Seaduck Hunting

dtessar

dtessar

Member
Hey guys,
I've noticed there are a lot of Old squaw where I usually hunting. I have been wanting to get into hunting them and seaduck. Was wondering how many decoys in a typical spread/and of what. Also how they are rigged. Any info on old squaw and seaduck hunting will be great.

Thanks,
Dan
 
I've only hunted for oldsquaw on Long Island a couple of times, but we frequently target them on Lake Ontario. You should have some oldsquaw decoys to consistently draw them in, as I've seen them skirt around large mixed diver spreads that lacked oldsquaw decoys. However large numbers of oldsquaw decoys aren't necessary. I have two dozen oldsquaw, but I only put out 12 to 18 of them. Of course you want to be in the right spot, especially if using a smaller spread since it is less visible.

We also have broadbill on Lake Ontario, so my typical spread is 4 dozen broadbill/redhead mixed in one group with a dozen oldsquaw and a couple whitewing scoter off to one side. I've heard it said that the oldsquaw will shy away from the broadbill, but we've had good results with the oldsquaw rig set off to the side.

We rig most of the divers on longlines, 11 broadbill per line and 6 oldsquaw per line. Where you end up hunting may have a lot of tide so it may be harder to keep the decoys in place and/or above water. Some folks string the decoys off the stern of the boat and we've had OK results with this when hunting in tidal areas. If stringing off the stern, you'll want to develop a system that will allow you to somehow release the decoys or quickly pick up the spread and quickly get the boat onto cripples (as oldsquaw can be tough birds).

I can't give you much input on the other sea ducks, as they aren't as common where we hunt.

Here's a pic of a memorable Lake Ontario mixed bag day:

Jan08008edit.jpg

 
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I hunt the Norwalk Islands in Long Island Sound for the past 10 years or so for Old Squaws.
I have hunted then with as little as 2 dozen but typically use 4 dozen decoys on 4 long lines. They decoys in very well and are fun to hunt.
If you don't have OS decoys any black/white decoy will do, I used buffies my first year.
 
That's a hell of nice mixed bag of divers, but what is that green-headed thing on the left end? :)
 
Carl,
Those are the "other" ducks. Even had one gadwall that day (an exotic at that locale), it's somewhere in the middle of the pile.

It's funny how I lose interest in the mallards once I start hunting the lakes. That may be blasphemy in some regions, but I really enjoy hunting divers.
 
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Substitute gadwalls in place of the oldsquaw and mallards and you would have typical Mobile Bay bag.
I love big water hunting too.
 
It's funny how I lose interest in the mallards once I start hunting the lakes. That may be blasphemy in some regions, but I really enjoy hunting divers.



I get the same reaction here. I get excited in December when the big flights of whistlers show up. I just love hunting whistlers on the coast. I'm the only person among my hunting buddies who has whistler decoys. Shoot, I can even have a great day hunting buffies!
Click to expand...
 
For ya'll hunting the Gulf Coast or Mobile Bay, how do you pick your setup spot. Found this image on how to set out decoys when using a boat blind. Now just need to determine where to place the boat :) Any clues to look for prior to actual scouting; points of land, mouth of coves....
View attachment BoatBlindDecoySpread.png
 
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Squaws like squaws there rasist. The more white the better. 1 doz dcoys and you can always fill in w bleach bottles

Phil
 
I use a similar spread, the boat is oriented into the wind when I hunt solo, cross-wind when with a partner:
View attachment SmallSpread.jpg
If I am stricty diver hunting, remove the coots and gadwalls and add more diver decoys.
Where to put the boat?
Scouting, Scouting, Scouting!
You gotta find either a feeding area (submerged grassbeds) or loafing area. Either way. you gotta scout your area.
What state are you in? Not sure where "no location entered" is located????????
 
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Thanks for all the info. Im going to look into getting some old squaw and scoter decoys. I have a ton of broadbill rigged on longlines already
 
Ok, just a little east of me.

Given all the seagrasses down there on that part of the coast, you should have some good gunning for redheads and greater scaup.
I hear that seaducks show up around there in cold years too.
 
Gary,
Do you ever hunt Lake Miccosukee? Is it even still allowed? The locals liked to shoot bullheads there and I joined in the year before my40-year-old son was born, so it's been a while. I painted some of my bluebills into ringnecks and they came right in. Damn lily pads caused too many lost ducks unless you remembered to keep shooting if their head was up...
Bill Burkett
 
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