mr. canvasback... in coming!

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans432005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans442005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans452005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans462005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans472005.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

and this good looking fella...

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans482005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans492005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans502005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans512005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cans522005.jpg

[Mark Brendemuehl]

I KNEW I could count on you for some Canvasback pictures. Those are AWESOME. Wow. The king of ducks up front and center. GREAT photos!
Mark

[Jeff Riverin]

Jeff : WOW!!! Simply awesome.

[Rusty Hallock]

Jeff,

Great pictures.

[Paul Cupka]

Holy Schnikees!!! Jeff- you have outdone yourself on those. You have captured the King in some poses and activities that are rarely seen. That is really pretty work right there. Major kudos to you.

[Joe Fladeland]

Those are great pictures. Just wondering what size lense you use(400mm, 500mm)?? How do you get so close to the birds?? They are so relaxed, it is amazing. Thanks for posting.

[njhonker]

I'm speachless..............Wow!

[Take A Gander]

Those are some great photos. Seeing those birds like that reminds me of the days on the bay. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Scott

[Scott Turpen]

AWESOME pictures!!!!!! :eek:

[beckyp]

Question? I have asked three different duck hunters this question and received three different answers. Why is the Canvasback called the King of Ducks? I was told they were good eating because of their diet years ago but they eat anything now and are not as tasty anymore, I was told they fly at speeds up to 70mph and are difficult to shoot and I was also told that most flyways do not see many so they are somewhat rare. Does anyone know the real story or are all the answers given correct?
Curious!!

[Mark Moates]

Absolutely Awesome Pictures!!!!!

Mark Moates
Avery Pro-Staff

[Paul Cupka]

Becky,
While I can not answer your question 100% on why they are called the King, I can tell you that they still taste good!
;)

[Mark Brendemuehl]

Becky- Grandpa called them King because of their looks. They are big, they are bold and bright, they have massive triangular heads with a long sloping bill. There is nothing else like them. They are indeed a magnificant bird to watch and hunt.
Mark

[Mark "LA CROSS" Hoke]

Becky
I can only tell you what I've heard from talking and listening to the old timers who have a long history of market hunters in there familys.The name Canvasback came from the old days when market hunters used to cover up the ducks in a barrel with a piece of Canvas and fill the rest of the barrel with osyters and then ship them to Balitmore from the Eastern Shore.The shoreman would tell boat captians to send there canvas back.I've been told the word (KING )came from the high crown on top of there head. Yes they were the duck of chioce back in the early days but the bay at that time was full of celery grass .Today you can only hope somebody is corning a spot down river . There number one on my list.True or False it's only what I have heard over the years.They still seem to winter in the Cheasapeake Bay and we are surely glad of that. smile.gif

........................
MARK HOKE
AVERY PRO-STAFF
ZINK PRO-STAFF

NOT A SERMON JUST A THOUGHT

[JEDJR]

Jeff, Amazing photos.

[Jason Connellee]

Excellent response Mark.

Becky, here's what I know. Being from an area where market gunning was a way of life for many families in the area, there are still a lot of "old timers" around who will tell you about "the days". Mark hit the nail on the head for the name. During those days, when haevesting ducks was a business for some, the canvasback was TOP PRIORITY. Then red heads and black heads. Surprisingly enough, puddle ducks weren't worth that much. It was the three mentioned prior that were sought after. Cans do fly at speeds of 70 mph. It is considered I beleive, one of the fastest if not the fastest duck flying. Over here on the Chesepeake Bay area, Rob, Rusty, Mark, Wayne, and myself have seen plenty of cans. It really something to see when there is 500+ rafted up on the Bay. A can is very easy to identify in flight. The drakes apear white while flying. Locally, here in town we call them "white ducks". While I was up north, I saw plenty of cansvasbacks. As for taste. The responses are correct, the prefered diet was wild celery. The Susquehanna Flats, which was home to thousands of cans, had acres apon acres of wild celery. When hurricane Agnus came through, she destroyed that fragile ecoysystem. Since then, it never really has re-bounded. In it's place a lot of "junk grass" grows. The cans now eat a lot clams, small mussels. They will dive and forage on the bottom for substance. So.........the taste is affected by their diet. Now, if some birds feeding on good, holsome, food, the setting changes. The can is hard to shoot at that fast speed, BUT they are dumbest bird I think out there. Many times I have seen a bunch get shot into, birds drop, and the flock swing right back around again for a second time. I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions. fire at will.

[njhonker]

Yea, excellent info on them Canvasbacks...
I got a question Jase........when we goin' huntin'............lol........

Rob

[Jason Connellee]

Rob, (lol) I'll call you tonight. I got your message late last night.

[njhonker]

no problem....just bustin' your chops.....I saw you on here so I thought I'd jump in...

yea, ring me tonight whenever...

talk to ya....

[George Zahradka]

jase
don't always think that the ol can is dumb when they get pounded on they'll wise up awful fast at least thats was my experence with um...

they can realy move ,but your supposed to shoot them over decoys and they won't be hard to hit....right wayne???????????remember the day on the little point of the south side of the island... jessie is still talking bout that

[Scott Moates]

GREAT LOOKING PICTURES!

Scott Moates
Territory Manager
Avery Outdoors