![dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (41)](/media/qzgfas3t/dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=987&height=551&rnd=132781879484200000&quality=60)
My friends and I had a pretty good duck hunt last week, and all returned home with fat mallards to eat. However, as I was preparing to pluck one of the birds, I noticed something odd: Its left foot had a split running through a digit and extending partially into the webbing. At first I thought the injury had resulted from our shooting that morning, but closer examination revealed it to be an old, healed wound. Here's a photo:
So, question is, if one of my shotgun pellets didn't take a chunk out of the duck's foot, what did? Another hunter last season? A snapping turtle? I'd love to hear a few of your theories.