Scoter (pics)

MarshBum · 01-04-2009, 12:03 PM

Went out to get some salty air and some scoter. As I pointed out in this thread (http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=184692), you really have to have the right mindset for scoter. It's a totally different experience.

We had a good day and shot a White Winged Scoter, a first for me. I thought I would post some pictures comparing the surf scoter the lesser seen white winged scoter. The white wings are around, but this was the first that I had seen.

Surf Scoter (Skunk Head)

White Winged and Surf Scoter

White Winged Scoter

Thanks to my good buddy Chris for a great day in wild water chasing the big black bombers.

Geoff

lor · 01-04-2009, 12:14 PM

Nice birds Geoff, way to start off the year with something different.

QH's Paw · 01-04-2009, 12:32 PM

Right on Geoff, finally a seaduck post!
This forum, and many others, prove everyday anyone can successfully hunt park ducks. The same can not be said for seaducks.
We will not be making our trip this year and I am jonesing for the salt up north.
Another thing I would add about scoters, the white wing is usually considerably bigger than the others. It will appear like a big black football when the scoters fly in together.
Man I am missin' those longtails and skunkheads. When they decoy up it is amazing. Nothing like settin' the longline in the tide.
At least I got my goldeneye trip to savor.

H2Ofuzz · 01-04-2009, 12:38 PM

I shot a banded white wing scoter in Alaska. It was banded in 1987 and shot in 2006 13 miles from were it was banded. I got it mounted its on the wall now.

stlhdr1 · 01-04-2009, 12:47 PM

Very cool! Great job!

Keith

MarshBum · 01-04-2009, 01:19 PM

Just a few other notes... these are Oregon birds. I was really happy to see, and shoot, the white winged scoter here in the home state.

And yes, it's quite large compared to the skunk head. These birds are awesome when they come in. Big ... black ... bombers!

Geoff

chrispucci · 01-04-2009, 01:40 PM

Nice pics Geoff!

Now we just have to see how they taste.

Picture for size comparison. The white winged was HUGE compared to everything else.

duckboy · 01-04-2009, 06:00 PM

Geoff,
Great hunt I's say. I used to know some guys that hit em pretty hard out off of the spots where the Sandstone calves into the salted bay.

There are only a few guys that bother anymore, The birds are tough to kill, and this has been an oddball year to drive them down in to places they are usually resting in feb by late december.
for those that are unfamiliar with the differences in the physiology of the birds:
you ever kill a bluebill that took 10 shots and a boat chase ?

(Nice Drake whitewing) & you are right, they are bruisers Bout the size of a tav goose

well, a scoter will be wearing a bullet proof vest on top of all that and is a master at diving and swimming 75 yards at a breath held.
In fact, QH's paw and his son could tell you of a Surf Scoter that we bagged and brought to hand, stored in the side shelves of the boat and then got back to our set... things slowed down and after 40 minutes or so, we were all half asleep in the late daylight.

All of a sudden, a flap flap flap. we all sat up,
Kodi (the Brown dog that likes birds) sits up and shakes his head and we all kind of saw it at the same time:

Big drake surf scoter that had sat on the shelf of my boat dead for near an hour was somehow re- animated. He looked at me and Kodi, cocked his head and got a last good look at Chris, and dove itno the bay from the gunnels of the bomber!!!
He jumped into the last rays of the setting sun, we all did a double take and remarked that it takes a mighty strong bird...

nice work on the seaducks man.
good to see a little black and white around here for a change.
I know you work hard for them, and it always is good to see someone's hard work pay off.
A purist you are.

(I mean that in a good way).

H2Ofuzz · 01-04-2009, 06:30 PM

Here are a couple Alaska Sea Duck hunts.

HuntNFishAddict · 01-04-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispucci

Nice pics Geoff!

Now we just have to see how they taste.

Picture for size comparison. The white winged was HUGE compared to everything else.

I'd imagine they taste like clams. MMM Good. Everything tastes good in pepperoni.

Great shoot Geoff.

chrispucci · 01-05-2009, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntNFishAddict

I'd imagine they taste like clams. MMM Good. Everything tastes good in pepperoni.

Great shoot Geoff.

I ate the white winged last night. Here goes my review of the process:

1) You'd spend a month of Tuesdays trying to pluck a Scoter. 5 minutes got me a nickel sized patch.
2) I ended up skinning them like a rabbit - took 2 minutes and no damage to the meat. The legs and neck even skinned out just fine.
3) Washed and soaked in a little salt water for a few hours. It did not smell fishy - a far cry from a Merganzer...
4) Roasted with a little poultry rub at 400 deg. for 35 minutes (they are BIG).
5) TASTED GREAT!!! I started with a little slab of the breast. It was good. Grabbed a leg - it was good. Sliced/picked off the rest for a later lunch.
6) My wife ate a breast filet and a leg as well - she liked it. Gave it a thumbs up.
7) It honestly tasted like a regular mallard.
8) They are tougher than mallards/small birds - so they might be better suited for stew - but it would almost be like stewing a steak - kind of a waste...
9) I'd shot and eat another one today if I had the chance.
10) Scoter in my book are not 'crap' birds.

MarshBum · 01-05-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispucci

5) TASTED GREAT!!! I started with a little slab of the breast. It was good. Grabbed a leg - it was good. Sliced/picked off the rest for a later lunch.

No no no... you mean TASTED TERRIBLE!!! Let's not go around making more scoter hunters

Geoff

Nw dukn · 01-05-2009, 07:30 AM

Awesome birds congrats..

Hunt'nFish · 01-05-2009, 10:54 AM

Very nice Geoff! Great pics guys!
Looks like FUN!
Hunt'nFish

Moe · 01-05-2009, 10:59 AM

Scoters are thick as flies in SE Alaska. It was a couple of years after I moved away and I was in Maine when I found out people hunted them and liked eating them.

Oh, well. A missed opportunity.

chrispucci · 01-05-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarshBum

No no no... you mean TASTED TERRIBLE!!! Let's not go around making more scoter hunters

Geoff

I think one hard day like we had would eliminate 90% of first time scoter hunters. I'm sure some guys might have actually called it off long before the 1st scoter was in the bag.

HuntNFishAddict · 01-05-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispucci

I think one hard day like we had would eliminate 90% of first time scoter hunters. I'm sure some guys might have actually called it off long before the 1st scoter was in the bag.

Chris,
I'm sure this is because of Geoff's shooting. I have seen him shoot.

Nice hunt. I didn't mean to say they were a crap duck, just so you know. I was trying to be funny, but that's not something I'm very gifted in.
Jason

MarshBum · 01-05-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntNFishAddict

I'm sure this is because of Geoff's shooting. I have seen him shoot.

Bah! Jason you kill me. Just for the record, he was talking about the conditions and our precarious situation with regard to them

Geoff