This Alaska King Eider hunt package is a North American duck
collector's dream come true. Of the sea duck species commonly
taken by guest hunters, 2 species are particularly prized
above all others:
King Eider
The King
Eider (Somateria spectabilis) Eider is one of North
America's most spectacular waterfowl species; is a large sea duck,
that breeds along northern hemisphere Arctic coasts of northeast
Europe, North America and Asia. The birds spend most of the year in
coastal marine ecosystems at high latitudes, and migrate to Arctic
tundra to breed in June and July. King Eider winters in
arctic and subarctic marine areas, most notably in the Bering Sea,
the west coast of Greenland, eastern Canada and northern Norway. It
also occurs annually off the northeastern United States, Scotland
and Kamchatka. Breeding areas include the Arctic coastal tundra of
the north coast of Alaska.
The drake King Eider, coveted as a trophy by hunters, has a
white neck and chest. The upper breast is yellowish buff wash, but
the body is mostly black. White sides of rump. Large white patches
on forewings distinguish adult from immature specimens. Forehead,
crown, and nape pearl blue. Cheeks iridescent pale green. Bill
bright red with white tip; large yellow or orangish swollen knob at
base of upper bill. Feathers stick up as two small triangular black
sails on back. Legs are bright yellow, with dusky webs and black
nails.
Highly gregarious for most of the year, King Eiders winter as
far north as the seas remain ice-free. The majority of the western
population winters at sea along the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian
Islands. The migrations of the King Eider are spectacular, with
huge flocks, often consisting entirely of males or of females,
traveling in long lines along the coast, heading to or from their
breeding or wintering grounds. King Eiders form phenomenal flocks
during spring migration, sometimes exceeding 10,000
individuals.
King Eiders dive for benthic invertebrates like crustaceans,
polychaete worms, and molluscs, with mussels being a preferential
food. They also feed on eelgrass, wigeon grass and algae.
There is a record of one king eider feeding on the bottom in 30
fathoms (180 feet) of water in the Bering Sea.
Harlequin Duck
The
Harlequin (Histrionicus histrionicus), is a small,
strikingly beautiful sea duck. Adult male Harlequin ducks are
slate blue with chestnut sides and white markings including a white
crescent at the base of the bill. Adult females are less colorful,
with brownish-grey plumage and a white patch on the head around the
eye. Both adults have a white ear patch. Their breeding habitat is
cold fast moving streams in north-western and north-eastern North
America, Greenland, Iceland and western Russia. They are usually
found 
near
pounding surf and white water. Harlequin ducks are short
distance migrants and most winter near rocky shorelines.
Harlequin ducks, or Harlequins or simply Harlis, feed by
swimming under water or diving. They also dabble. They eat
molluscs, crustaceans and insects. Harlequins have smooth, densely
packed feathers that trap a lot of air within them. This is vital
for insulating such small bodies against the chilly waters they
ply. It also makes them exceptionally buoyant, making them bounce
like corks after dives. One Alaska sea duck hunting guest in
particular describes the experience of holding a beautiful drake
Harlequin "like holding new money".
What to Bring - Packing for Alaska King
Hunting
WATERPROOF is key!
Waterproof, waterproof, waterproof. Alaska King Eider Hunts
may involve boat rides, weather permitting, sitting in rocks
along shorelines for extended periods. Heavy neoprene waders
are ideal for keeping you warm and dry. We suggest
packing as you would for any duck hunt, remembering that St.
Paul Island is where the Deadliest Catch
crews often port - packing that extra heavy layer is worth
it.
For warm hands while Alaska King Eider hunting, we suggest using
insulated commercial fishing gloves, such as the ATLAS
460 12" INSULATED ORANGE PVC gloves by SeaMar. These
gloves are inexpensive, but perfect for the cold, wet windy
conditions of this sea duck hunt. We've found that by tucking
them in a pocket, shooting hands easily slip out in time for that
shot at a decoying Harlequin or Long-tailed Duck.
Sea duck species are especially tough birds, and experienced sea
duck hunters know that these birds hit the water and dive, usually
never to be seen again, when crippled. Guns and ammo for Alaska sea
duck hunting:
- Leave the improved cyclinder chokes home. For Alaska sea
duck hunting, 12 gauge shotguns choked modified to full is strongly
advised.
- Shot size BB - #2 steel or hevishot polymers #2 or #4
- Pattern your shotgun if unfamiliar with this choke and shot
combination. An ounce of prevention cures a pound of Alaska
King Eider hunting!
Other packing considerations for your Alaska King Eider
hunts:
- A dryer is available. You may pack fewer clothing
changes to save space.
- Traveling alone usually requires 3 checked bags: a duffle,
a gun case, and an ice chest. Transport your duffle inside
your ice chest to avoid fees for the 3rd bag on the way up.
- If traveling in groups of 2 or more hunters, avoid excess
baggage fees by transporting firearms in 1 gun case.
Care and Transportation of your Alaska King Eider hunting
trophies:
- Bag and tag your birds properly: Click Here:
Field Care of Trophy Waterfowl & Birds
(PDF). Each bird should be tagged to include
hunter's name, address, and date killed.
- There is plenty of freezer space available at the Alaskan eider
hunting lodge.
- Bring small kitchen garbage bags for scoters; 1- and 2- gallon
Ziploc bags for other species.
- LABEL CONTENTS ON OUTSIDE OF COOLER WHEN COMING HOME to
include: hunter signature, stating his address, the total number
and species of birds, and the date such birds were killed.
Useful Links - Alaska King Eider Hunting:
Alaska
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
Alaska
Hunting License
Contact us for more
information about Alaskan eider hunts!