The mallard is the most popular duck in Kansas. Die-hard waterfowlers anxiously await the times when waters up north freeze and food sources are covered with snow. That sends the big ducks packing and Kansas is on their list of stopover points. How long they stay here is never a science and depends on the weather. At this time of year there's no shortage of efforts to take a limit of five greenheads. Throw in an "extra" duck and a 6-duck limit is a wonderful thing.
A buddy and I recently had a wonderful late season hunt on a small pond during the warm spell last week. Recently ice-skatable, the pond opened up for a few days. It didn't take the ducks long to move back in, either, and the sights and sounds were inspiring.
Huge flocks of mallards, some numbering into the hundreds, descended from a bright, blue sky. Early on there was little wind but we still got a few to play our game. As the morning progressed the wind came up and ducks heavy with full crops from feeding were looking for water and a midday hangout. We had the welcome mat out and our 2-man limit of 10 greenheads was quickly filled. Throw in a beautiful drake greenwing teal each and we had duck straps heavy with nature's finest colors of the fowl world.
With just a couple weeks left in the season I'll be out as often as possible. There's something magical about big, or even little flocks of mallards responding to a call. It's addictive and I hope they never find a cure.
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