Sea Ducks

[Steiny]

Ok seeings that my thread about Black Cloud has been hi-jacked by it costs this much and so on and so forth. I would like to know what I have to look foreward to hunting the Bay in Maryland. What is the preffered shot size and how much I should take. Also when is the best time of the season to get on these birds. All I want is an eider, scooter and oldsquaw to put on the wall.

[RWP]

Well,


Hate to dissapoint you but you will NOT get EIDERS in Maryland.... You need to look further north.

Scoters (or coots as we call them...) and squaws, you will get. But if its all of them in one trip, you need to come here to New England.....


http://www.seaduckhunt.com/myalbum/ronbandpile.jpg

http://www.seaduckhunt.com/myalbum/p1010010.jpg

http://www.seaduckhunt.com/myalbum/timeider4.jpg








Shot size---- #2 in 3inch 12ga is more than enough. we take close decoying birds, so a mod choke is the ticket. Take more shells than you think.... two boxes per day of hunting is more than enough.


good luck, have fun




.

[Rusty Hallock]

Michael,



RWP is correct. The Chesapeake is not known for its Eiders but we have good populations of all three Scoters and Old Squaw. As far as ammunition, if you are flying, I would purchase your ammo in Maryland. It will make your trip easier. There are plenty of places to purchase ammo in Maryland. As RWP has stated, #2 would be a adequate. My personal preference would be IC for decoying birds. If you are going to be doing a do it yourself sea duck hunt on the Chesapeake, you will need a Maryland resident with a up to date hunting license with you. That is a state law. For safety's sake, you will need a capable boat with a large motor. The bay can be unforgiving in the winter.

If you are looking for a guide, Avery Pro-Staffer Jeff Coats is one of the most respected Sea Duck and Brant guides in Maryland. He will put on the birds. I have attached a link to his website below. Besides his hunting abilities, he is a well known wildlife photographer. His work has been featured in DU magazine.

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/index.htm

If you are looking for Eiders, Avery Pro-Staffer Brian Rhodes can accomodate you. Brian is located in Rhode Island. He has been featured in several waterfowl publications. I have attached a link to his website below.

http://www.theswampers.com/index.htm

I hope this information has helped you with your trip. If you have any additional questions, just shoot me a PM.

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

thanks Rusty!

had a great time last decmeber with Brain Rhodes... a short video clip: Swampers hunt in Rhode Island (http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/videos/PitbossRI.wmv)



seaducks? most of my shooting is scoter and old squaw but in maryland we do see Eider and Harliqueins!


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/eider12006.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/eider22006.jpg





http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis12005.jpg

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis22005.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis32005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis42005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis52005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis62005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis72005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis82005.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis92005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis102005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis112005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis122005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/harlis132005.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

Scoter and Old Squaw...


click here for another short video: Chesapeake Bay Scoter (http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/video.htm)




http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/cdux222006.jpg



http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/cdux422004.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/cdux432004.jpg

[Joe Fladeland]

Wow.

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux12006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux22006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux32006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux42006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux52006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux62006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux72006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux82006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux92006.jpg



http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux102006.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux112006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux122006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux132006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux142006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux152006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux162006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux172006.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux182006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux192006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux202006.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux212006.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws432006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws442006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws452006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws462006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws472006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws482006.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws252006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws262006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws272006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws282006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws292006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws302006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws312006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws322006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws332006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws342006.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws352006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws362006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws372006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws382006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws392006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws402006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws412006.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/squaws422006.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

some nice tail!




http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux2102005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux2112005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux2122005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux2132005.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

"old school" from the TDB... from a few seasons ago!



http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1332005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1342005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1352005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1362005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1372005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1382005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1392005.jpg


http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/photos/fullsize/cdux1402005.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

Brian's got some good images and video too... post some up!

jeff

[RWP]

HUmmmmmm



Well, we at times we see Barnacled Geese, and sometimes Pinkfooted, and have LOTS of harlequin ducks (that you can't shoot in the Atlantic Flyway...), and shoot KING EIDERS, barrows GE-- but I do not tell clients to expect to shoot any....

Chance visits by some species of waterfowl is not uncommon.... but when someone wants to hunt such, I only talk about ducks that have a strong healthy huntable population-- not a chance meeting sort to speak.

Nice pix Jeff.... seen these same pix lots of times before!!! How about something new?



Michael, as a matter of fact-- here's a video clip showing where Avery Outdoor's FRED ZINK likes to go to get the eiders-- ;)


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2812143085829769100



Heck, he's been coming with me for years..... :)






Shoot me a PM if you have further questions....

.

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

some images with The Swamper Brian Rhodes...




http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri26.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri28.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri1.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri2.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri3.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri4.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri5.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri6.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri7.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri8.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri9.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri10.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri11.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri12.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri13.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri14.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri15.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri16.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri17.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri18.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri19.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri20.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri21.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri22.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri23.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri24.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri25.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri27.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri29.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri30.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri31.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri32.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri33.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri34.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri35.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri36.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri25.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri38.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri39.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri40.jpg

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri41.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri42.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri43.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri44.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri45.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri46.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri47.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri48.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/ri49.jpg

[RWP]

I think you forgot a couple

:) :) :)



Proving my point..... the scoter photos are in Maryland.... but to get the eiders, a trip north was required.....


As you can see, we have big huntable numbers of WW scoters, surf scoters, common scoters, eiders , and brant... not to mention other ducks like blacks, and such, along with a line-up of divers...





.

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

Steiny... you can get seaducks from south carolina north to canada along the east coast. my advice is to pick a guide you feel comforatble gunning with!

have fun!
be safe and enjoy!

jeff

[J Kryspin]

I would give booking a hunt with Capt Jeff Coats a STRONG consideration. I have quite a few friends who have booked with him who have had nothing but EXCELLENT experiences in their hunts.

If/when I decide to book a Scoter, Squaw and/or Brant Hunt... it'll be with The Pitboss.

[duckin82]

You can get a lot of variety depending where you are but sorry no eiders. on the pauteuxent river where i hunt we get buffleheads, bluebills, ruddys, canvasbacks, a few redheads, goldeneys, mergansers(A.K.A hair heads),oldsquaws,black ducks, mallards, and every once in a while a pintail. but if your hunting out in the bay you will get mostly every kind of diving duck there is including scoters, ive seen them right next to the bay bridge before. if your hunting the lower eastern shore in the marshes you will get a lot of variety of divers and puddlers along with brant but once again it just depends where you are. s far as timing goes whenever it gets real cold on the last 3 days of duck season the ducks usually show up if they arent here already and you will have a blast. as far as shot sizes go, i use 2s and they work great. sometimes you will only need to bring a box but if the ducks are really in there id bring 2 or 3 boxes of shells. that might sound ridiculous but divers fly fast and are HARD to hit sometimes.

[CRIPLE CUTTER]

If i were you i would hook up with Brian Rhodes i had the time of my life hunting with him last year if you go to his web site you can see for your self. i have a white wing scoter a black scoter and two puff eiders mounted from last year:eek: . plus i don't think you could find a better guy to hunt with if you have a sence of hummer you will love it that's why I'm coming back in January.

[Eric Wolf]

Wow.

Yea, what Joe said.

Great pics Jeff!

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

thank you Jerry!

thank you Eric!

jeff

[Brian Rhodes-The Swampers]

Hey Steiny,

I had a great time hunting the Chesapeake Bay this past season. I was lucky enough to hook up with Jeff (pitbosss) for a couple of hunts. We saw thousands of scoter and old squaw, not to mention the brant. It was a great trip and I am looking forward to my next one!

Here is the trailer to our new dvd, which will be available next week. It has footage from the hunts with Jeff, as well as some eider and goose hunting from up here in RI.

http://theswampers.com/north_by_northeast_trailer_small.html

I think you will have a 'blast' doing some sea ducking!

Thanks for all the kind words guys.

TJ, you should post up some pics of those mounts, I would love to see them.

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

thanks Brian! good to have you and Ryan down... can't wait to see your new video!

[Alex Langbell]

I never get tired looking at your work Jeff. Amazing photos. I'm looking forward to coming out to Maryland this Janurary to do some hunting/filming.

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

thank you Alex... bring some sweat shirts!

jeff

[Travis Lyle]

Jeff you are damn good at take pics. My hats off to ya bud!

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

thank you Travis... will you be at sportsmans next weekend?

jeff

[George Zahradka]

No doubt Capt. Coates will get your birds for you ...... Great times had by all....not to mention he knows were ALL the great places to eat are.....

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

eating... yes sir! ;)




don't think you have any troubles either there George!!!



http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/gz2.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/gz8.jpg


http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/images/fullsize/gz9.jpg




thoughts???

jeff

[MuskyHunter]

You wanna shoot Longtails? Come to the great lakes. You don't need to go to the East Coast.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p177/Ford460Redneck/Longtails.jpg

[duckin82]

wow, thats a lot of oldsquaw no matter where you go.(yeh i know to be polittically correct its longtail but i don't care)

[MuskyHunter]

I prefer to call the Oldsquaw.

Buddy of mine reported last season he saw a flock of 4 eiders 9 miles out on Lake Michigan.

[Joe Fladeland]

MuskyHunter,

That's incredible! What is the limit for Longtails out where you are?

[MuskyHunter]

6 birds.

Right now Wisonson has 2 zones for Duck Hunting. The Northern zone opened Sept 24th and runs 60 straight days and will end in late November. I am in the southern zone, which opens Saturday and runs for a week, closes for a week and then runs until Dec 2.

We are pushing for a 3rd zone, Lake Michigan only, which open in mid to late October and run until almost the end of the year. We get very fews cold days to hunt the "Big Pond" so we are hoping for more.

About the only things will really don't get are Harliquens, Eiders and Brant. The Mississippi river in SW Wisconson is the worlds largest stagging area for canvasbacks with numbers as high as 200,000 birds in some times of the year.

We get a good amount of black ducks, scoters and as you can see, easy 6 bird limits of SQAWS.

[CRIPLE CUTTER]

HA MUSKEY HUNTER great lake oldsquaws was supposed to be a secret so zip it.:p

[widgeon05]

man those harloquin have to be some of the prettiest birds around great pictures.:)

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

thanks Widegon05... headed to Washington this December to see about one!

jeff

[Bull Island]

I met a guy this past weekend that hunted with you last year I think. His name is Joe. Big tall guy from the VA Waterfowlers Assoc.(I didn't get his last name). He told me to come up there and give you a try. I just might have to do that. Either way, you take the best waterfowl pics I have ever seen.

[younggunz]

hey jeff that should be a sweet hunt. still have your eider, ill finish it as soon as i get a fire under my A@#. hop[e to see yo this year

[Swampy]

If you're considering a Sea duck hunt its hard to go wrong with either Pitboss or the Swampers....Two of the most RESPECTED guides in the industry!

[Cryfowl]

OK....After seeing all those Seaduck Pics I am even more excited about or opening day this next weekend. We primarily hunt Scoters here and manage to take a few Squaws and Harli's each year. We occasionaly will see the rare Eider, but only rarely!!

[Jeff "Pitboss" Coats]

Bull... thanks! as i recall Joe's hunt was late october, no wind and about 80 degrees... :(

Ryan thanks, when ever you have the time works for me!

Swampy appreciate the kidn words, Brain puts on a super hunt too!

my Rhode Island hunt with Brian (http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/videos/PitbossRI.wmv)

Cryfowl... good luck to you all this weekend!


60 seconds of some Chesapeake Bay Seaducks...

Scoters, Old Squaw and Coot all aboard the 21' Goliath (http://www.ducksdogsanddecoys.com/videos/Saq17.wmv)

jeff