USA: Cape Cod Waterfowl Hunt

[RBurg44]

Week before xmas we planned a 3 day hunt with capt len greiner of new england sea duck hunting. http://www.capecodseaduckhunting.com/ This was set up by my taxidermist jerry of jerrys taxidermy in Abbottstown PA and he went along with us. We drive the nine hrs up from MD and get settled in in our off season rental place that len has for the duck season nice house can sleep 5 easily enough two bathrooms and a kitchen which is all we needed. Our main objective for this trip is common eiders. We all want at least one mature drake and hen. Everything else we bag would be extra and bonus birds.

 

[RBurg44]

Day one: we meet out front of house for len to show at 5am follow to boat ramp 10mins down rd we are after brant got to be quick bout it bc of tides. Get reat of our gear on dump boat in warer. Its blowing 20/25mph and on low teens for temp. And the batteries on boat wont turn over. We jump batteries and get her fired up but this all took time and we all decided we prob missed our window for brant this am and we didnt want to mess up two hunts today if batteries didnt go next stop we followed him to auto parts store bought two new batteries and we are set rest of trip. Grab quick breakfast and off to another ramp for eider. Short boat ride to hit a sand bar island as i call it set up layout boats on shore camo them up and set dekes. Birds dived bombed us key is to aim for the bright white mature birds! And take your time and pick out mature hens! With the wind ripping me made some great shots and were limited out in no time! What an awesome start to the hunt!

 

[gillettehunter]

Very nice! Looks like a lot of fun. Congrats
Bruce

 

[RBurg44]

Day 2: after day one end he had use text him out so called “wishlist” of birds we’d like to go after. Of course we are here for eiders so lets make sure we get after them again is first on list. So thats what we went after again first thing next morning. 3 of us on shore hunting eiders and two guys in layout boats hunting scoters. The three of us could have limited out before len even got the first if the other two guys set up so we talked it over and we were waiting for hard shots on mature birds again. When too many birds had piled into the spread wed just shoot to scare them off and wait for the harder shots. After a short bit we were limited out and made the switch with the guys in the layout boats. While there i had a group of 20 or so geese fly straight over me bout 50 yrds up gave one a nice lead and fired and on down he came. Only goose of the trip! Combined we got a few scoters and called it a trip! Had a lil fun with one of the guys bouts sharks before the trip then showed him the sign when we launch. Needless to say he didnt like being in the single man layout!!

 

[RBurg44]

Day 2 part 2:

after a nice breakfast at a local joint. We went and tackled one of our wish list birds we had texted. Now buffleheads is a bird commonly enough found along the east coast but just one weve just never really got into. So we took the opportunity to hunt them. This time all out of layout boats. Capt len took us to a place he knew we’d get them but a place the rich waterfront homeowners bitch about hunting although all legal he doesnt hunt but 1-2times a year so he doesnt have to hear it from them! I started in the two man boat and was having a blast with a buddy. But the guy we were messin with bout sharks just couldnt handle being in the single man boats too scared so i switched out and we started laying into the birds. Well my taxidermist had to get on the radio and say your shootin all hens!! So we sat down and settled back and focused on white drakes and rest of hunt that was all we shot. Man there were fun lil birds to get into i was laughing the whole time and enjoying the pieces and quite on water just me the boat and the decoys next guy was maybe 500+ yrds away and id radio in when i had birds down for a pick up! We were back home bye like 2 in the afternoon called it a day!

 

[RBurg44]

Day 3. Normally with the way capt len sets this up hunt the first today days are two part hunts and the last day is just morning. But since the motor issue on day one we did it backwards. Well next on our wish wish was brant. None of us had targeted them before but a few of us had taken some before in chance encounters. So 445am we meet outfront and off to ramp, hes got a spot he know the birds will come into and has been picking off birds here all year and according to him know one else has found it. Set up on shore set out a few strings of brant decoys and wait. Len radios and says if anything flys by or decoys in besides brant just let them be might only get once chance at these guys. So we ignore some black ducks and mergansers, then guy next to me says theres a coyote next to me with a quick pause to process what he just said i spring up and try to get a shot off as hes going over dune but miss. Wow that was kool and man he was big! Anyways few mins later first flock comes into spread and we drop 5or 6 next two flocks dont decoy in another i didnt call shot bc im a dummy and didnt think they were close enough (set my spread out to farthest decoy bein 40yards) well this was no more then 25yrds oh well next flock we dropped 3 of the 4 and then We had a pair come in and we only needed one to reach our limit one fell and we stopped shootin. Different kind of huntin and birds act a little weird but fun quick hunt!

 

[RBurg44]

Day 3 part 2: after that brant hunt we pack up the layout boats and up the coast we went this time looking for scoters. Had a guy really want a surf scoter(for whatever reason) and i still needed a white winged drake to complete my scoter slam. Get the boats out and the action starts fast i pop a few eiders then some scoters but no drake yet. Gettin close to my limit I decided to wait till i could tell for sure it was a drake! And man when they buzzin by you at 30/40mph its tough! Forgot to mention we had seals poppin up in the dekes all through this hunt! Even took a buddies scoter! Well i get up and pop what i think is a drake and then 2 mins later her comes one in i can tell for sure is a drake i drop him one shot and call on radio come get me and my drake im done for the trip! Confirmed I dropped and prefect drake and load up and put my taxidermist in my boat. I watch rest if guys hunt awhile! we bagged all three scoters old squaws and eiders. Called it a trip a little while later. Back to the dock and over to the lobsterman to buy fresh lobster to take home then home to clean wrap birds and load trucks to go home as maids showed up to clean house. Back on the road before 2pm headed back to MD. Ive never had a guide work so hard and bust his ass scouting and moving to make things right. Highly recommended!

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

[jduckhunter]

Capt. Len is a riot to hunt with and yes he does bust his butt to get you your birds. Glad you had a good trip.

 

[BRICKBURN]

No one volunteered to jump into a black scuba suit to get some pictures of a Shark?

That is a pretty good guide to be choosing spots for particular birds and delivering on it.

Congratulations.

 

[Ridgewalker]

What a fine time! But, I’m not sure I’d want to be out there in a one man layout with great whites around! Yikes!

 

[Firebird]

Thanks for the report! Strong bucket list item for me-congrats on a fun and successful hunt

 

[jduckhunter]

Hey RBurg44 you know what's next don't you!

 

[RBurg44]

@jduckhunter oh i know it! Itll happen! Start planning after next year going to Namibia and NC for swans then start figuring out following year!

 

[jduckhunter]

I'm glad to hear you have a plan. Don't know if you talked to any of the outfitters yet or not up there, but I can tell you that they have a 2 or 3 year waiting list. Just letting you know so that your not surprised when your ready to book. Have fun in Namibia, I'm heading to the East Cape in April.

 

[RBurg44]

Got a few mounts back from this trip figured id share.

 

[Firebird]

Very nice work-congrats again

 

[Ridgewalker]

Outstanding!

 

[Chickenfarmers]

Congrats, Some really great hunts.
Jealous.