Kodiak: Chasing Bucket List Harlequin in Unforgiving Conditions

This article is provided by Weatherby as part of a Sponsored Content program. Ducks Unlimited editorial staff played no role in creating this content.

By Tyler Grethen, Marketing Manager of Weatherby

Kodiak Island has always been one of those places that calls to me; it’s wild, unpredictable, and home to some of the most challenging hunts a waterfowler could ask for. So, when I was invited to tag along on a hunt with some of my co-workers at Weatherby to do some final testing on our SORIX shotgun, I was beyond excited. Growing up hunting the marshes of Missouri, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to travel to a far-off island to chase some of the most beautiful sea ducks in the world. 

Kodiak: Chasing Bucket List Harlequin in Unforgiving Conditions

Anyone who has pursued sea ducks knows they don’t come easily. At the top of most waterfowlers’ bucket lists, you can find the harlequin duck. Its vibrant plumage is unique in the waterfowl world, and with only a few places to hunt these birds, they are highly sought after by dedicated hunters. So, to get the opportunity at one, you must go where they thrive— the frigid, unforgiving waters of Kodiak’s coastline. Though “harleys” were at the top of the list, we would also have the opportunity at Barrow’s goldeneyes, long-tailed ducks, and several species of scoters.

Hunting sea ducks on Kodiak is an experience unlike any other. The steep cliffs, surging tides, and ever-changing weather keep you on your toes. On this trip, we were lucky that we would get to hunt these sea ducks from a boat with long lines of decoys in hundreds of feet of water and from the jagged coastline where we would set decoys based on the tide. Our first hunt was from the boat. We arrived well before first light and set the long line of decoys. I remember being so focused on learning how to set the decoys that I almost forgot where we were. I was surprised when I looked up from the task at hand and we were in a beautiful bay surrounded by mountains. To this day, it was one of my favorite moments that I’ve ever had while chasing ducks. As the light grew brighter, the ducks started flying. We had several Barrow’s goldeneyes and harlequin ducks buzzing the decoys. Though legal shooting was upon us, we elected to pass. We wanted to make sure we only targeted fully plumed drakes. After a few more minutes of patiently waiting, it finally came together. A lone drake passed through our decoy spread, providing a left-to-right passing shot. The SORIX shouldered quickly, and when I pulled the trigger, I knew I hadn’t adjusted to the incredibly fast speeds these birds are known for. I was just behind on my first shot, but after a quick mental adjustment, my second shot was delivered perfectly. Watching that first harlequin fold and hit the water came with a mix of adrenaline and deep respect for the bird, the place, and the hunt itself. The deep blues and beautiful rust underbelly were a sight to be seen and is a moment I will never forget. We went on to have several more days of bagging scoters, goldeneyes, and long-tails. It was truly a trip of a lifetime.

The salty water and rough weather proved to be the perfect testing ground for the SORIX shotgun. A few months later we ended up launching the SORIX shotgun, and you can find out all the details here: https://weatherby.com/store/sorix/.

Check out this Endurance Tested, Field Proven Video we put together to show off the highlights of this awesome trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAry4RocBn0&t=25s. 

This article is provided by Weatherby as part of a Sponsored Content program. Ducks Unlimited editorial staff played no role in creating this content.