FLYMPH FORUM

Anyone have any experience with this American cousin of the European waterhen ?

Common Coot? Is that what you mean? I've used coot.

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

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.

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.

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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.

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.

English coot or moorhen is legal. But the issue is with domestic coot. It's a very soft hackle.

What if you’re asked for proof that it's from England. Confiscation could be the result.

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.

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.