Mud hens

[ckrcbr]

Hey guys. I'm new to waterfowling and am curious if there is an obligation to eat mud hens if you shoot them. I know with big game hunting you can't waste the meat. Or bear hunting you can't waste the hide. What do you guys do with mud hens?

[dodgeboy1979]

i don't shoot them

[catnthehat]

There is a limit on coots as waterfowl so shooting them without eating them would be wasting, yes.
Cat

[csteeves]

Unfortunately, the very bad new is yes.

[petew]

Originally Posted by ckrcbr

Hey guys. I'm new to waterfowling and am curious if there is an obligation to eat mud hens if you shoot them. I know with big game hunting you can't waste the meat. Or bear hunting you can't waste the hide. What do you guys do with mud hens?

If you don't plan on eating it don't shoot it. There is a lot more to hunting than shooting everything you legally can.

[sns2]

Give them to someone you don't really like, but always bugs you for meat because you hunt. Tell em it's mallard.

[brie21]

Originally Posted by petew

If you don't plan on eating it don't shoot it. There is a lot more to hunting than shooting everything you legally can.

X2, although there was a thread not too long ago about coot being really good. not sure if it is true or sarcasm but it cant hurt to try but really, why kill it if you dont eat it if its not hunted for pest control

[wwbirds]

the term mud hen has been used for bitterns, herons, coots, rails as well as yellow legs. 4 of which are protected and not migratory game birds.

I wonder what was shot??

[ceedub]

In nearly 40 years of waterfowl hunting I've never shot one, not even by accident.

-Craig

[NSDucknut]

Please do not shoot anything you don't plan on eating, bad form. But if you do shoot coots, they are indeed tasty.

[Sneeze]

Interesting too how everybody has a different definition. I call Scops "mud ducks" or "(swear word starting with) S ducks"

The OP calls loons mud ducks.

Eat what you shoot man that's rule #1 of anything but varmint hunting.

[waterninja]

being new to waterfowling i guess you deserve a break. when you have some hunts under your vest you'll probably not even think about shooting something you don't plan to eat unless they are varmits or predators.
on the other hand why not try some coot breasts. might be tasty.

[ckrcbr]

They were definatley coots. And they are marinating in the fridge right now. I just had a guy look at me funny when I said I kept them to eat. Sorry for my ignorance of being new to the sport. I don't waste anything I shoot.

[RoscoeT]

The bad rep that coots get comes from their poor status as a sporting, wing shooting bird.

As far as table fare, they are actually superior to many ducks owing to their diet.

I will shoot them if there's nothing else available but more just to get a young dog some work.

[SpringerGuy]

I have shot and eaten them out of curiosity. They are legal game after all.... They are not bad, not my first choice but not my last either. That being said I have not eaten one in years. What the heck, give it a go.

SG

[Pudelpointer]

Originally Posted by waterninja

being new to waterfowling i guess you deserve a break. when you have some hunts under your vest you'll probably not even think about shooting something you don't plan to eat unless they are varmits or predators.
on the other hand why not try some coot breasts. might be tasty.

The breast meat on a coot is barely there, though as good as duck IMO. The thighs and legs however are substantial; almost as big as a pheasants, and darn near as tasty. However, they suck as a wing shooting bird! Can't get this buggers to fly, just run run run across the water.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by ckrcbr

They were definatley coots. And they are marinating in the fridge right now. I just had a guy look at me funny when I said I kept them to eat. Sorry for my ignorance of being new to the sport. I don't waste anything I shoot.

I dunno, I've eaten Turr before when a Newfy buddy brought some to work, and it reminded me of seal meat- I doubt if Coot can be that bad!!
Cat

[bunnyhunter]

anyone shoot any and dont want them....I'll take them!!-Never eat the skin-breast and legs-cook like rabbit. They are popular in southern US. Coots that is...I have an awesome coot risotto recipe from Italy where they are also traditionally eaten.