Why are waterfowl difficult quarry?

• A. They are dangerous to handle
• B. They swim poorly
• C. They are nocturnal
• D. They are strong fliers

Answer: (D)

Waterfowl are difficult quarry because they are strong fliers. Their powerful wings let them take off quickly from water, reach high speeds, and perform rapid, unpredictable maneuvers to evade a pursuing bird. They can sustain long flights and exploit wind currents to outrun and outmaneuver a falcon, which makes interception and successful stooping very challenging. This combination of speed, endurance, and evasive flight is what makes waterfowl notably tough to hunt with a raptor. They’re not particularly dangerous to handle, they swim well, and they’re typically diurnal rather than nocturnal, which doesn’t explain the difficulty in pursuit.