Hunting White-Faced Ducks

WHITE-FACED DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata)

Key Characteristics

The characteristic white face with uniform dark-brown to black wings devoid of any markings and black belly make identification of the White-faced Duck easy. In flight the feet extend beyond the tail.

Habitat

As with other duck species in South Africa, White-faced Duck frequent both natural and artificial inland waters such as dames, vleis, pans, rivers and sewage works, usually with some form of marginal vegetation. They reportedly favour larger areas of water but appear to adapt increasingly to smaller areas of water such as farm dams.

The Hunt

These ducks are hunted over decoys from natural and man-made blinds. Morning shoots are generally on cultivated pastures or recently combined maize (corn) and wheat fields. Afternoon shoots are more productive for Yellow-billed duck and usually take place around impoundments. Bag limits are generous and a gun can expect to shoot, depending on the time of the year, between 5 and 10 duck per day. Depending on the time of the year you will encounter, amongst other, the following species: Egyptian & Spurwing Geese, Red-billed Teal, Southern Pochard, White-faced Duck & South African Shelduck. Parties of between 2 and 6 guns can be accommodated. Karoo Wingshooting has waterfowl concessions in excess of 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres).