I am now offering waterfowl hunts with Capt Adam Smith in the Boston, MA area. These hunts offer Sea ducks (Atlantic/common Eider, Old Squaw, Surf & White-winged Scoter), Canada Geese, Atlantic Brant, Black Ducks, Mergansers, and 7 varieties of Puddle Ducks & Divers. On occasion the King Eider. This area is known for producing banded Eiders. Last year a total of 19 were wearing jewelry. In the 2009 season, 36 bands were taken. This hunt starts before daylight in the bay, then ends between 11am-1pm for lunch (included). Then resumes in the tidal flats in the afternoon for ducks, Canada Geese and Brant, tides/weather permitting. A full limit in this State if you were to bag all limits would be 23 birds per day, so at least you have the opportunity to hunt a wide variety of species. Included: guide, boat/blinds, decoys, lunch, shotgun shells, tagging/freezing of trophy birds for shipment. Dogs are welcome if trained. Hunts are open with one to seven hunters, 3 day minimum at $350 per day. Deposit of $200 per day to book dates.

Season runs from early November-late January. Some dates are already booked, so contact me for open dates.

Not included: Hotel (the Marriot gives hunting guests a discount), breakfast/dinner, transportation to Boston area, license (HIP registration, MA & Federal Stamp), shipping of birds to your home.

Lobsters: Arrangements may be made with a local wholesaler to ship live lobsters to your home or pick up. Currently, they are running about $7.95 per lb.

What you doing in my back yard, son?

Adam's old school, and a good guy. His boat is hilarious, but he gets the job done!

Many years ago, I was killing eider off a jetty and wading out to get the dead. One cripple got into water too deep for me to wade. Adam, before I knew him, motored over to the bird, gathered him up, and delivered him to me with a smile, and a 'nice bird!'. A very nice gesture, and a classy act.

And not trying to bash, but no one looking at this deal should actually hold their breath for a king, or a band.

Also, if you know where to go locally, one can get bugs *way* cheaper than that.

Cheers,

KG

Yes, the King's are a rare trophy, and they only take them on rare occasions, but all of my buds that hunt with him have a great time and he not only puts them on sea ducks, but brant, geese and the usual ducks. They do however take a fair number of banded Eiders each year, not just a few. I learned long ago to hire a guide before I venture into unknown territory. I did all of the DIY hunts when I was full of piss and vinegar. Besides, I enjoy listening to guides talk about the history, hunting and the birds. To me it's money well spent. I plan on going myself this year.
Good hunting,
D.

Sounds like fun with lots of action. I'm not much of a wing shooter so I am curious why banded birds are more sought after? Most of my chickens are banded.

Oh and yes, bugs be running about $6 a pound in Vermont and we don't have any salty coastline. One of them was on my dinner plate last night.

Banded waterfowl wearing "bling" or jewelry are highly prized by we duck/goose hunters Ann. In earlier days, we had to send a letter to the bird band center. Now we can call an 800 number, email or text our info. This information is recorded with the matching number and you are sent a nice certificate with all the banding info; when, where, by whom, age of bird, sex & thanks from the USF&W Service. Certain bands are more collectable than others. I have collected many other my waterfowl career and for a southern fella, getting any type of sea duck band would be very special. Adam takes anywhere from 19-36 bands per year on Eider's alone, or an average of 27.5 per year, but you never know when it will be your turn. I'm going to hunt and collect hopefully some trophy birds and a band would be a major bonus.
Cheers,
David
PS: bugs have always been my favorite food since childhood.

Just a few of my bands. I have dove, duck, geese and starling examples.

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
Yes, the King's are a rare trophy, and they only take them on rare occasions, but all of my buds that hunt with him have a great time and he not only puts them on sea ducks, but brant, geese and the usual ducks. They do however take a fair number of banded Eiders each year, not just a few. I learned long ago to hire a guide before I venture into unknown territory. I did all of the DIY hunts when I was full of piss and vinegar. Besides, I enjoy listening to guides talk about the history, hunting and the birds. To me it's money well spent. I plan on going myself this year.
Good hunting,
D.

Again, I wasn't bashing. I know Adam, and he's a fun guy and puts his sports on birds. And yes, there are quite a few banded seaducks here--almost always eider, but they're still not what I'd call common. Where he hunts I know extremely well, as I cut my teeth in the same areas he still hunts. I see him every year, both in the field and at DU events. He often donates hunts to the Boston Chapter, where I was a committee member for a bunch of years.

For ducks other than the salty variety, there will be mostly black ducks (limit one), plenty of bufflehead, some CGEs, and mallards, depending on where he takes folks. Oh, and mergs. Canadas can be had in the salt marsh, though you really won't shoot them in the places he takes people for seaducks (with the exception of an island spot).

You probably should mention that we have a split season for brant. If sports want to target them, they'll need to time the hunt accordingly.

If you do come this year, be sure to holler, David. Beers on me.

Edited to add: seaducks here open in early October, not November...

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

Oh and yes, bugs be running about $6 a pound in Vermont and we don't have any salty coastline. One of them was on my dinner plate last night.

Ann, yep, that's closer to the market rate. Not sure how it was up there last year, but down here in MA/NH/ME the prices for bugs was outrageous. In a good way. For much of the summer I was getting them for *$2.99* a pound. Cheapest I've ever seen them. I wasn't complaining!

KG, I can only get them at the market rate unless I make a road trip to Maine. By then it's just cheaper to get them at the local Shaw's.

A month or so ago they had some 10 pound bugs here that looked prehistoric.

Anyway, David, next time one of my chik-uns die I'll save the band for you and send it for your collection. They are metal, stamped with a number.

KG, thanks, having a beer and talking hunting would be a great way to spend a fine evening in Boston. Never been there; the history alone perks my interest. Anything prehistoric to our military conflicts is of interest concerning our nations history. Boston Harbor...now that's history. Didn't take anything you said as bashing, nadda. Adam struck me as a fine gentleman and hunter and 100% of my guys say the same. I'm fine with an Eider, Longtail, Scoter, RB Merg and Brant. The others are just extra's if taken. Thanks for the tip on Brant season. That's an important concern. Will keep you posted when dates are firm.

Ann, that would be cool. I was metal detecting CW relics in Nashville one day (battle of Nashville) and found a tiny bird band. Sent off the number thinking it had to be from a Dove or some other great exotic bird. I have taken 8 banded Dove's over the years, but not only no...hell no! It was from a Starling some lady banded years earlier. I wear it on one of my lanyards to remind me I dislike dumpster pigeons ;(

I have booked the dates of January 9, 10 & 11th 2011. At this time, tentively, all species are open to hunting. If anyone wants to join us, get in touch with me.
LDK

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
I have booked the dates of January 9, 10 & 11th 2011. At this time, tentively, all species are open to hunting. If anyone wants to join us, get in touch with me.
LDK

So, how was it? Pics? I assume you meant January 2012...

Last thing I'll add for prospective sports: there is no Sunday hunting in MA.

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
I have booked the dates of January 9, 10 & 11th 2012. At this time, tentively, all species are open to hunting. If anyone wants to join us, get in touch with me.
LDK

So, how was it? Pics? I assume you meant January 2012...

Last thing I'll add for prospective sports: there is no Sunday hunting in MA.

My bad KG, it is 2012, not this past date. Yeah, we're arriving on Sunday and begin hunting on Monday. That's the law in several States; no hunting on Sunday. However, I read recently that one State was looking to amend that law to allow hunting on Sunday's. Makes it tough for those who only get to hunt on weekends. Cheers, David