Sea Ducks and shells

Scott Farris

Scott Farris

Well-known member
Joe H. asked about shotgun recommendations while making the comment that he wanted a 3.5" to hunt sea ducks. I started the following response then realized that he actually asked about specific guns not whether we though he should get a 3.5 for sea ducks. So that's the reason for the new post. Hopefully others will share their opinion on sea duck loads. Mean while I'm lazy so I'm not bothering to reword my what I've already written. So Joe, please accept this as both my personal recommendation as well as an attempt to get others discussing sea duck loads. Enjoy.

What kind of sea ducks are you after that requires a 3.5" shell? I'm never against someone getting a new toy and yes I do use a 3.5 for sea ducks because I can. But I also shot more geese than ducks last year and the 3.5 is really for them. I ask about the kind of duck because we see and snicker at the guys who feel they need 10s and 3.5" 12s to kill OS off our (CT) south east coast. Squaws aren't tough to kill if you hit them a few times with 2 & 3s instead of knocking them down with 1 or 2 #1or BB sized shot. There are guys who seem to start shooting at longer and longer ranges until the squaws get down right boat shy. I suspect shooting would improve for every one if these guys would simply let the squaws work and take them at more normal duck ranges of 30 to 40 yards. With respect to scoters, pretty much the same thing. 1-1/4 oz 3" 2 & 3s at 1450 fps do a decent job inside of forty. If you take a lot of shots outside 35 yards you will probably spend more time chasing crippled scoter than wing shooting anyway. Eider are big tough birds but I believe we have a number of Mass to Maine eider hunters on the page that regularly shoot a 3". Hopefully they will comment.

So my recommendation is that if you want a new gun, cool go for it. If you feel you "need" a bigger gun to successfully kill sea ducks, relax. If you shoot the 390 well 1- 1/4 oz 3" 2 & 3s at 1450 fps will get her done if you do your part. And if you hunt with guys who blast at everything inside of 50 yards, get them to back off while your along or let you have the "inside" shots if they like the challenge of the long shot. But seriously just how much farther does 1-3/8 oz of BBs @ 1450 (100 pellets) kill cleanly than 1-1/4 #2 @ 1450 (156 pellets)? And for equal sized shot the 3.5 only gets you 10% more shot at the same velocity. Not worth buying the new gun in my opinion unless you want it anyway.

Scott
 
I have only hunted sea ducks a couple times. The last time I was in Maine to shoot eiders I
bought Remington Sportsman loads in 3" 1 1/4 oz and those cheap loads out performed anything
I've ever shot in my 11-87. I don't think they even make them anymore but my point is that
you don't need a cannon to kill eiders reliably at 40 yards. Truth is I was shocked to find how effective
those shells were on big birds,at distances longer than I would normally shoot. I just sold the only 3.5"
gun I had because I never used it. In fact 90% of the time I only shoot 2 3/4" shells and I hunt mostly
divers.
On the other hand if you're only going to shoot one gun a 3.5"chamber gives you lots of options!
John
 
Scott,

I hunt divers with my puddle duck total less than 10% of my total bird take in a given year. The only sea ducks I hunt in Wisconsin are OS and almost always limit out with fewer shells than anyone in my group. My gun is an SKB SxS in 3" - 20 ga. I shoot Kent Fasteel in #4's and have fewer cripples the past couple of years. The main reason for my better shooting is that I have moved my decoys closer to me. My outside decoys are usually not more than 20-25 yards from me, almost guaranteeing that I will get shots less than 30 yards on decoying birds.
 
My sea duck experience is limited to old squaw. I've found them MUCH easier to anchor with #3's steel and down to #6 hevishot/tungston stuff. More pellets in the bird keep them down. My first couple trips I was using BB steel because of all the hype on how tough they are. I could knock them down but they dove or flew off. With Winchester cheap 3" #3's I've had doubles and a tripple that did not require any water swatting at all. The key is also to let them work in close and hit them hard. Since I often hunt alone without a dog I HATE chasing cripples and this is what has been working for me. Last year I had a day with a 6 bird limit of OS with 7 shells, more luck than anything but it can be done.

Gene
 
I've killed plenty of sea ducks with 3" shells but I've also watched some dive and never come up after wacking them once or twice once they hit the water. I had the 11-87 super mag and I just think if I had to hit them again on the water it was usually just once. And I guess part of me wants a new toy and thats cheaper than the boat I want
 
I think having a gun that will shoot 2 3/4, 3, and 3 1/2 is always an advantage. Most sea ducks are easily harvested with 3 inch unless you want the extra reach to shoot beyond 40 yards. Old Squaw and scoters at beyond 40 yards are probably more attainable with the extra pop and more importantly extra shot of a 3 1/2. That has been my experience.

Eiders are a whole different situation. Unless you have a real close in shot, 3 1/2 improves your odds of the kill shot that seems to be more necessary. They are tough to get kill shots at 40 yards even with 3 1/2. Cut the distance in half and 3 inch is enough. Last year, many, many eiders dove, never to be seen again. Some fell out of the sky and looked like sure kill shots and wouldn't you know that would get back up and fly off. They are tough , tough birds. My best eider kill shots seem to occur almost exclusively with BB's except for head shots.

Generally speaking we use 1's, and BB's. Although I believe 2's would be more than adequate for old squaw. For all other ducks that we hunt in my neck of the woods, I don't believe you need any more than 3 inch.

My partner and I both have SBE 2's and he has a Davinci (3" only) that he uses at times even on eiders. He is a better shot than I though

We hunt off the Mass and NH coasts for our sea ducks.

This is what we have found, but of course what works for you may be entirely different. Best of Luck.

Bill
 
Regardless of whether you choose 3.5" or 3", the critical components are a decent pattern with your gun/ammo combination and learning to hit birds in front of the wings. One pellet of any size in the head and it's usually all over. Wingbroken eiders, old squaws, scoters, etc. sure are tough to track down and finish.

While I prefer 12 gauge, 3" BB's in steel and 4's in HS/HD, the MLB took limits of eiders last year with 28 gauges loaded with some new non-toxic #6 shot. No cripples escaped, to my recollection. I did a little field testing myself and killed eiders, brant and a couple puddlers cleanly with the same load out to about 35 yards. Not a long range load to be sure, but deadly at reasonable ranges if you hit them where they eat, not where they poop. On the other hand, the occassional new toy is a necessity and requires a story unless you're gonna sneak it in-you lie, we'll back you up! LOL Good luck with whatever new gun you choose.
 
I use 3 inch High velocity (anything over 1450fps) steel loads. I use pretty much whatever I have but prefer #1 or 2 shot for sea ducks. I like the high velocity kent #1's especially in 3 inch. I'm not the greatest shot in the world and hate having to chase around cripples or worse yet losing birds so I don't even bother shooting at sea ducks outside of 30 yards.
 
I tell all my guys 3" 2's or 3's. Just no 'cheap' loads. All the inexpensive stuff is inexpensive for a reason!

Hevi-shot, black cloud, Winchester Supreme, those are all good loads in my opinion. 4's make good swatter loads for cripples on the water.

Also I don't ever really let anyone take shots over 30 yards, it's just asking for cripples that far out. I prefer a full choke, if you hit them you kill them and if you miss, well that's your fault. Hahaha

I own a 3 1/2" 870 and never fired one 3 1/2" round though it once.

Of course, this is just my opinion!
 
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Brian hit it on the head IMO

I have hunted sea ducks for the last 10 years - primarily on the left coast. Have always used a 3" 1 1/4 oz load. Until last year it was Hevi-shot #2's on Squaws, Scoters and GE's. Harlis get #4. Went to the right coast last year and used 3" #2 black cloud on the I-da's. Was very impressed with the results. Put the majority of 'em down with one shot. Will use that load again and it is about 1/2 the price of Hevi-shot.
 
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