Common Moorhen

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NightWatchman
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Joined: Fri May 22, 2020 10:43 pm

Common Moorhen

Post by NightWatchman » Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:41 pm

Anyone have any experience with this American cousin of the European waterhen ?
zen leecher
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Location: Moses Lake, WA

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by zen leecher » Thu Dec 31, 2020 8:51 pm

Common Coot? Is that what you mean? I've used coot.
zen leecher
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Location: Moses Lake, WA

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by zen leecher » Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:35 pm

I've used coot off and on for 30 years now. It's soft and gray and I had an experienced tyer once mistake it for heron. On soft hackles the issue I had with it was it's a big hackle and more suited for #12 thru #8 wetflies. It's also too small for a substitute for heron. It's relatively easy to get during hunting season if you know, or are a duck hunter.

I'd like to revisit coot again as back when I tied with it I did not check the wing edges nor the upper neck and head area. Those have smaller feathers. I used flank.

Bill
wsbailey
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Location: Fort Wayne Indiana

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by wsbailey » Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:47 pm

In the US, because coots do not have webbed feet, their feathers are illegal to sell, trade or barter; at least that is what I have read.
zen leecher
Posts: 998
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Location: Moses Lake, WA

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by zen leecher » Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:45 pm

wsbailey wrote: Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:47 pm In the US, because coots do not have webbed feet, their feathers are illegal to sell, trade or barter; at least that is what I have read.
.

Per Bill, one can shoot coot but because of the non-webbed feet one cannot sell or give them away. American snipe and woodcock also fall into this classification.
wsbailey
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Location: Fort Wayne Indiana

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by wsbailey » Fri Jan 01, 2021 2:11 pm

I got some coot skins from England. I’m fairly sure that’s legal. In Indiana, the daily bag limit for coot is 15; possession limit 45. I wonder if you can sell flies with coot feathers as long as you harvested them yourself.
zen leecher
Posts: 998
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 5:11 pm
Location: Moses Lake, WA

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by zen leecher » Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:04 pm

English coot or moorhen is legal. But the issue is with domestic coot. It's a very soft hackle.
wsbailey
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Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:30 pm
Location: Fort Wayne Indiana

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by wsbailey » Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:26 pm

What if you’re asked for proof that it's from England. Confiscation could be the result.
zen leecher
Posts: 998
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 5:11 pm
Location: Moses Lake, WA

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by zen leecher » Fri Jan 01, 2021 8:23 pm

I wouldn't think there's a huge black market trade in coot. I keep my bird skins in the packages they come in with the label. That should be good enough if checked. Except for my coot. It's usually in quart sandwich bags.
wsbailey
Posts: 990
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:30 pm
Location: Fort Wayne Indiana

Re: Common Moorhen

Post by wsbailey » Fri Jan 01, 2021 8:55 pm

A hunter in England sent me a stack of coot skins. No identifying package. Another case is crow. You can buy crow from England but it can’t be sold here.
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