Canvasback!

[duckboy]

Canvasback.

To me, the Canvasback captures the essence of waterfowling.

I am not sure why I think of it in this way, but perhaps it is because it embodies things I admire.

It lives in places that are sometimes wild, and faraway. It is a very fast flier, and it is striking in its appearance. I remember when I was a kid reading my father’s Hunting books, and seeing the pictures of the bird in big wintry scenes of places like Chesapeake Bay, and Nova Scotia.


That long sloping bill and Rusty red head. The thing looks fast even when it is sitting in the water.

It makes long trips and on the East coast it a top notch table bird.

There used to be lots of them, but the climate and it’s habitat have gone through some major changes, and today it is just not as numerous as it was 75 years ago.



I hunt in a place where there just aren’t very many of these birds to be had. I have shot maybe 2 in the last 5 years, and seen less than 10 in my life, and it is not as though I am not out there looking for them much. I’d Venture to say I have put in well over 130 hunts in the past 5 years.

Recently, My friends and I were hunting a chosen spot, and we were buzzed by a hen and a drake Canvasback.

I yelled over to Zach and John and said “Hey did you see that?” The birds were too far out by the time I saw them to venture a shot, and I watched them sail past another Blind, and either he did not see them, or allowed them safe passage.


Well, it has been 2 weeks or so, and today I was down in a spot which is near the place the Canvasbacks buzzed us a few weeks ago.

I chucked 4 Canvasback decoys in the spread, just because they are really visible to birds, and it can be a good way to draw them in from a long ways out.

As the sun started to rise, I was looking over the spread, making sure all of them were upright, and there weren’t any tangles.

When I looked over at my Canvasback decoys, I saw 5 of them, and wondered if my friend John put the 5th one out.

Upon a closer look, the 5th one was a real Canvasback. A big drake too, looking noble, sleek and wild. That sloping black bill, the rusty red head and the canvas colored back. It was a perfect match with the decoys.



I watched it and was wishing that it was shooting light, just a minute or 2 away.

I got John’s attention, and we were both were looking at the big drake.

It was swimming around in the decoys, it did not seem to care that we were only 30 yards away. Didn’t seem to care that we were talking, and that our dogs were walking along the shore.


Soon shooting light came, and John asked if I was going to shoot the Canvasback, I said, I think I can just walk over and shoot it in the water.

But then I thought about it for a minute.

And I thought about what that bird represents to me.

John asked again, “what’s the word man, you going to get that Can?”

I wanted to. I just couldn’t sluice it on the water (a literal sitting duck).

I said, “If it gets up and flies then we should shoot it, but we are better hunters than to kill that bird as it swims around.

I really want that Canvasback John, but I want to do it the right way”.

Soon the bird took off and we watched it tear off through the morning sky. Like a Red tipped arrow, flying against a Piercing blue (Ice on the Shore of the river) sky.

I’m glad I got a chance to see one so close, and I’m glad I didn’t sluice that bird, even though a part of me wanted to take it home.

Something I have always liked about waterfowl hunting is that it can be a fun and social endeavor but, other times, like today, It is a deeper and more personal thing. Almost like there is someone out there testing the fabric of which we are made.

[quackersnacker]

Great story!

[billc_sbio]

Cool!

[Duckenfuss]

So true DB, I have gotten one in all of my days. It was last year on a flooded field (yeah, I was surprised too). The toughest bird I have ever tried to kill hands down. After making what I thought to be a great shot, it was still alive on the water and I put at least a half box of shells in it to finish it off. The thing had a bullet proof vest, I swear! Amazing that at 20-30 yd shots on the water, nothing phased it. I only had 3 shells left after that bird. We got it though, and there is something about it to be proud of. Good story.

[steelhead22]

Interesting that you'd bring up a story about the Canvasback. I've seen 2 in my life, and took a nice drake on that day about 7 years ago.

This weekend I saw about 20 of them! We ended up shooting two. They are one of the coolest looking birds out there, and man are the they FAST!

[wife&3kids]

Amazing story!

[thehunt]

So how many times did you miss???? :smile: Good on you for not killing him on the water. That thought would have haunted you every time you saw him on the wall. Let's hope he has a strong fear of humans now and doesn't land in the wrong spread next time.

[waterfowlin101]

great read!!!

[FeatherBusterOSU]

Good story...

[younggun20]

Yet another great read. You always tell a great story, and rarely is it about the birds you killed. It is guys like you that really represent the sport very well. Cody

[waterfowlin101]

Canvasback.

To me, the Canvasback captures the essence of waterfowling.

I am not sure why I think of it in this way, but perhaps it is because it embodies things I admire.

It lives in places that are sometimes wild, and faraway. It is a very fast flier, and it is striking in its appearance. I remember when I was a kid reading my father’s Hunting books, and seeing the pictures of the bird in big wintry scenes of places like Chesapeake Bay, and Nova Scotia.


That long sloping bill and Rusty red head. The thing looks fast even when it is sitting in the water.

It makes long trips and on the East coast it a top notch table bird.

Duckboy....I had to bring this back. My all time favorite duck is the Can. Your words above are so true. This is what I have on my wall in the living room. I can't look at this mount without thinking of that wild faraway place only the canvasback has been...it strikes a chord deep inside my being...



Jon

[CMallardDrake]

"...That long sloping bill and Rusty red head. The thing looks fast even when it is sitting in the water..."

duckboy...

Enjoyed your story and feelings of this fine waterfowl species.

I see a raft of about 30 or so Cans nearly everyday, this time of year, on Youngs Bay as I drive from Warrenton to Astoria. I nearly crash in "rubber necking" them everyday too, as seeing them never gets old.

You have lots of great quotes in your post but the one above reminded me also, not only of the sleekness of the Canvasback but the power in these divers. For some reason, this new Dodge car that has come out in the past couple of years, reminds me of the Canvasback duck.



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[duckboy]

I saw a couple of cans and a pair of nice redhead drakes as i was driving back from Hells Canyon today.

Great mount on those cans Jon

[wife&3kids]

nice birds Jon... my dad has a nice pair mounted and I always stare at them when Im at his house

[BrianMaguire]

Great story!