East Coast Sea Ducks..

[David Rearick]

2006/2007 Hunting Journal Entries



DATE: 12-01-2006 thru 12-04-2006

LOCATION: East Coast

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 6:54

WEATHER: Clear turning to Snow

TEMPERATURE: 60’s going down to 30’s

WIND: Heavy to Mild

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Calling Gloves, Avery® Fleece Hand Muff, Avery® Neck Gaiter, Avery® Skull Cap, Avery® Mud Case, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® Ankle Gaiters, Greenhead Gear® Bufflehead Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Golden Eye Decoys

HUNTERS: Ron, John, Tim, Guide Ruben Perez, and Avery Pro-Staffer David Rearick

JOURNAL NOTES:

After a scheduled work conference I had the time and opportunity to book a hunt on the East Coast with Ruben Perez. Being by myself and always looking to hunt with new guys, he booked me along with 2 other repeat clients for a few days of sea duck hunting along the coast. After a 10 hour drive to Boston and 4 days of work I was ready to get into the salt for some Eiders and Scoters.

Day One:

The first morning couldn’t come fast enough and at 4 am, I was up and ready for the day ahead. Today, with high winds in the forecast, we were going to tuck into a protected spot and hunt from the box, something I was really looking forward to. After the first hunter of the day, Ron, shot his four drakes, it was my turn to get into the MLB layout boat. Not really knowing what to expect, after the first flock pitched in, I found it was just as if I was at home hunting bluebills, on the big lake. Hundreds of birds were in the air and it was truly a great site to be seen. My shooting was a little rusty, or at least that is my excuse, and with the light hearted harassment already starting over the radio, I tried to get into my “A” game. A pair of scoters hit the blocks just right and 2 birds hit the water after three shots. I was feeling a little better after having a few misses early, and I finally got my swing down, or so I thought. The next few Eiders again left unscathed and I was starting to feel the pain. My choke was a little tighter than what I needed, so I decided to take them a little farther out to let the pattern open a little; this move worked wonders. I quickly limited out on Eiders and changed out with John. He quickly made me feel a little better after a couple misses, but got his swing down and limited out with some really nice shots and some nice drakes to boot. The hunt was over, almost as fast as it started, and it was really a great start to the four day hunt. With the weather conditions less than favorable, it was really great to see Ruben put us on the birds, even when some guides would have called it a day. My hats were off to him for having 2-3 back up plans to make this hunt happen with the changing forecast and most importantly making it happen safely.

Day Two:

With even worse conditions expected for the day, Ruben pulled out his book of tricks and found a nice spot that was holding quite a ducks and geese. After motoring the TDB into position and setting out the blocks, the ducks and geese just started pouring in around us. With the morning very bright, we saw hundreds of ducks and geese well before legal shooting hours. We were giddy with excitement and looked forward to the day. When shooting light approached things slowed down dramatically, but we still made the most of the day and I ended up shooting 4 birds and fanning on a few others. We were just happy to be out, as it was real snotty where we wanted to be, and Ruben had done it again by putting us on the birds, even when it was a better day to stay inside. Not only was the day a successful hunt, but truly the time we all shared in the blind was the most memorable part. I don’t think I have had that much fun with a group of guys that I didn’t really know in a long time. They were really a class act…..


Day Three:

The weather looked good for today and we were all ready for some real on the ocean sea duck hunting, and that was exactly what we got. After putting out the decoys and getting anchored we were covered in birds. We tried our best to take turns and make the hunt last as long as possible and to take a limit of drakes. Literally hundreds and hundreds of birds were in the air and many of them in the decoys. We even decoyed some bonus harlequin’s, which aren’t allowed to be shot in NE, but were a great bird to see in the water. They are really a beautiful bird; I only wish I had my camera out to take some photos. After limiting out on drake Surf Scoters, Common Scoters, and Eiders (and a hen for the wall), I unloaded my gun and attempted to take some photos from the boat in the ocean swells. It was just as much fun shooting these birds with the camera as it was the gun, and I made the most of the day, as the boys tried to finish out with their limits. Even after we had our 3 man limit of Scoters, they just poured in. It was great to see these birds work the decoys coming in like they were on a string. Had I known we would see as many common scoters as we did, I would have passed on the surf’s to take another common for the wall, as they are truly an awesome bird. The birds were starting to dry up and when one drake came into the decoys feet down, John told Ron to take it, even though it had worked his side. Ron made quick work of it, putting the bird down and Bo leapt from the boat to make the retrieve. I took some photos of Bo on the way back and when he got to the boat, Ruben didn’t bring the bird in right away and he made some remarks to Ron about love, I believe??? When he brought it over the side into the boat, you guessed it, BLING…. How sweet is that? Now the one only thing better than a banded Eider is one that your friend passed on to let you take. The good intentioned ribbing by all of us on both parties was almost too much to handle at some points. The best phrase of the day came when Ruben deemed it “the gift of a lifetime”, and I don’t think John is going to let that one go anytime soon. Not only was this day a ton of fun because of the birds, the ability for all of us to enjoy each others company by acting like old friends, poking fun at one another was priceless. Ruben is no slouch when it comes to putting you on the birds and making sure you are having a great time. Since I had booked 4 days and the other boys 3, we parted ways after the hunt. We exchanged cards and I am sure we will cross paths in the near future. We had too much fun not to.


Day Four:

Being the last day of the hunt and already taking a bunch of birds, I was ready for whatever Ruben was up for. He had another repeat client coming in for the day, Tim, and we were going to target Oldsquaw. I was all for it and with other species in the area it looked to be a good day. After being dropped off on a sandy point, we waded out into the decoys and waited for the birds. Legal time was upon us and so were the birds. They worked like clockwork and the first bird of the morning was an awesome drake oldsquaw that had almost passed by without a shot. I made sure he was down for the count and put him in my bag limit. It wasn’t my first oldsquaw, but definitely the best one yet with a great 11 inch B&C tail. All Tim really wanted was a nice oldsquaw drake for the wall, so the next one was his. We played musical chairs as the birds seemed to flip-flop sides every time we did. The oldsquaws would come on the left, we would trade, and then they would come on the right. We played this game for a while and then decided just to stay put and let it happen. We shot eiders, scoters, and I shot a few more oldsquaws, while Tim tried his best. It always seems to work that way, when it is something you want, you just can’t get it. After some missed opportunities, I told Tim “Out Front”, as another oldsquaw approached the blocks. When it hit the front line of decoys, Tim made a great shot and put it down for the count. I don’t know who was more excited, Tim, Ruben, or I, but we all hollered when it went down. It is always great when things come together. After shooting my limit for the day, Tim hung it out waiting for more oldsquaws. It was really a brutal day and after getting beat by the winds, rain, sleet, and snow, he called it. We headed back to the ramp, parted ways, and I made quick work of the 8 hour drive home.

Overall I had a great time, everything we had talked about before the hunt was what happened. There was no change up’s once I got there, something that happens far to often on guided hunts, and Ruben really enjoyed having us their almost like we were old friends. I will definitely be back to chase some more sea ducks on the East Coast!

The birds...

[Ryan Vande Griend]

Wow!
I am jealous!
There are quite a few mounters in them hunts!!!

[Mike Bard]

Nice series of hunts! The eider are a lot of fun.

[Mike Hungle]

Looks and sounds like fun.

[Culley Wilson]

Ruben is a great guy. I have hunted with him twice before. Has he finally realized that the MS in his boat registration on the hull is for Mississippi and not Massachusettes.

Is Winchester still retrieving birds or has he been put out to pasture?

[David Rearick]

Winchester's son Bodacious is now with Ruben, as Winchester has passed. From the PICS I have seen BO is a spitting image of him.

[Josh B]

awesome hunts. Great details. Nothing beats shooting sea duck!!


(especially on the east coast)!!

josh

[Great White North]

Looks like an awesome time.

[Jocelyn "Josh" Léger]

Got yourself some real eastern beauties ...

Congratulations,

[joesac]

Great JE and great pictures! Those are some beautiful seaducks! I am looking forward to one day being able to hunt seaducks on the east coast. Great job!