Finished out the season up in the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts. I hunted 4 days and took common eiders, white wing scoters, surf scoters, old squaw and Atlantic brant. Incredible experience hunting these birds out of layout boats. Everyone took turns shooting and getting their birds. Hunted with Capt. Andrew Gibbs and Jerad Hughes with Marsh River Outfitters.

https://marshriveroutfitters.com/

Tons of pictures taken, but here are some of my favorites.

Great pics and experience. Nothing decoys like an eider when they see those decoys.

Looks like fun. Do they ever get hunts on Harlequins?

I dont think any states on the east coast allow hunting for harlequin. Washington state use to have a season, but shut it down this year. They may go to a draw system in the future.

Cool, use dogs to retrieve the ducks? You gonna eat those ducks?

No dogs used, the currents where strong and I don't think a dog would have been able to handle them.

The eiders and scoters did not smell to bad at all, very similar to a redhead or canvasback. Going to have them made into sausage, with a 50/50 mix with pork.

The oldsquaw reaked, smelled worse than any merganser I've cleaned. The dog will likely get a treat.

Learned something new today. Thanks.

How do you retrieve your ducks if no dog, that is deep water right? I guess drive the boat to get them? Do you put out an anchor to keep boat in one place?

We went out in the big boat every morning. Anchored up the layouts boats and set the spreads. Then the guide in the big boat would sit back a few hundred yards and watch us and go retrieve downed birds.

tuesday breakfast specials

Awesome! On my bucket list

No mojo I guess..

Cool birds and hunt

Awesome trip! Great pics!

We have booked the exact same trip with a different outfitter for next Jan. Any tips on clothing, chokes, shot shells, etc?

Ammo
I took boss #4 and Apex duplex loads of 1oz of #2 steel and 1/4oz of 7.5 TSS. I liked both and would recommend both.
On a side note, Massachusetts does not allow non-residents to purchase ammo. I took 4 boxes of ammo for 4 days of hunting and shot through last under 2 boxes.
Also, Massachusetts requires your gun to be in a case when in public like a boat ramp. So bring a soft case or gun sleeve to out your gun in while your at the ramp and what not.

Chokes
I just used my mid range carlson choke tube that I use for everything. The vast majority of my shots were at decoying birds inside 30 yards.

Clothes
Bring your waders and a good waterproof jacket. Temps weren't terrible, lows in the upper 20s and hight in the upper 30s. But we did have a couple days of really high winds and being in the water its always colder. You will be in a layout boat that always has alittle bit of water in the bottom of it and boat spray when running to and from hunting grounds. Good waterproof clothing is essential. Layer with good thermals and have some hand warmers in the coat pockets.

If your flying, pack as light as you can. I was kinda suprised how much gear I took with just the bare minimum.

I took all the foam out of my hard gun case that I used to transport my gun through the airport, and just used my thermals and heavy coat as padding for my gun in the case.

Lmk if you have any other questions.

That’s a great idea

Looks like a great time! Never done a sea duck hunt.

I thought getting up to shoot out of a yak in the marsh was tricky, I bet those layout boats in some ocean chop were pretty sporty.

Wow, thanks! Some good advice, didn’t know about the ammunition restrictions and the gun case is a great idea. If you can think of anything else, I’m all ears.


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I stayed in a motel, holiday Inn. If I had to do over I would have got an air bnb so I could have a private freezer for my birds. The motel put them in their freezer, but I was always worried that some employee would come by and by like wtf is this and throw them out.

I thought the same,, but actually they were very stable and easy to shoot out of. We hunted either out of solo layout boats or a two man layout boat.

Also I heard horror stories of hunters flying out of Boston logan Airport. Liberal area giving hunters and people flying with guns a hard time. I had no issue with flying in or out while I was there.

We did have one antihunter we ran into at the boat ramp after the hunt. He was running his mouth, saying he should shoot us for shooting ducks, blah blah blah. Not that big of a deal

I can smell the Salt Water (just looking at those pics) from here.... Awesome pics of an Awesome Trip.

Wow, looks like you had a great hunt on the east coast! Thanks for sharing