The Accurate Reloading Forums
King Eider !!!
15 September 2011, 09:14
collectorKing Eider !!!
Well we have the Marco Polo Sheep equivalent in the Bird Hunting Realm....and it is called a King Eider !!!
Total cost of the hunt after everything is said and done will run you about 8K to 10K. Feel free to get in touch with me if you would like to go on this adventure of a lifetime...and yes we hunt the Holarctric...not just the Bering sea !!!
15 September 2011, 14:20
Patricio Gaudianook im in when?
15 September 2011, 19:32
GoldeneyeU need to sell it with some pics C!
fat chicks inc.
15 September 2011, 20:28
collector@Patricio
Best time to go in my opinion is January. These hunts get booked real fast so give yourself about a year or more ahead of time to book the dates.
@Goldeneye
Good idea. Will do it shortly on this thread. Please stay tuned.
17 September 2011, 01:29
Kamo GariI'll kill my king some day, but hopefully in the north Atlantic.
Collector, I'm not trying to nitpick--at all, I love your photos and input here-- but out of all the mounts you've posted, that one is my least favorite. I don't know it it's the pose or the coloration, but I'd be a mite disappointed if mine didn't look...better, I guess.
______________________
Hunting: I'd kill to participate.
18 September 2011, 20:00
collector@KamoGari
A mature King Eider drake on Eastern Coast is definitely doable...they have been shot during Common Eider hunts in Rhode Island and Maine. If you follow the bird watching forums you always get sightings on the East Coast during spring. Now if you can find one during hunting season then you are golden.
As far as any mount goes people have different opinions and we can all agree on some points and disagree on others. Problem with Kings is that most taxidermists use exaggerated lobes casted out of spring Kings, that is the time when the lobes are engorged and are twice the size, or even more. The lobe on this bird is about the size when I got him. So had the lobe been exaggerated to represent spring lobe then I would have been much happier with it. But then it would have been false advertising because when the bird was shot, it wasn't that big. In any case good luck with your King Quest...I am sure you will find a good one and hopefully the taxidermist will do a job to your satisfaction.
19 September 2011, 00:11
Kamo Gariquote:
Originally posted by collector:
@KamoGari
A mature King Eider drake on Eastsrn Coast is definitely doable...they have been shot during Common Eider hunts in Rhode Island and Maine. If you follow the bird watching forums you always get sightings on the East Coast during spring. Now if you can find one during hunting season then you are golden.
As far as any mount goes people have different opinions and we can all agree on some points and disagree on others. Problem with Kings is that most taxidermists use exaggerated lobes casted out of spring Kings, that is the time when the lobes are engorged and are twice the size, or even more. The lobe on this bird is about the size when I got him. So had the lobe been exaggerated to represent spring lobe then I would have been much happier with it. But then it would have been false advertising because when the bird was shot, it wasn't that big. In any case good luck with your King Quest...I am sure you will find a good one and hopefully the taxidermist will do a job to your satisfaction.
As always, thanks for your knowledgable and classy response, Collector.
______________________
Hunting: I'd kill to participate.
21 September 2011, 08:57
collectorThat is sweet Captain Jack....nicely done.
The King in your pics is a 3 year old drake...not fully plumed yet. One more year and he would have been 100%. Not bad at all !!!
22 September 2011, 22:07
L. David KeithOne of my friends was hunting last year and one of his party took a hen King Eider. Would be a very special day to get an atlantic King.
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Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added
http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#926103994110 days in the Stormberg Mountains
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson
Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......
"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."
23 September 2011, 06:51
george roofcollector, you are quite right about "opinions" on mounts, but for someone to have done that to the creme de la creme of waterfowl is simply unconscionable. The only thing I see right in that mount is the panel and the rock (not sure even how a warm water starfish got that far in frigid waters, however.)
RETIRED Taxidermist
23 September 2011, 08:12
collector@george roof (Taxidermist)
I am not a taxidermist by trade....however I know a few taxidermists. I have noticed that just like regular artists, the Bird Taxidermists are extremely critical of their own work as well as the work of other taxidermists....there is nothing wrong with that....that is what makes them get better.
You seem like a perfectionist to me....here is a gem for you to ponder upon. Please let us know your thoughts.
23 September 2011, 12:10
Kamo GariThat's the sweetest freshwater brant mating work I've ever seen!
______________________
Hunting: I'd kill to participate.
24 September 2011, 04:41
george roof
Freshwater brant? Now I'm not a birdbrain, but I have to say that's a new one for me. The mount looks like two male coot fighting, but as I said, I'm not much into birds.
Collector, I have never subscribed to anyone being a "perfectionist" as that ultimately leads to heartache and failure, but thank you anyway. Actually I'm just a commercial hack but certain specimen (even birds, like the bald eagle, the harlequin, and the King eider) just deserve a bit more attention that others.
RETIRED Taxidermist
24 September 2011, 05:50
NortonQuite simple.....those coots are masters of Pukulan Cimande Kombinasi and are fighting in the tiger position.....the tiger fights in a full supine (Harimau) position where the practitioner is lying fully on the ground. Beautiful mount.
24 September 2011, 09:07
Kamo GariNorty, come on man. You've threatened to show some of your mounts before. It's time. Bust 'em out!
______________________
Hunting: I'd kill to participate.
24 September 2011, 16:46
collector@Goldeneye
Some pics from the hunt
Eye to eye with Kings on the water !!!
Kings at 20 yards...hauling butt !!!
A lone King in range !!!
I had to put this one down with another shot as he had started to dive !!!
January lobe...Spring lobes are the ones you see on the taxidermy mounts.
Boss Hogg King Eider !!!
Sun really never gets up high in the sky in January over there....sort of skims the horizon.
We had 40 knots wind coming right in our face....it was ball shrinking cold that day !!!
24 September 2011, 23:40
Kamo GariMagnificent animals and great pics.
______________________
Hunting: I'd kill to participate.
10 October 2011, 17:02
JackduckhunterNice pics collector. Looks like you were hunting with Mr. Charlie up there yes?
Yup the one we shot needed another year to be fully mature but you don't pass on any kings on this coast!!
11 October 2011, 03:16
Aspen Hill AdventuresAll of the Eiders are just beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pics!
Do any of you utilize the down?
~Ann
24 October 2011, 10:38
Hunt LogicKings are high on my list of Sea Ducks. Been able to take almost everything else..but these guys have eluded me so far. Great pics!
24 October 2011, 16:10
JackduckhunterFacebook has a King Eider Club page for those of us who've been fortunate enough to take one. Check it out if you qualify
