Big Water Ducks

Ohio Valley Readers Can Find This Action Nearby

By Freddie McKnight

To me, this seemed an unlikely way to hunt ducks. A big boat out in the middle of the open water with decoys tied to ropes strung out behind the back, but yet you cannot argue with success.

Even as we were trying to set out the spread, flocks of scooters were trying to land among the decoys. Once everything was set, it seemed even more inappropriate that we use lawn chairs to sit in. All we had to do was sit still, said the captain, and he would then call the shots.

This was my first experience at big water ducks, more commonly called sea ducks. They tend to inhabit the bigger waterways such as the Great Lakes and the bigger river systems, but they occasionally show up inland as well.

This trip was taking place on the Chesapeake Bay, but I have since had similar experiences on Lake Erie and the Niagara River. One thing is for certain, once you have experienced it, you want to do it again, and again, and again.

In preparation for this hunt, I had been told to expect to shoot a box of shells for each duck I would take. I am not the best shot in the world by far, but I am not the worst either.

I figured this was all hype by the captain for the hunt. I was wrong. Between the wind, waves, the rocking boat, and the ducks flight, I expended more than my allotted box of shells per duck.

When it was all over, I had shot nearly 140 shells to get just four birds. Worse yet, all were three-and-a-half-inch magnums.

My right shoulder definitely was feeling the effects of the pounding. My ears were ringing, even though I had a set of Walkerís EarMuffs on. The roof over the top of the boat had helped to funnel the sound back to us. With four shotguns going off at once, three of them ported, it was more than ear plugs and sound altering devices could take, but was it fun!

There are several species of sea ducks along the coasts and bigger inland waters, but those most frequently encountered in the northeast will be the scoter, eider, and oldsquaw. Anyone who has fished the Great Lakes tributaries in the fall and winter months has probably seen the flights of birds coming in off of the open water during stormy days.

They come in by the thousands and are not at all shy about flying near the boats. You can have a great shoot by simply anchoring up near one of the flyways they are using that day, or by drifting along a stretch of river or lake that the birds are using. Just donít forget to take along plenty of shells!

Being diver ducks, the birds are not thought too well of when it comes to table fare, but prepared correctly, they are just as tasty as any other species of waterfowl.

One thing you need to be well aware of is the fact of how tough these birds are. While it is easy to put a bird on the water with a single shot, you may have to follow it up with others.

When knocked out of the air and onto the waterís surface, the bird will dive to avoid any further danger. This means running them down with the boat to apply a coup de grace, but this may not even be enough.

I had one bird that took me 12 shots to finish off, even though at every blast of the gun there was a spray of water around it, as well as numerous feathers.

The feathers on these birds are thick, often a couple of inches through. They can absorb a lot of punishment, then gather themselves up to fly off again. The thick feathers make their size deceiving as they look like a big target, but are about as big as a wood duck when you strip off the feathers.

This is why you can shoot three shots and have feathers fly, as well as the bird flying off too. Mentally this can be tough on the hunter. I know I questioned my shooting more than once that day.

After our hunt was over, the captain said it had been an average day. An average day is one where you see thousands of ducks, shoot nearly a case of ammo, and were off the water by noon.

He went on to say that it would have been a much shorter day if we had been allowed to use lead shot. I donít know about that because I was shooting some of the newer non-toxic shots which are as good as, if not better than, lead shot. Regardless, he had the years of experience on the bay and I was doing this for the first time.

If you go for big water ducks, there are a few things to keep in mind. In some states there are special laws dealing with shooting offshore. In Maryland, for example, you need to have a Maryland resident in the boat with you or hire a guide to hunt sea ducks.

There is also a certain range that you need to be out away from land in order to shoot these ducks, as bag limits on sea ducks differ from those of other waterfowl found along the shoreline or farther inland.

In some cases certain areas have been leased by a guide for exclusive use for their clients. While it is impossible to post these areas, as you would a lease on land, it is still off-limits to hunting for all others.

Safety becomes vitally important in this hunt, as it should be in all hunts. On the bigger waters, you have to contend with the motion of the boat. This can throw you one way or another when you least expect it. With a loaded shotgun, you need to take extreme care when making your shots.

Worse yet, when colder weather sets in, ice can form quickly on all surfaces of the boat, causing conditions which you have no control over. Slips are frequent then, and the added weight of the ice can and will sink a boat.

Wear a life jacket at all times, and a survival suit is something you may want to give thought to if your boat is not equipped with a life raft. A marine band radio is a must, as are flares kept in a dry area, but within easy reach.

Just as with other hunting, keep in mind the others who may be out as well. We had several boats in sight that day, but well out of gunshot range. If someone is already set up in a spot you like, find another.

With so many birds and so many locations to hunt, crowding should not be an issue. A good rule of thumb is if you can see what color clothes the people are wearing on the boat, you are too close.

Sea duck hunting is a great segment of waterfowling that many people overlook. It has lots of action, liberal bag limits, and long seasons. Most of you reading this magazine are within a half dayís drive of getting in on the action. It may be to your benefit to check it out.