This Aleutian Island sea duck hunting package is a North
American duck collector's paradise. Of the many sea duck
species commonly harvested in this area, 4 species common to
this particular Alaska duck hunt are of utmost concern to avid
waterfowl collectors:
Pacific Eiders - Pacific Common Eider
Most colorfully brilliant of the common
eiders, Pacific Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima
v-nigra) are also largest and outweigh King Eiders
(Somateria spectabilis) by 1 kg on average.
Pacific Eiders display a vivid yellow orange bill that is defined
by short, fine, pointed frontal lobes. It has a longer head with
the greatest distance from the eye to the nostril of all common
eiders. The Pacific Eider's bill has a fairly thick black loral
line that extends to a deep curved black cap as the black emerges
from the bill (loral line). In addition, the Pacific Eider drake
has a distinct black V on the chin unlike the other common eider
races (the subspecies nomenclature v-nigra literally
translates to "black V"). Pacific eiders spend most of their
life at sea, coming ashore only briefly each year to produce young.
Little is known of their distribution while at sea, including
migration routes and location of moulting and wintering
areas. It is estimated that the Pacific Eider population
totals about 100,000. The Pacific Eider is among the
most coveted of Alaskan waterfowl, a close second to the King
Eider.
Aleutian Green-winged Teal
Described
as recently as 1948, Aleutian Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca
nimia) are identical to the European race, except for a
slightly superior size. They are characterized by a highly
visible horizontal white stripe that separates the gray flanks and
back. Uncommon of far-northern dabblers, they are year-round
Alaskan residents - Aleutian Green-winged teal are possibly the
most numerous puddle-duck of the Aleutian Islands. Frequenting
ponds and lakes in summer, the Aleutian teal shift to marine
beaches in winter, and commonly forage at low tide in tide pools
and shallow-water reefs. Females are virtually indistinguishable
from green-winged hens of other races. Their speed is usually
overestimated and some hunters, after missing a shot or three claim
that the teal fly as swiftly as 160 mph. However, 50 mph is far
more realistic. Tightly knit flights twist and turn in perfect
unison, flashing white and dark in the manner of shorebirds.
There is nowhere better to collect an Aleutian Green-winged Teal
than during this Aleutian Island sea duck hunt.
Eurasian Wigeon
The
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope, previously Mareca
penelope) is one of three species of wigeon in the world. The
breeding male Eurasian Wigeon has gray back and finely speckled
gray flanks, with a black rear end and a dark green speculum and a
brilliant white patch on upper wings, obvious in flight or at rest.
It has a pink breast, white belly, and a bright rust-brown with a
buff crown and forehead. Eurasian Wigeon breeds in the
northernmost areas of Europe and Asia, is strongly migratory
and winters further south than its breeding range. It migrates to
southern Asia and Africa, as is far more common winter
visitor to Great Britain and Ireland than to the
continental United States. Preferred habitats of Eurasion
Wigeon include marshes, ponds, lakes, and tidal flats.
Eurasian Wigeon are rare, extremely-prized trophies among US
waterfowlers, and ranks highly on the lists of our Alaska Aleutian
Island duck hunting guests.
Harlequin
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". Harlequin ducks are
abundantly available during our Aleutian Island Alaska sea duck
hunts.
Getting There - Aleutian Island Alaska Sea Duck
Hunting
Flights are on Thursdays and Sundays only. Arrive to
Anchorage, Alaska, on the Saturday preceding your Alaska Aleutian
Island Sea Duck Hunt. Overnight in Anchorage and fly to
your final destination, Adak Island, on Sunday.
Adak is located on Kuluk Bay and lies 1,200 miles southwest
of Anchorage and 450 miles (724 km) west of Dutch Harbor,
near the Russian end of the arc that makes up this volcanic island
chain. Flight time from Anchorage is about 3 hours depending on
weather. Adak is the southern-most community in Alaska and on the
same latitude as Vancouver Island in Canada.
Overnighting in Anchorage - Aleutian Island Alaska Sea
Duck Hunts
With 33,904 miles of coast, Alaska's cold, pristine waters are
the perfect home for sea life. Wild Alaska salmon, Alaska king
crab, Prince William Sound oysters, and fresh halibut just off the
boat name just a few of many culinary highlights offered by
Anchorage restaurants.
Anchorage hotel choices include first-class, convenient,
centrally located hotel accommodations as well as intimate bed and
breakfasts, boutiques and locally-owned inns. Near-airport
hotels include premium and economy accomodations that are
convenient to the airport, a variety of restaurants and pubs.
And you can't make this stuff up: the best time to see the
northern lights, or "aurora borealis" is during a cold, clear
winter night. Many of the area hotels have a "northern lights wake
up call" and if you indicate that you want to be awakened, they
will call your room if the lights are dancing in the night sky.
Travel Protection - Aleutian Island Alaska Sea Duck
Hunts
Trip
cancellation insurance is strongly advised for the
Aleutian Island Alaska Sea Duck Hunt, especially due to travel
logistics. Alaska Airlines operates twice weekly, each Sunday
and Thursday, and your 6-day Aleutian Island duck hunt occurs
Monday through Saturday. Because of its naval aviation past,
Adak has an unusually large and sophisticated airport for the
Aleutian Islands, but weather-related cancellations do occur
sometimes. A good Travel Protection Plan (click here to
view) will reimburse your lost days if this
unfortunate event occurs during your Aleutian Island sea duck
hunt.
What to Bring - Packing for you Aleutian Island Alaska
Sea Duck Hunting
Adak lies in the maritime climate zone, characterized by
persistently overcast skies, moderate temperatures, high winds.
Winter squalls produce wind gusts in excess of
100 knots. Average temperatures range from 20 to
60 °F (16 °C), but wind chill factors can be severe.
Total precipitation is 64 inches annually.
WATERPROOF is key! Waterproof, waterproof,
waterproof. Hunting Aleutian Island sea ducks involves
boat rides and sitting in rocks along shorelines. Heavy
neoprene waders are ideal for providing keeping you warm and
dry. We suggest packing as you would for any duck hunt,
remembering that Adak is the southern-most community in Alaska but
that it is, after all, duck hunting near the Bering Sea -
packing that extra heavy layer is a very smart
idea.
For warm hands during an Alaska Aleutian Island sea duck hunt,
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 Pacific Eider.
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 Aleutian
Island Alaska sea duck hunting:
- Leave the improved cyclinder chokes home. For Aleutian
Island Alaska sea duck hunting, 12 gauge shotguns choked modified
to full is strongly advised.
- Shot size #2 steel or hevishot
- Pattern your shotgun if unfamiliar with this choke and shot
combination. An ounce of prevention cures a pound of Alaska
sea duck hunting!
Bring a pair of binoculars. While staunch Audubon
enthusiasts generally do not consider Adak as thrilling as Attu,
the region's high winds are a blessing for birders; in addition to
the abundance of uniques waterfowl species, many vagrants from Asia
and elsewhere can be spotted. Indigenous (but often rare) shore
birds abound, and eagles are ubiquitous.
Other packing considerations for your Aleutian Island Alaska sea
duck hunt:
- A washer and dryer is available. You may pack fewer
clothing changes to save space.
- Alaska Air, which services Adak from
Anchorage, allows 3 checked bags and will let
you ship a case of shells, which may be purchased at
Sportsmen's Warehouse in Anchorage.
- 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 Aleutian Island Alaska sea
duck 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 Aleutian
Island Alaska sea duck hunting camp.
- Bring small kitchen garbage bags for eiders and 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 - Aleutian Island Alaska Sea Duck
Hunting:
Aleutian Island Alaska Sea
Duck Hunting Photo Gallery
Alaska
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
Alaska
Hunting License
Contact us about your Aleutian
Island Alaska Sea Duck Hunts.