Band Question?

[goose14]

This year we have shot around 55 ducks and no bands. We live in southern MN about 5 miles from Iowa. We are in the central to western part. I was just wondering if there are more bands in certain areas. We should have a few, because, we are pretty far north and there should still be quite a few left. Never really heard of any one around here shooting banded mallards. A few banded honks but not ducks. It just seems a little strange, because we hunt with some people too who have shot like 50 ducks, but no bands. I was just wondering if certain flyaways or certain areas have more bands than others?

[Josh Brugmans]

Yes, certain areas do have more bands than others. The area where I am from have a few bands, but when we go a few KM's west the area is covered in them.

[yelladog]

im shure certain areas have more banded birds like areas next to or around places where birds are banded(not trying to be funny).ive got 2 myself but as far as i know no birds are banded around here.i truley think its a numbers game.the more ducks you kill the better your chance.i hunt with a couple of guys who are really good hunters and really get thier birds but have never gotten bands.i also know of a guy who killed 2 bands on his first ever duck hunt (2 diffrent birds band #s way off of each other)its total luck if you ask me we killed alot of ducks last season and no bands in fact no one that i know killed one last season.its all a numbers game in my opinion the more you kill the better your chance

[KevinSkalicky]

I agree with yelladog, It's all about the numbers. In minnesota, I've heard guys say that the average is 1 band for every 150-200 birds. ON AVERAGE. Some areas are generally known for doing better on banded birds. I usually shoot around 100 birds in MN a year and I'm yet to shoot a bander. Mostly because I shoot local birds, and my area is not known for banding. Beginner's luck seems to be a nice help though too.....I went out with a guy 2 years ago who hunts about twice a year and we let him shoot a loner that came in point blank and it was BANDED! Hope this helps!!

[Blackfeet]

It also helps when you help band them in the spring with your state DNR lmao done this a few years now and i no where they are and what field they go to and opening day is a always a good day but not this year because I didnt get to go and they didnt hit the park around the area where i hunt so that = no bands :mad:

[quacksmacker]

Every goose I have shot that had a band was banded 5 miles south of where I hunt. 8 out of 9 bands I shot where banded in Greely, CO. and the one was banded in Montana. I think if they band lots of birds in your area you will kill more bands. They band TONS of geese in Northern CO. every year!