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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/07/14 08:58 PM
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California Brants and divers.
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Video from our diver hunt in the San Fran Bay Area Smashed the piss out of Great Scaup, Surf, Scoters, Goldeneyes, and Brants. Hunted 4 different areas over 3 days. Saw some amazing territory and even more amazing spots to kill some fowl. Brant hunt was in San Pablo Bay and it took about 20 minutes to shoot our 6 birds. They set up and pitch in better than any geese I've ever hubted. Cool little bird.
Surf scoters took a beating to start us off and the Greater Scaup are big ass birds that pitched in all weekend. Goldeneyes bombed us like mallards. Would have never guessed them working like that. Hit em with a call and they lock up and commit stopping for nothing. I think another trip next year is needed
Video of the Greater Scaup
http://youtu.be/ja0b3kDEZhw
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/07/14 09:05 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Looks like you had a blast. I like the well worn gun.
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/07/14 09:12 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Mac
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(Birding Moderator)
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12/09/14 02:09 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Hey Jeff,
Any of them birds qualify for table fare in your opinion? I found lesser scaup at times to be decent, but never tried a Brant...the others appear suspect?.....
Looks like a fun trip to a new venue. Nothing better! Did you hook up with a guide btw?
Thanks,
Mike
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/09/14 02:58 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Brants are really good. Mine are coming home to the taxidermist. Modin says the GE are really good. Most of these birds are hitting clam beds, so I'm betting there aren't the best to eat. The Chinese folks fishing at the docks when we came back must have been real hungry or just love ducks. We gave them all to them. Never cleaned a bird the entire trip, which was fine with me. Was a trip to bring back some Brants, Scoters, Greater Scaup, Commons and possibly a Barrow's GE back to the taxidermist. Saw a Barrows, but didn't get a shot at him.
Hunted with a buddy of mine that lives in the Bay area. Already working on a trip back next fall, with a bonus trip to Nevada to knock out another state.
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/09/14 03:00 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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It was a damn good time Swamp Fox. The gun enjoyed every pull of the trigger until the firing pin snapped or the spring broke. Had to break out the backup gun on Saturday. I guess that's something that gets replaced every 20 years or so. I know the salt water trips the last few seasons have been real hard on it.
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67Firebird
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(Former political advocate)
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12/09/14 04:21 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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What are the ones in the third pic, with two white patches on their heads? Cool lookin' birds.
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IIFID
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(Bond....Timmy Bond)
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12/09/14 02:20 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Kurt I believe those are the scoters.
Dog you're living the dream! Very cool brother!
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/09/14 04:20 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Those are Surf Scoters Kurt. They are a cool looking bird. Tough as nails too. They can take some abuse and keep on going.
Looking forward to a trip in January to Florida. Another friend was drawn back to back days on a Federal area on a special draw. Gonna wack Florida Mottled ducks, Black Bellied Tree ducks, Fulvous Whistling Ducks. & plumed out BWT. That should be a fun trip also. Been limited on days this season, but I'm making the best of it when I get out. I don't have as much hate for a duck this year. I guess 2 years of beating then down in Texas, took a lot of hate out of my system.
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swampy
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(stirrer of chit)
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12/09/14 05:46 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
swampy said:
people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
Post up a recipe or two Tom. Dog that looks like way too much fun. Scoma's on the wharf is a great place to eat seafood.
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Vogi
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(member)
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12/09/14 09:54 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
swampy said:
people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
Or they just ain't hungry!
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/09/14 10:43 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
swampy said:
people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
I think it all is diet dependent. When divers are eating the hyalella frimp in North Dakota, those divers ate good. Same thing with the divers from the Upper Mississippi River eating most plant material. They tasted just fine. The birds I've shot eating in primarily salt water, with a diet of clams, smell like a 4 day old sun baked clam. They smell bad, they taste bad, and we give them away.
The GE and bacon recipe we talked about last week Tom, sounds damn good. I do plan to try it.
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/09/14 10:55 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
DADAKOTA said:
Quote:
swampy said:
people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
Post up a recipe or two Tom. Dog that looks like way too much fun. Scoma's on the wharf is a great place to eat seafood.
It was a great time. No shortage of birds. I'm betting very few people make a trip to Napa Valley area to go duck hunting.  Was cool to see all the different areas of the Bay. Some areas looked like Scotland. Others were old WW II shipyard graveyards. Hunted in different spots, which was pretty cool. Especially since we beat them up bad every place we went. Didn't eat at Scoma's. Ate at Alioto's one night. Family friend of my buddy. Great food, but the gay waiter was an asshat. I think when we left and talked to the owner for about 20 minutes and he saw us, he knew he forked up. I guess he thought we were rednecks with our hats and cowboy boots on. Didn't want to wait on us. Once he saw who we were talking to on the way on the door, he knew he was screwed.
I'd say for the first duck hunt of this season, it was a damn fine one. I might get a chance again this weekend when we open back up in Oklahoma.
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Had lunch at Alioto's. Great food as well.
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/10/14 04:28 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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You should go back there to hunt......amazing area. Birds everywhere. Cool area to hunt.
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/11/14 09:21 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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The old hound enjoyed another trip to a state she never got to hunt in. Ol Lexa in the Original Modin Working Decoy Urn was in the killing hole daily. She for quiet the show. 7 years of dragging her all over. Hard to believe it's been that long.
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griffin
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(administrator)
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12/11/14 11:31 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
Vogi said:
Quote:
swampy said:
people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
Or they just ain't hungry!
It's good to know they ain't bad IN CASE I ever do get that hungry. In the meantime, coons and other scavengers gotta eat too. 
griffin
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swampy
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(stirrer of chit)
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12/13/14 02:08 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
griffin said:
Quote:
Vogi said:
Quote:
swampy said:
people who think divers taste bad cannot cook.
Or they just ain't hungry!
It's good to know they ain't bad IN CASE I ever do get that hungry. In the meantime, coons and other scavengers gotta eat too.
griffin
considering the people who have posted on here I can go to bed tonight knowing I am correct  
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griffin
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(administrator)
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12/13/14 02:27 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Bro.....you could be.
But just because you can make a hammered turd taste good doesn't mean I'm eating it. 
griffin
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dabs
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()
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12/13/14 12:27 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
griffin said:
Bro.....you could be.
But just because you can make a hammered turd taste good doesn't mean I'm eating it.
griffin
Looks like tootsie roll....tastes like chicken.
How could your resist just one? 
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
griffin said:
Bro.....you could be.
But just because you can make a hammered turd taste good doesn't mean I'm eating it.
griffin
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swampy
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(stirrer of chit)
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12/15/14 01:38 AM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
griffin said:
Bro.....you could be.
But just because you can make a hammered turd taste good doesn't mean I'm eating it.
griffin
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IIFID
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(Bond....Timmy Bond)
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12/15/14 01:40 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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In my case, if Swampy made it, I'm willing to try it!
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H2ODOG
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(the one who never tires)
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12/15/14 02:10 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Lemming
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67Firebird
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(Former political advocate)
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12/16/14 04:15 PM
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Re: California Brants and divers.
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Quote:
IIFID said:
Kurt I believe those are the scoters.
Quote:
H2ODOG said:
Those are Surf Scoters Kurt. They are a cool looking bird. Tough as nails too. They can take some abuse and keep on going.
Thanks. Those are some wall-worthy birds. 
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