Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) is named for its conspicuously spatula-like bill (i.e. the Spatula genus). This is by far the most distinctive attribute that makes these medium-sized dabblers stand out. Drake northern shovelers tend to have black bill color, while hens possess the typical yellow-orange bill. Other defining characteristics for both sexes are yellow eyes, bright orange legs, and short tail. Identification during flight includes the “hunched” appearance of the body, relatively narrow wings and slow wingbeat. Similarly to other species within the Spatula genus, northern shovelers have prominent blue upper wing and flashy green speculum which are divided by a white line of plumage. As compared to blue-winged teal drakes, northern shoveler drake wings are distinguished by visibly white primary feather shafts. Drake northern shovelers have dark green-blue head and neck (darker than the typical mallard green), stark white chest, and blocky, light chestnut plumage directly under the wings. Hens are mottled brown.
Available Hunts
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Arkansas Duck Hunting
Arkansas duck hunting camp experience on one of the state's most coveted properties. Location, location, location - smack in the middle of a 6,000- acre federal sanctuary, the area literally swarms with ducks daily.
...read more- Exclusive property surrounded by federal sanctuary holds many ducks for the entire Arkansas duck hunting season.
- Predominately mallards, pintail, gadwalls, green-wings and more
- Spacious, covered blind holds up 8-10 guns is very easily accessed with short, dry walk. Leave the waders at home!
- Large, deluxe 4-suite lodging
- Excellent home-cooked meals provided
- Located 30 minutes from Bastrop, 1 hour from Monroe, LA
- Corporate group rates
Rate: $650 day -
Azerbaijan Duck Hunting
Azerbaijan duck hunting is an excellent hunting adventure for unique Eurasian species such as red-crested pochards.
...read moreAzerbaijan duck hunting new frontier in worldwide duck hunting. Timeless methods, unique duck species, cool culture.
- Late-January through early-March
- 5-day package plus travel days
- Fly into Baku (day-tours available)
- Maximum 5 guests
- Red-crested pochards, ferruginous pochards, common pochards, tufted ducks, common shelducks, garganey, Eurasian wigeons, more
Rate: $4,700 -
Kansas Duck Hunting
Kansas Duck Hunting at Carter's Big Island Hunt Club is about mallards and more mallards. This is Kansas mallard hunting over water at its finest.
...read more- Mallards, mallards, mallards
- All-day duck hunts or until limits
- Lodging and meals not included
- Private, family-owned properties
- Flooded green-timber reservoir
- Flooded grain-crops (corn, milo, millet)
- Pitblinds, sled blinds
Rate: $850 day -
Louisiana Duck Hunting – Coastal Marsh at Venice
Never more than 3 steps away from the duck blind - Inclusive package for individuals, families, and corporate groups that want to cast or blast (or cast and blast) while living it up like cajun kings.
...read more- Coastal Louisiana duck hunting, inshore or offshore fishing, perfect Cast & Blast
- Premium lodging and excellent chef-prepared meals featuring regional specialties
- Spacious lodge sleeps up to 18
- Accepts booking 1-18+ (no mixed groups)
- Excellent early blue-winged teal hunting (September), regular duck season November-January)
- Plus inshore and offshore fishing
Rate: $500/day -
Mexico Duck Hunting Mazatlan
Mexico duck hunting Mazatlan ("honeymoon duck hunt") is the South-of-the-border duck hunting experience that surpasses all others.
...read moreMexico Duck Hunting Mazatlan is the easiest duck hunt you’ll ever get your wife onboard with because she’ll have just as much fun. Win-win duck hunting vacation as ever existed.
- Honeymoon duck hunting, non-hunting spouses welcomed at no additional cost
- January through mid-March (Valentine’s Day always sells-out first!)
- Resort Hotel lodging, guaranteed great views
- Over 15 trophy duck species including Cinnamon Teal
- Generous 20-duck daily bag limits
- Many fun non-hunting activities
Rate: from $4,495 -
Mexico Duck Hunting Nayarit
I invite you to experience authentic Mexico duck and dove hunting at its very best. INCLUSIVE Mexico Duck Hunting Nayarit Combo is genuine yesteryear Mexico duck hunting
...read moreAvailable only through GetDucks.com, the Nayarit Mexico duck hunt combo package represents superior bang-for-the-buck value and is truly inclusive, including everything but flying into to Mazatlan and the ammo you shoot.
- Includes everything but flying into Mazatlan and your ammo. That’s it!
- Morning ducks, afternoon doves, 6 hunts, generous limits
- Prized species include blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, northern shovelers, black-bellied whistlers, fulvous whistlers, more.
- Minimum 4 hunters, maximum 6, exclusive groups only.
- Best, most authentic meals in Mexico.
Rate: $3,990 INCLUSIVE -
Mexico Duck Hunting Obregon
Mexico duck hunt combo for real duck hunters. All-day hunts for broad variety of Central Flyway and Pacific Flyway duck species.
...read moreMexico duck hunting combo in Obregon is an action-packed “real duck hunters duck hunt” for ducks, doves, options for trophy bass fishing and quail.
- Trophy duck species for nearly all Central and Pacific flyway species to include cinnamon teal, Mexican mallard, more!
- Generous bag limits
- Elegant and Gambel’s quail, trophy largemouth bass fishing options
- Premium, 9-bedroom estancia and unequalled guest services
- Featured – Wildfowl, World of Beretta, MOJO TV, Outdoor Life, NRA Hunter, more
Rate: $4,880 (4-day hunt) -
Mexico Duck Hunting Sonora
Mexico Duck Hunt package is intended for private groups of 4-7 hunters.
...read moreMexico Duck Hunting Sonora Combo was developed at the request of many repeat clients who wanted to enjoy morning Mexican duck hunting, afternoon dove hunts, with their own exclusive groups.
- 4-night, 3-day packages, January-February
- For private groups of 4-6 hunters
- Morning duck hunts, afternoon dove hunts
- Premium, 4-bedroom estancia, all bedrooms with ensuite facilities
- Excellent waterfowl species selection
Rate: $4,080 (3-day hunts) -
Mississippi Duck Hunting – Tallahatchie Hunts
Mississippi duck hunting at its very best in fabled Tallahatchie County
...read moreSuperior combination of friendly, experienced guides, comfortable private lodging, and excellent Mississippi duck hunting on some of the most coveted duck hunting properties in Mississippi.
- Guided Mississippi duck hunting
- High-success rates, easy hunt access
- With or without lodging
- Huge southern breakfasts provided daily
- Afternoon hunting options deer, rabbits, quail
- Convenient to Memphis airport and non-hunting attractions
Rate: $350-500 -
Missouri Duck Hunting
Missouri is usually where many mallards hang out until until hard water and snow cover finally drives drive them further south.
...read more- Greenheads, gadwalls, green-wings, pintails and specklebellies
- Rice, beans, flooded timber. Properties most rested week-days
- 3-day packages include lodging, home-cooked meals, guided hunts
- Comfortable blinds
- For 4-8 guests. Solo hunters welcomed (share bind)
- November through early January
Rate: $1,500 for 3-days
Northern shoveler breeding zone ranges from the western US, through Canada to Alaska. These birds can also be found breeding in Europe. Grassy fields are the preferred nesting habitat for this species. Habitat requirements for foraging are often fulfilled by shallow wetlands with plenty of vegetation. There, northern shovelers will keep their heads down and use their unique bills to filter seeds and small crustaceans from the water. This diet gives them the reputation of being unappetizing to eat, such that hunters in many locales will not shoot them. Most hunters agree that northern shovelers “taste like ducks,” especially when feeding in agriculture and other freshwater habitats.
Northern shoveler’s wintering zone includes western and Southern US, Arkansas, along coastlines and “across the pond” in Eurasia, northern Africa, and India. This species readily uses stagnant and murky types of waters, but also frequents estuaries, flooded fields, and lakes. During breeding season, these monogamous birds will choose their mate and remain with each other until fall migration begins. Throughout the United States and Canada, the northern shoveler represents the Rodney Dangerfield of waterfowl (“no respect”) as denoted by a long list of colloquial nicknames to include spoonie, smiling mallard, hollywood, bootleg, baloney snatcher, Ramzilla, etc. Yet elsewhere throughout the world that the northern shoveler is hunted, it is regarded as simply another duck species.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, and other partners, northern shoveler estimated total population for 2019 is 3.6 million. Despite the 13% decrease in Northern Shoveler populations in from 2018 to 2019, the overall population has increased by 39% in relation to long-term abundance studies.
SPOON AND CROCKETT. Shovelers are the most ubiquitous species in western Mexico. Not the only species, but there are many. Not necessarily the most abundant, either. But they’re everywhere in Mexico. And of course I shoot ‘em plenty. They don’t call ‘em Ramzillas for nothing. All jokes and biases aside, they’re beautiful. And I think northern shovelers are one of the hardest puddle ducks to get a truly primo specimen.
Seems like spoonies are “dirty” until their second adult breeding molt, at least, and i don’t think they complete their breeding molt until late. Small, teal-sized duck, lots of relative wing size. Flying a little slower, they tend to get center-pattern clobbered. All this to say that as a no-holds-barred shoveler shooter, the really good “spoon and crockett” ones with a solid white mantle, thick neck, no pin feathers, bad breaks or feather damage seem harder to come by and really stand out when Char Dawg delivers to hand.
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