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Kevin Puls

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Having hunted mostly in Ohio I have had limited opportunities to harvest nice specimens of diving ducks.

I often wonder where I would go for the best odds of a few dream ducks...Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup....not only in species, but in decent color and wall worthy. Maybe it is poor luck, or lack of true effort, but I have yet to down these in their true potential form.

What say everyone? If I were to start a quest for what I consider the big divers where would I start?
 
If I wanted all three in one trip and was going to use a Guide I'd call Fred Slyfield here in Washington and book a trip with him on the Columbia for three days....you'll most likely go home with some really nice Pintails and Wigeon to go with them....

The Texas Coast is a great place for Redheads but not the other two species.....

Late season on Pool 9 of the Mississippi is great for the Cans but not the Redheads....

Redheads and Cans can be had in close proximity in the Panhandle of Florida but you aren't going to see the Greater Scaup.....

The Finger Lakes in New York has the Redheads and Cans and I'd guess their Scaup would be Greaters in the late season...at least some of them...

I'm sure there are other places as well....


Steve
 
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Kevin
Hunt lake erie. I shoot all of those ducks every year. They also winter here.
You will need to hunt late December early January for the best plummage.
If iced up bring a slegde hammer or chain saw, and make some open water.
Pat
 
Kevin
Hunt lake erie. I shoot all of those ducks every year. They also winter here.
You will need to hunt late December early January for the best plummage.
If iced up bring a slegde hammer or chain saw, and make some open water.
Pat
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I've actually gunned Lake Erie quite a bit over the years, but all we ever see are lesser scaup and the occasional goldeneyes. Though I will admit I likely did not hunt late enough in the year. Those years the seasons closed around Christmas. Also, it was all Western Basin work, over toward you in Buffalo you are in a whole different flyway. But Buffalo is a lot closer than some other options.

I don't need them all in one trip. If I did that, what would I have to look forward to?
 
Lesser scaup show up early. Greaters, cans and redheads are later. All depends on the weather north of us. It's more than possible to shoot all 3 in one day.
I think we have a few DB.net guys that hunt OH or PA on the eastern end of Erie. Maybe they would have some advice. What about north west of you, Lake Michigan.
 
Lesser scaup show up early. Greaters, cans and redheads are later. All depends on the weather north of us. It's more than possible to shoot all 3 in one day.
I think we have a few DB.net guys that hunt OH or PA on the eastern end of Erie. Maybe they would have some advice. What about north west of you, Lake Michigan.
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Don't know much about Lake Michigan. But then that's why I am asking.

The later season thing makes sense.
 
 
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On the Finger Lakes we've been seeing lots of redheads and lesser scaup, along with some canvasbacks and greater scaup.

Up on Lake Ontario we shoot mainly greater scaup, along with some redheads. Lake Ontario is also a good spot to bag oldsquaw and whitewing scoter if you are looking for them too.

Best time to see these birds in good plumage is the 2 week season after Christmas.
 
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Here in NJ we shoot mainly Greaters, Lake St Clair for Cans and possibly Reds and definetly the Fingers Lakes of NY for Redheads I think those 3 places would give you the best opportunity close to you to harvest mature birds
 
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Thanks for the feedback. Some of these destinations are both intriguing and daunting.

Ny appears to be the first place to investigate. I have relatives in Chautauqua lake area.
 
10 years ago I would have said that MS Sound was a gimme for redheads and greater scaup in January. But we haven't had decent numbers of greaters in the last 5 years. And not many redheads this year.

Based on the photos I have seen, I would be bugging Fred out in Washington!
 
Kevin: Give me a shout if you decide to head over to the Central NY area.

Not sure how much open water they have on Chautauqua during the late season. However, the western Lake Ontario/Niagara River area may also be worth investigating for these species.
 
We get to shooter at most of these on Lake of The Woods every fall. Am going to try layout hunting this next year. Would also recommend Bill Nyman in the Green Bay Area of Wisconsin. He has layout hunts on both Green Bay and also the west side of Lake Michigan. If you woul like his phone number send me a PM and I will respond. Best of luck.
 
Kevin
Chautauqua lake has some birds. Not far from Chautauqua is Presque Isle in Erie PA. Right across the lake from Long Point Canada.
Most of what I'm telling you is big water hunting. Some have large boats and or layouts. Some places you can shore hunt from. The conditions on Erie can change very quickly, best to be with someone that knows the water.
 
Having hunted mostly in Ohio I have had limited opportunities to harvest nice specimens of diving ducks.

I often wonder where I would go for the best odds of a few dream ducks...Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup....not only in species, but in decent color and wall worthy. Maybe it is poor luck, or lack of true effort, but I have yet to down these in their true potential form.

What say everyone? If I were to start a quest for what I consider the big divers where would I start?
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Lake St. Clair for the three named birds. Mid November should do it but the Ontario season ends in early January. As long as the lake is not iced over you will be good. The later you hunt the better the plumage. I have had some good hunts in early January.

These first two pictures were taken on Lake St. Clair, New Year's Day, 2012.

Blackberry051.jpg


IMG_6415.jpg


Jan 7, 2011

118.jpg


Dec. 2010

465-2.jpg

 
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St Clair is close. I hunted it once a number of years ago. However, it seemed like there were a lot of rules to follow that were easy to find anywhere such as stake lines and shore clearances and I had a run in with a couple of locals that I suspected were guides that were not very friendly. Sadly, I have chalked that off my list of DIY hunts in the future because of my experience there.
 
I have always hunted St. Clair without a guide and not had an issue. Happy to provide tips for a successful hunt or connect you with friends in the area. The rules are pretty straightforward once you figure them out but it really is a small area to hunt. Weekdays are the key.

I almost always start hunting at 11 am, about the same time most everyone else is quitting.

Taking a closer look at the head shape that looks to be a lesser scaup posted above. We do get lots of greater scaup.

(Although I now live in Alberta I used to be one of the friendly locals.)
 
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Kevin: Give me a shout if you decide to head over to the Central NY area.

Not sure how much open water they have on Chautauqua during the late season. However, the western Lake Ontario/Niagara River area may also be worth investigating for these species.
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John,

I'll do that. I pass through there for work occasionally.
 
Kevin, have you ever considered a trip to Longpoint, Ontario, or as others have stated, hunt the same birds on the U.S. side?

Paul, rather than get into a discussion on whether a scaup is a greater or lesser, based on head shape with a C.O. down the road, you would be better served to go by the extension of white coloration along the primary feather shafts on the wings.
 
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