This Alaska sea duck hunting package is a North American duck
collector's paradise. Of the many sea duck species commonly
harvested here, 2 species are particularly prized above all
others among our avid Alaska duck hunting guests:
Harelquin
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".
Barrow's Goldeneye
A
medium-sized black-and-white diving duck, the Barrow's Goldeneye
(Bucephala islandica) was originally described from a
population living in Iceland. It is, however, primarily a duck of
the western mountains of North America. Barrow's Goldeneye
description (drake): Head purplish-black. Bright crescent-shaped
white patch on side of face at base of bill, thin at top, rounded
at bottom. Sides, breast, belly, and secondaries bright white.
Back, wings, and tail black. Black of back reaching onto shoulder.
Series of white squares along sides above wings. Short, triangular
black bill. Eyes golden yellow. For winter, it migrates to
the coast and feeds Aquatic invertebrates and fish eggs,
occasionally small fish and vegetation. The Barrow's Goldeneye is
rather long-lived for a duck, with one individual reaching 18 years
of age. Because its range is so limited, it is prized by collectors
while Alaska sea duck hunting.
Average Weather Conditions - Live-aboard Remote Alaska
Sea Duck Hunts
Valdez is located near the head of a deep fjord in the northeast
section of Prince William Sound in Alaska. It is surrounded by the
Chugach Mountains, which are heavily glaciated. Valdez is the
northernmost port in North America that is ice-free year-round.
Month Nov (Dec)
Rec High °F 50 (52)
Norm High °F 32.7 (29.1)
Norm Low °F 23.9 (20.2)
Rec Low °F 1 (-6)
Precip (inches) 5.51 (7.59)
What to Bring - Packing for your Live-aboard Remote
Alaska Sea Duck Hunting
WATERPROOF is key! Waterproof, waterproof,
waterproof. Alaska Sea Duck Hunt involves boat rides,
sitting in rocks along shorelines and layout boat hunts.
Heavy neoprene waders are ideal for providing keeping you warm and
dry. We suggest packing as you would for any duck hunt,
remembering that Valdez is the northernmost port in North America
that is ice-free year-round but that it is, after all, duck
hunting in Alaska - packing that extra heavy layer is worth
it.
For warm hands during an Alaska 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 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 #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!
Other packing considerations for Alaska sea duck hunts:
- 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 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 Alaska sea
duck 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 Sea Duck Hunts:
Photo Gallery: Alaska Sea Duck Hunting
Alaska
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
Alaska
Hunting License
Contact us for more information
about your live-aboard remote Alaska sea duck hunting
adventure!