Tudurgs, I've never taken brant, so can't speak to your 'vent' coloration question directly, but do know that redheads taken along the Texas costal marshes can have an awful taste & smell & they do not if taken from the northern parts of the state before they get to the coast. That costal marsh muck and whatever they are feeding on simply permeates the birds & you'd just as well be trying to eat a merganser. Alligators might like 'em well enough.