Why Wont Blue Bills Die!!!!!!!!!

[kevin coats]

i went to the gunpowder river on thanksgiving and rite at gunning time a hen wood duck came in perfectly and i 1 timed her. But as i was out getting it in the boat (we do not have a dog) my dad stayed at the blind just in case, then a LESSER blue bill came in and my dad droped it on his lasted shot. but then i heard him fire his gun a the wounded sculp 6 more times and it still would not die. When i got back he went out on the boat the get it and it still was flapping around. once he got it he rang its neck and the it still would not die:o . then i just wacked it in the head with the butt of my gun and i finnaly died:D . why r these divers so hardy??

[Joe Fladeland]

I've wondered the same thing. I think they have bullet-proof down feathers.

[David Rearick]

All the divers can be tough. For dispatching cripples try #7 steel shot. It really works well and won't mess up the mounter birds either.

[Drew Allen]

Where do you find #7 steel shot?

[David Rearick]

Winchester makes it in an expert load, 2 3/4" low brass. It works great and I always use it to kill cripples. I have also killed many a teal with it as well.

[idfowlweather]

think about it when you clean a diver and a Puddle duck which is easier to clean... there meat is tuffer and the skin is thicker too... try shooting a aftermarket choke at them... I switched to a 675. terror choke and have a better kill/cripple ratio now... I can't find 7's but I use the 6's to finish if I have too...

[Montauker]

The other thing to consider is that divers (cripples) keep most of their body under water while swimming and water has a dramatic ability to slow down pellets, in addition to the wings and back parts that you now need to shoot through to get to vitals.

I've always thought that pound for pound the bufflehead is the toughest bird to kill. Unless you kill them in the air you're in for a chase.

[Cody Frazier]

After season, check wal-mart for some #6's or #7's in steel shot. I picked up several boxes to use on cripples last year for $5 per box.

[GreenTimber]

I think its more the duck than anything, i have noticed this with other species as well, i would definately find some cheaper shells or a real mean dog.

[J Kryspin]

think about it when you clean a diver and a Puddle duck which is easier to clean... there meat is tuffer and the skin is thicker too... try shooting a aftermarket choke at them... I switched to a 675. terror choke and have a better kill/cripple ratio now... I can't find 7's but I use the 6's to finish if I have too...

I have found that my factory chokes perform very well and have not found the need to buy an aftermarket choke just to spend money. Pattern your gun with different brands/loads and you might find yourself spending money elsewhere!

[FlockedUp]

I go to walmart and pick up 7's all the time. I'm not going to go on a gun rant here but i can tell you for fact. If you have a berretta or beneli as i shoot both. You can put a factory full choke in with the 2 3/4 number 7's and plow birds all most in half. I'm quite positive other guns will do the same but i dont shoot them so i dont know. I think it has to do with the shots size being so small. Steel is slightly malable. Although it is much harder than steel i find it to pattern much like copper plated lead when its that small. Give it a shot. I know in my two guns the factory full choke patterns better than my pattern master with the 7 shot.

The point of a duck on the water being tough is a great one. A duck on the water to me not only is protected but even with a short string shot like out of my patternmaster i believe that half of my pattern is lost to water. I still think the two hardest ducks to retrieve though are green wing teal for their diving all the time even in two inch water. And a hen mallard. I hate the dive and lock on tactic they use. Divers are just tough. Like it has been stated most of what you need to kill is underwater. I think they swim faster and they seem to be more compact. Your bill isnt going to die if he doesnt have any shot in him.

[BayMan718]

I've always thought that pound for pound the bufflehead is the toughest bird to kill. Unless you kill them in the air you're in for a chase.


i agree unless you hit em square on the wing or get em with a pellet in the head on the water...a crippled buffie is hell for a dog or man..

the worse is when you have them comming into the decoys and when you fire they DIVE under the shot string!!!!!

[Montauker]

Bayman- I know what you're talking about, I've had them dive under the shot string and they come out of the water like a missle out of a submarine, its like they didn't even skip a beat. You end up looking at your buddy and saying "that isn't fair, I had him dead in my sights"

I'll also say that I think that Buffies are one of the better tasting divers.

I just hope that restrictions on other diver species doesn't result in the buffies taking a hard hit over the next few seasons. Drop me a pm if you end up out east over the holidays.

Great pics by the way.

[BayMan718]

Bayman- I know what you're talking about, I've had them dive under the shot string and they come out of the water like a missle out of a submarine, its like they didn't even skip a beat. You end up looking at your buddy and saying "that isn't fair, I had him dead in my sights"

I'll also say that I think that Buffies are one of the better tasting divers.

I just hope that restrictions on other diver species doesn't result in the buffies taking a hard hit over the next few seasons. Drop me a pm if you end up out east over the holidays.

Great pics by the way.

what amazes me is that they can see that shot string comming at them and are quick enough to turn a landing into a dive..

i think they make excellent table fare when prepared properly..alot of guys call em trash ducks..ect ect..i tend to find these the same guys that dont eat thier birds and just gift em or mount em...

ive grown up on eating wild duck..there were some years..back in the 80's when i was young and the clamming industry colapsed and my fathers livelyhood was severly stressed that the only meat we ate in the winter months was wild game he shot..deer..rabbits..ducks..

so i guess my taste is adjusted to be more acceptable of divers..

im very rarely out east..i stick mainly to long islands western end..but if you got time and wanna meet up half for a beer and shoot the sheet..give me a holler..

glad you enjoyed the pics.

take care

larry