Who Here Shoots Pintails Often?

[strousek]

We duck hunt the Northern CO Front Range, which is not your best duck hunting in the nation to say the least. We shoot our fair share of mallards, wigeon and gadwall mixed with some diver species but usually nothing too special. Over the weekend however I was able to get a good drake pintail on a hunt with my son. Only the second drake that I have shot as we see very few pintail in this area. Problem is his sprigs are short. The rest of the duck looks great so I want to put him on the wall.

Anyone on here regularly shoot pintails that could mail me some sprig feathers to add to this duck? I am also thinking of mounting him in a pose that kind of hides the sprigs but cant make up my mind yet. Only positive is a good bird taxidermist in this area is 2 years out so I have plenty of time to decide or come up with a couple sprigs.

 

[voltage]

Congrats!

I shoot a lot of pintails every year, but they are usually gone by Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the sprigs aren’t long by then. I’ll keep you in mind if a big sprig ever makes it my way!

 

[Mr. October]

I grew up in big duck hunting country on the Atlantic Flyway. We had about 60 acres of woods and marsh behind our house. One of the greatest spectacles I can remember is the spring pintail migration. Our marsh would become filled with thousands and thousands of pintails. It was truly a sight to behold. Then in the late 80s or early 90s . . . they disappeared. Most springs now there might be a 1/2 dozen. It is truly one of the saddest tragedies I've seen in the natural world. It must be how people felt after the passenger pigeons were gone. Because of this, even though it is legal, I can't bring myself to shoot pintails.

 

[Shepherd]

They're beautiful birds

 

[Chris in TN]

I duck hunted for many years when I was a kid and young adult. Mallards, gadwalls, blue wings in early fall and green wings in late winter, and various divers (usually ringnecks and scaup) here and there, plus a few buffleheads. Wood ducks fairly regularly.

I never got a shot at a pintail or a wigeon. I saw a drake pintail once, but he was sitting on the water 70 yards away. So, congratulations. Short feathers or not, he's a beautiful bird and I'd be proud of him.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Check with your taxidermist he may have some long sprigs on hand..

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I would not say a Grail duck....but I have never shot a stud Pin either. Good handful that I intentionally pick out when they're cupped up. And disappointed(in a way) every time the dogs comes back with a bird like yours. Front end mature. Back end.....not wall worthy. Dammit!

 

[wyogoat]

I shot a couple east of where you shot yours (I’m guessing) but never one that had it all either. We didn’t see a ton of pintails but every once in a while have a flock surprise us.
I love seeing them in the spring and hearing them in contrast to the mallards.

 

[RockAndSage]

I grew up in big duck hunting country on the Atlantic Flyway. We had about 60 acres of woods and marsh behind our house. One of the greatest spectacles I can remember is the spring pintail migration. Our marsh would become filled with thousands and thousands of pintails. It was truly a sight to behold. Then in the late 80s or early 90s . . . they disappeared. Most springs now there might be a 1/2 dozen. It is truly one of the saddest tragedies I've seen in the natural world. It must be how people felt after the passenger pigeons were gone. Because of this, even though it is legal, I can't bring myself to shoot pintails.

Their nesting area get damaged, or something? Any idea what happened?

 

[ORwaterfowler]

Their nesting area get damaged, or something? Any idea what happened?

Major changes in farming practices in Canada leading to very low nest success, is my understanding. Pacific flyway has a lot of pintail, but most of our pins come from Alaska where we don't have the same isues as the central and east.

 

[KurtR]

We shoot alot but seems they never have full sprig or front color. Central flyway can shoot three now so maybe i can get a good one

 

[MallardSX2]

Used to shoot quite a few of them. Strange birds.

 

[chicoredneck]

The pacific flyway is loaded with Sprig. I would say they are the most common duck in the Central Valley of California.

 

[Mr. October]

Their nesting area get damaged, or something? Any idea what happened?

I think it was the massive habitat losses that happened with drought and human interference in the 80s. Most of the waterfowl species took a giant hit then.

 

[RockAndSage]

I think it was the massive habitat losses that happened with drought and human interference in the 80s. Most of the waterfowl species took a giant hit then.

Sad as hell.

We get a few pintail here in NW Nevada, but it's the fringe of the flyway. I see them a few times a year, but it's been awhile since I've had a shot.

 

[bigv]

we shoot them here but sprigs are usually not great. Have a killed a few with decent ones though. Tax man should have some or something on hand. Often they use a feather from a crow I believe.

 

[Britt-dog]

I shoot a few late season pins every year. I haven’t started duck hunting this year but I’ll see what I can scratch down after deer seasons are over.

 

[strousek]

View attachment 964302
I shoot a few late season pins every year. I haven’t started duck hunting this year but I’ll see what I can scratch down after deer seasons are over.

Very much appreciated. I figured someone from the Pacific Flyway would be able to get some later this winter.

 

[todd h]

just get a sprig from an old squaw used them before

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

^^^ which only 2% of us have ever seen with gun in hand....lol