International sportsman
and author, Dr. JY Jones
checks his e-mail
before dinner.
Duck
Hunting
Kodiak Island Alaska has been rated as
the #3 destination for duck hunters!
…And why not with the natural abundance of
one of the most sought after waterfowl species in North America – the
harlequin! The distinctively marked and stately blue-gray harlequin
spends most of the year in Alaska. Many harlequin winter in the mild
open bays of Kodiak Island. At Larsen Bay Lodge harlequin rule! They
are usually the most predominant duck species found here, along with
another trophy duck – the Barrows Goldeneye. A larger cousin of the
common goldeneye, the Barrows Goldeneye is rarely scene east of the
Rockies, but is abundant at Kodiak.
Other waterfowl species commonly found at
Larsen Bay Lodge include black scoter, surf scoter, white-winged scoter,
and oldsquaw. When duck season opens in early October, a variety of
puddle ducks are a bonus to the daily brace of harvested birds.
The only thing to
rival the beauty of the waterfowl is the picturesque rugged coast of
Kodiak Island where the hunting is conducted! Duck hunters are placed
by boat on rocky points and small islands in pristine bays with snowy
mountain backdrops. The shooting is a mixture of pass shooting and
decoying birds. One unique feature of this type of hunting is that you
are often shooting at a downward angle at flocks of low flying sea
ducks, allowing you to see your shot pattern hits the water. This
vividly illustrates whether you are shooting behind the duck and by how
much! So you can actually work on your swing and improve your shooting
skills as you hunt!
Hunters are frequently moved from one
location to another, providing multiple shooting angles and
opportunities. You will not get bored, and you are never far from camp
if you get cold. While duck hunting you can expect to see bald eagles,
seals, sea otters, and spouting whales that will forever be etched into
your memories of Larsen Bay Lodge.
To experience the true Larsen Bay Lodge
mixed bag, after duck shooting, troll for king salmon along the
shoreline while glassing the hillsides for a nice
sitka blacktail buck! Then at the
end of the day, pull the crab pot and enjoy all-you-can-eat steamed snow
crabs that evening for dinner! It doesn’t get much better than that!!!
At the end of your stay, your ducks,
deer, and fish will be frozen in waxed a seafood box that you can check
as luggage on your return home.
But Be Warned! Once you
experience the beauty, variety, and abundance at Larsen Bay Lodge, you
will want to return again and again like so many of our satisfied
clients!
Because of stricter airline
weight restrictions of 50 lbs. per person, Larsen Bay Lodge has 12
gauge steel shot available for sale.
Also, while chest waders are not
necessary, neoprene waders provide warm waterproof protection against
the elements. But you can get by with knee boots. See our List of
Gear for complete details.
Bear in mind that because you are
hunting saltwater you need to clean and oil your guns each day after
the hunt.
Some taxidermist will tell you
not to wrap the duck in paper towels because it draws the moisture out
of the body and makes it more difficult to skin. Others taxidermists
will tell you wrap it up in many layers of paper towel to dry the
feathers out.
If your want to make you
taxidermist happy, stuff a cotton ball in the ducks mouth to keep
blood from seeping out on the feathers.
Either way, fold the duck’s head
under its’ wing or back over its’ body and carefully place it in a
large ziplock plastic bag and write your name on the bag.
For added protection you can use
a plastic grocery –type bag then put the plastic bag in a panty hose
leg, which will hold the feathers in place. Tie a knot in the hose
and cut off the excess for the next bird.
You can then put a piece of duct
tape around the bird and write your name on it with a permanent
marker.