By Mike Roche

One of the really unique hunting experiences in Massachusetts is hunting for sea ducks. It is special because it is not something which can be undertaken without considerable investment in specialized equipment, and it involves a significant physical challenge as well. Add to that the need to have a great deal of knowledge in natural history to understand the behavior of the species of waterfowl that inhabit the New England coast, and you can understand why not everyone is a sea duck hunter.

Most of those who are involved in sea duck hunting grew up near the coast and come from families of duck hunters. My personal involvement in duck hunting was amplified when I took a leave from my teaching job and went to work as the regional director of Ducks Unlimited (DU) from 1988 to 1992. Working with passionate waterfowl hunters who shared a strong commitment to the resource was enlightening.

Waterfowl hunting is a “crack of dawn” activity with involves specialized gear, including guns, decoys, clothing, boats and ammunition. That ammunition was radically different at the time this writer was appointed to the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board. As a matter of fact, the vote to ban the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was “on the front burner” at my first meeting and having been thoroughly briefed on the issue which had already been acted on by the federal government, it was an education.

There was clear evidence that lead shot deposited in wetlands by duck hunters was being ingested by ducks and causing mortality. The action required was clear, but the alternative, steel shot, was not popular with waterfowlers as it could harm the barrels of shotguns with tight chokes. There was a lot of controversy and heated debate and resistance. Over time, the matter was resolved as ammunition manufacturers developed alternatives to lead that today perform as well—if not better than lead—but it took time and the new shot is very expensive compared to lead.

The trip last Friday involved Andrew Sawyer, my niece’s husband who has become a favorite hunting companion. He is from Alabama and really loves hunting here in New England, particularly upland birds. He has always wanted to hunt eiders, so a trip with Mike Donnelly was set up. Mike is a lifelong friend as our fathers were hunting buddies. He stepped up and formed a DU chapter when I was regional director and has been a true leader in waterfowl conservation, driven by his passion for the sport. He has all the gear including a wide, 20-foot specialized duck boat powered by a 70 horsepower Yamaha tiller outboard. Stowed aboard are four dozen eider decoys, including some super magnums, Old Squaw (now known as long-tailed ducks) decoys, Canada goose and brant decoys, along with a lot of line, brass clips and hardware and anchors.

We enjoyed dinner and spent the night at a motel in Bourne before heading out at 6 a.m. for our adventure. Waterfowl hunting on the coast is not for the faint-hearted. The tides and waves create challenging waters to navigate in the pre-dawn and then battle as you set out multiple decoy lines. The birds were already moving as we finished the setup in a spot Mike’s knowledge and intuition led him to believe would create opportunities. He was right.

Line after line of eiders cruised in from off-shore to feed on shellfish in the shallows, as did groups of long-tailed ducks and scoters. Mike used a white flag to try to get the attention of the birds and a group of four pitched in and three departed. Andrew had dropped a hen eider and yours truly missed with a borrowed Remington Model 870 pump that I did not reload. Too many years of autoloaders and over/unders.

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After a repeat performance on the next flock, Andrew gave up the Ruger Red Label All Weather over/under Mike had lent him and took the 870, which he used quite effectively! The limits on sea ducks have evolved over the past several years. At one time, you were allowed seven eiders. Concern over the future of the species, which are long-lived but do not propagate in great numbers, has resulted in reductions in bag limits. The limit is three eiders with only one hen as part of a total of nine scoters, eiders and long-tailed ducks per day.

We began selecting drakes, which at maturity boast spectacular white plumage, and were soon close to the eider limit and set out long-tail decoys to try to lure them in, but the few singles that flew by got past us without a shot. Then it was time to pick up and head back. That chore, in a strong tide, was challenging but we picked up and were joined by Mike’s brother Dan and his son Jeffrey. They were ahead of us and were flagged over by the Coast Guard for an inspection. We hung around during the process, which involved checking boat registrations and checking all necessary gear, like life jackets, a horn or whistle, lights and signal flare. The guardsmen were professional and courteous and tolerated Mike’s Irish humor and he volunteered for a check as well.

All in all, it was a really enjoyable experience from Friday night’s stories, dinner and Guiness stout to a really enjoyable day of waterfowling with someone who truly knows and enjoys the sport. One of the prime drake eiders will be going to an Alabama taxidermist and will grace the Sawyer home. A lot of waterfowlers from across the country use the guides who advertise their services to hunt sea ducks. Mike does not guide but he freely takes out DU supporters from as far away as Alaska and he is the best.

The DU experience is unique, and the Quabbin Valley Chapter was one of the best in Massachusetts, putting on a great event that was enjoyed by many. Maybe now, post-Covid, it is time to resurrect the event? If anyone is interested in finding out what is involved in putting together a DU dinner, please feel free to contact me. There is great support for committees from DU and it really is a chance to make a difference and hold an event that a lot of people enjoy while feeling good about helping the waterfowl resource.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.