Photo by Cathy & Gordon Illg

It might be hard to imagine that there could be world-class waterfowling so close to one of the largest cities in the world, but in fact New York's greatest concentration of wintering ducks is around Long Island. Many species of ducks are included, but the more unusual hunting opportunity is for the sea ducks that winter in the area.

Mike Wasilco, a senior wildlife biologist in New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 2, is an avid sea duck hunter.

"The numbers looked pretty good last year," Wasilco said. "It seemed like last year they were in different areas. There were huge rafts of ducks at Montauk Point to Shinnecock Island."

Weather conditions made hunting rough on the days he hunted. A lot of other hunters probably experienced the same thing.

"It seemed like there were a lot of eiders out there, along with scoters," he noted.

Early in the sea duck season, the situation can change fast because more ducks are moving into the area, but by January, the migration is finished and duck movements are localized.

"You may have a lot of movement as the wind changes because birds try to get away from rough surf. They'll move farther offshore where there are just swells," Wasilco said.

The favorite sea ducks are white-winged scoters and eiders. Hunters often prize eiders because they are less common, viewing them as trophy ducks. Which species is more abundant can vary from year to year depending on nesting success.

"Oldsquaws are probably most widespread," Wasilco said. "They'll come into the bays along the south shore. The scoters and eiders tend to stay out on the bigger water."

The eating quality of the sea ducks is a matter of both opinion and the way they are prepared. Most important is cleaning away all fat deposits. Most hunters skin and fillet the breasts. Marinating or injecting can improve the flavor of the meat.

SEA DUCK TACTICS
Sea duck hunting is a radical change from puddle duck hunting. Some things are similar, such as decoying, but even this is somewhat different.

"Some days the birds will come in and try to land," Wasilco said. "It depends on whether you're where they want to be or if they are just passing by. Decoys make them pass a little closer than they would otherwise. Generally, traveling flocks are looking for an area to rest that is out of the waves, or they are looking for foraging areas."

Sea ducks feed heavily on shellfish, including mussels and clams, and may feed in water that is deeper than 40 feet.

"There are mussel shoals off Montauk Point, and that's why you see them out there," Wasilco said.

Getting into sea duck hunting around Long Island can be a daunting undertaking for a couple of reasons: access and safety. There are not many places where the general public can get to the sea ducks without traveling across open water, which can be treacherous any time but particularly during winter.

"There are some areas where you can hunt sea ducks from shore," Wasilco said. "Probably the best opportunity for that is at Cedar Point County Park.

"The sea duck-hunting area is the tip of a big, narrow point that sticks into Peconic Bay. There are pit blinds that hunters draw for. Basically you're looking at pass-shooting." Wasilco explained.

This long point may be 70 yards at its widest point and is about 5 feet above sea level.

"Incoming birds just pop up and over. You get some pretty good shooting there and you don't need a boat," he said. "Most hunters time their shots so the birds drop on land, or make sure you have a dog! You'll also want to wear waders so you can go out a ways."