Even though some of the young'uns on here can't understand how you can stay dry and warm with Filson? and was better off than some of the Sitka wearing guys... It is true. It was extremely tough hunting. only got out in the boats 1 1/2 days. High winds from the wrong direction. I made a nice shot on the first bird down for the camp, 1 and done. Then went on a bad streak.. just couldn't catch up with them.. and they were CLOSE. I waded (thigh to crotch deep) out 30 yards to an island, that was still connected to the main island only 8 years ago, and got the to a spot that the 30 MPH winds would blow the downed birds back to us. Of course that meant we had waves breaking near to on us. I shot lights out that day. In the end, I had left over shells (2) I only took 30. Hevi Shot Duck 3" #4's STONES King Eiders. Some were close.. some, were 50-60 yards (per the guide) When I was on ? I was on. 8 shells, 5 birds. Only 1 needed swat shots, (3) when I was off... I was off.. 20 shots (3 were on cripples) and no birds.. to be fair.. the waves were making it very difficult . I missed ? I mean MISSED a cripple 2 times.. due to the boat rocking. It was a good trip. I ended up with 4 King Eiders (Non res limit) and a Harli. I did take a Juvi Drake to get things going right after the previous day. I regret that only because we had soooo many chances that day on Hens. They are quite striking as well! Oh well.. I initially didn't want a hen, and then changed my mind. I young lady in camp managed to take a BANDED king. Banded in 1995 or 96. It was an adult at the time of banding. Quite the trophy that was!!!!


It sounds as if the hunting has only gotten more difficult We didn't think we would get off of St Paul on Friday due to high winds. One of the guides told me that they could not even get to the points today as they are in a white out blizzard right now.



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***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter

Congratulations Phil. I had been following the weather, glad you were able to get out for the time you did.
"Pass the Tradition Along"

Thank you for sharing your adventure. Looks cold and wet for sure.

Extremely Cool!!
Glad it worked out even with the bad weather, definitely a trip of a lifetime!

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Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998

"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "

Looks like a great trip!
I would love to give seaduck hunting a try, definitely on the bucket list.
Thanks for sharing.

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
________________________________________

My life has two seasons, duck season and carving season

Pretty awesome! Did you get any scenery shots or did the weather suck too bad to get anything worth sharing?

 Phil, where did you hunt out of? Looked chilly... Decoys looked large, where they? Guess you have some work to do at home. When you finish mounting them post pics...

There really isn't much scenery there!!!! LOL... I have 1 or two of town. Mostly waves.

We hunted St Paul Island. It is in the Bering Sea. I think a 9 mile by 12 mile hunk of pumice..... Yeah... those are certainly larger than magnum sized decoys!I will try my hand at mounting a few of them, but a few will go to someone that is better and more experienced with Kings than I am.

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***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter

Sounds like a great trip! Nice photo of the seals. Were they around while you were actively hunting? If so, did they have any interest in the downed birds?

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Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA “As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats.” —Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

That's awesome! Congratulations.
Nobody lies on their deathbed saying "I wish I had worked more"

Seals were always around playing in the surf. The week before, some crawled up to the hunters... How cool would that be!!!!!!!!! The didn't seem to bother downed birds... Liked to be scratched behind their ears tho!!!!! LOL

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***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter

That was cool,thanks for the ride along. What kind of boat was that in the last picture?

I thought I saw where a couple additional guide services were trying this year, was it crowded

Bill, that was a TDB17SC.

There have been 2 guides up there for 7-10 years, as I understand it. The new one this year... is unclear to me if he is truly on his own, or partnering with one of the other ones. When you can't get out, and can only hunt certain points it gets a little crowded. Oh.. and when "the other guide" decides to be a tool bag, and had 2 boats following the other guide every where around the Bering Sea... at 30-50 yards... that gets crowded too.....

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***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter

That is one heckuvan adventure Phil. I remember standing on the beach in a blizzard on the Hudson Bay some years back. I can not imagine hunting in weather even similar to that. But I would do it. Anyone on the trip prone to seasickness?

Were the birds working closer when you were in the boat vs on land?

Multiple guys got sea sick that have never before. Swells got them.

The birds... hmmm.. The successful day on the island... the wind was blowing birds in tight. In the boat.. we were not able to get out far enough to their feeding ground and resting areas. There were opportunities in the boat as well.. but probably better on the island.. the same could not be said about day 1 and 2 from the shore. The land was not rocking and rolling, so that made shooting easier.

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***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter

Sarah will be glad to hear that.

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Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA “As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats.” —Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

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***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter

Well then I'd be screwed sea sickness wise....

Still it sounds like quite an adventure

The second day in the chop, no one got sick. The swells were not much of an issue and they took motion sickness meds. The picture of me and Gary with 4 Kings and a Harli was from shore. It worked out that day.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
***Phil (Chesapeake Boy) Nowack***

http://www.mapleridgetaxidermy.com
http://www.philnowackphotography.com

Nothing like the north wind pushing snow at your back, a bird in your hand, and chessie with ice on his coat at your side.

Birds brought to you courtesy of Nikon, Benelli, Kodi, and Otter