Be on the "X"

     The first lesson in sea duck hunting is to be on the "X".  Setting up your decoys in the area they are feeding will result in the fastest limit of ducks to be had.    Yes, sea ducks react great to decoys of their own species.  You can set up anywhere and take a few birds, but you will only take a few birds.  I was able to witness the "X" on yesterdays hunt.  Unfortunately, I was not on it.


     Yesterday, the weather was foggy and warm.  Temp was 45 degrees first thing in the morning.  I only had 2 hours to hunt, and i could not pass it up with only a week left in the season.  I decided to hunt in between two reefs as they create a funnel for the birds.  The birds fly through the hole when they travel from one harbor to another.  They birds did come into me, but they did not want to land.  bird after bird flew over my decoys to fly another 300 yards to the east to feed on an actively worked clam bed.  I watched a lot of Old Squaw pile into the clam bed to feed.  I got a few scraps, but the birds mostly buzzed my decoys and I missed a lot of them as they flew by at light speed.  I did have 2 decoy and drop right in so it was not a total loss.  I ended up with a Buffle Head and a pair of Old Squaw.  which is not bad for a 2 hour outing.

      Why did I not move to the clam bed?  Because a 8am I knew two boats would be coming to work it and that is exactly what happened.  As the boat worked the birds flew out of the way and landed only 50 yards away to continue the feed.  Be on the "X".