seen of a gadwall on here. Nice ringnecks too.

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

You got a gorgeous drake gadwall. Always one of my favorites to shoot. Congrats

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

Got a good number of em myself. 4 Gadwalls and a mallard hen. My brother got 4 Gadwalls and a GW Teal Drake.

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

Way to go dirtyd!

Looks like you got a couple a ringnecks on the left,a nice drake gadwall on the right, and one hell of a nice mohawk in the middle ;). I'd jerky the ringnecks cause they a little on the gamey side. Gadwalls are fine on the grill though. I don't get too fancy with my duck cooking. Italian dressing for a coupla days, wrap em in bacon, and put em on the fire.

Congrats onyoursuccess.

RE: first birds!! and 2 questions...
 

thanks for all the help guys. i might try the bacon idea on a fire due to the fact i have no dehydrator.

im really looking for better places to hunt. i only had two sets of birds fly in this morning. im hunting public land. whats the best way to look for a good spot?

i am just hunting off of Lake Ray Roberts.