Canvasbacks

I hunt Lavon and Texoma mainly. Any lakes with Canvasbacks in the area

You will likely never find a reliable canvasback property, but move East my friend

Lake Fork has em on the main lake points

Yep most consistent can hunting near you.


Grossly overrated bird though. I don't clean divers as they are tough to clean. Won't mount a can as I think they are ugly.

Hubbard Creek our west has a ton of them.

The mud flats of Caddo Lake have steadily held good numbers of Canvasbacks the last few years.

The can is a great eating bird - definitely one of the best. It is a PITA to pluck the breast, but it's worth it. Hot skillet, skin on, the fat renders out. Like steak.

Redheads aren't too bad either as far as cleaning goes. Skins comes right off like a puddler. Tank turds tho... that's another story.

Never have seen a canvasback in person, never have met anyone who has.

Shot em on one of the lakes you mentioned.

I have killed them on lakes near and north of Dallas and into central and western OK. Like said, main lake points. Leeward eddy side of those points will have them feeding there on windy days. I was usually hunting Divers or areas known for Divers when I killed them. And often in a boat. If your in the shallow far upper ends of lakes where most duck hunters go, you will be less likely to see them. I actually have a couple long lines set up to do that type of hunting for when the opportunity is there. Some years some places it seems like they are everywhere, some years same places you never see one.

i have only killed 3 Canvasbacks and all were shot in Hamilton County.

Like most birds, if they're eating grains or seeds they taste very good. Pond and ditch bugs, not so much. My mom's theory about wild game was to cook it until all hell and damnation were cooked out of it and let you chew on it for the next couple of hours. Fist bird I cooked myself was a can I shot on black creek lake in the early 70s. I pulled it out rare and ate it anyway. She was sure I would die. I didn't, and it was good.

I've shot a few and have a few hanging on the wall. All off of the same Lake to the East. RARELY see them anywhere else and never on Lavon or Texoma. Oddly enough I shot a pair of Hooded Mergansers off of Lavon a few years ago and haven't shot any since.

I have 2 tanks that no one can believe holds divers but they do. I shoot reds and cans most years. Not sure what brings them in each year, but they do come in. On the border between Hamilton and Erath counties.

A mile south of lake Texoma and I have seen a few last 2 seasons. Haven't had the chance to shoot one yet tho. They always seem to come on days I'm not hunting.