Waterfowl in Iceland

Get on it, you can shoot everything there, Gulls, alcids, loons (at least residents can).

Scott Myers, a regular here, has spent some time there, not hunting, but can probably give some insight.

T
 
I was at a research station on lake Myvatn which is in northern Iceland. That lake was essentially closed to watefowl hunting as all the land is private and the locals like to harvest the eggs, ferment them and make a stinky spread they put on crackers with them. They have some seagull shoots up there to protect the eggs.

Most waterfowl have a pretty liberal harvest limits. The exceptions are eider and harlequins which are protected and closed. I talked with a guide in Reykjavik on my way out and best I could tell he specialized in field hunting for geese. I think they shoot good numbers of graylags and white fronts, there are barnacle geese there as well, but in much smaller numbers. As far as ducks go I think the only non-North American bird you’d have a chance to shoot would be Eurasian wigeon.


Puffins are hunted as they come out into the sea to feed, but they also harvest them commercially by standing on top of the cliff where they are nesting and catch them in nets on the end of a 6-foot pole. That sounds like more fun to me!

I’ve traveled a lot of different countries, and I have to say Iceland is at top of the list. It’s truly an amazing place and I hope to go back sometime. If you do go I’d recommend staying a few extra days to tour around and enjoy the scenery.
 
great response to the question scott! I really enjoyed the eider colony pic...you really experienced something great as the photos show.

Our boat caught quite a few puffins and murres this past fishing season in alaska. One tip though, don't let those little bastards get ahold of a finger, it hurts lol!
 
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