The final weeks of waterfowl season along the Atlantic coast are proving what veteran hunters have known for years: sometimes the best shooting comes when everyone else has packed up their decoys. From Massachusetts to Long Island, recent cold weather patterns have pushed significant numbers of ducks and geese to coastal areas, creating opportunities that earlier struggles made hard to imagine.
This season started rough in many locations. Massachusetts hunters faced relentless wind conditions that limited access to prime hunting spots and made consistent success nearly impossible. The early challenges were enough to discourage many, but those who stayed patient are now seeing their persistence pay off.
Randy Drago, who runs Codfather Charters out of Massachusetts, watched the season's difficult beginning firsthand. The wind became more than an inconvenience—it fundamentally changed hunting patterns and limited where boats could safely operate. The conditions persisted long enough to thin out the crowds, but they also impacted which species showed up and when.
Black ducks, historically a staple of New England coastal hunting, arrived in lower numbers than expected across much of Massachusetts. The shortage marked a noticeable departure from typical years when these hardy birds reliably fill hunters' bags throughout the season. Meanwhile, diving ducks including scoters and goldeneyes appeared early but didn't stick around. Many of those birds continued their migration south faster than usual, leaving hunters without the sustained action they'd anticipated.
The current situation isn't uniform across the state. Chatham has become home to an exceptional concentration of common eiders, with numbers exceeding anything local guides have witnessed in recent memory. The massive flocks represent a significant opportunity for hunters willing to target these sea ducks, which require specialized hunting techniques and aren't everyone's preferred quarry. Boston, by contrast, hasn't attracted the same bird numbers. The disparity highlights how localized waterfowl distribution can be, even within the same general region.
Success hasn't come easy, even in the better areas. Hunters are "picking away at birds" rather than loading up on limits. The gunning requires work, scouting, and adapting to changing conditions. But for those committed to seeing the season through, there are birds to be found.
Rhode Island presents a different picture entirely. While sea duck and diver numbers lag behind expectations, puddle duck hunting has exceeded hopes. The state experienced what Jim Tappero, Hunter Safety Education Coordinator for Rhode Island Fish & Wildlife, describes as a great year for black ducks. These birds have dispersed widely rather than concentrating in a few traditional spots.
"They're kind of everywhere," Tappero said, noting that hunters don't need to know secret honey holes to find black ducks this year. The widespread distribution means more hunters can access quality shooting without competing for limited space in well-known areas.
Mallards are holding in good numbers throughout Rhode Island, showing up where hunters expect to find them. Wigeon and gadwalls have appeared in their usual locations, giving hunters variety in their bags. Buffleheads have become particularly abundant, easy to locate for anyone putting in minimal scouting effort. Goldeneyes, while requiring more knowledge of specific locations, are available in solid numbers for hunters who understand their habitat preferences.
The scaup situation tells a more concerning story. These diving ducks, once present in massive concentrations, have become scarce in Rhode Island waters. The decline represents a dramatic shift from conditions just two decades ago when rafts of three to five thousand scaup were common sights. This year, the numbers don't justify targeting them specifically. The drop mirrors broader concerns about scaup populations across their range, though other areas are experiencing different patterns.
Common eiders remain present around Rhode Island but not at historical levels. The birds that are around have also become noticeably warier, making them harder to decoy effectively. The combination of lower numbers and increased wariness means eider hunting requires more skill and patience than it once did.
Weather patterns have complicated hunting strategies. Warm temperatures kept ducks moving between freshwater and saltwater environments rather than committing to coastal areas. The back-and-forth movement makes it harder to pattern birds and predict where they'll be on any given day. A hard freeze would change the equation entirely, locking up freshwater areas and concentrating birds on the salt. That shift could still happen before the season ends, potentially creating excellent late-season opportunities.
Long Island has emerged as the clear standout location in the entire Northeast. The hunting there has reached levels that have surprised even experienced local guides and outfitters. Nick Petrou of Natural Outfitters reports extensive bird coverage from the western south shore around Montauk to the western Sound.
The black duck situation on Long Island deserves particular attention. Flocks of ten to thirty birds are getting up off every small pond, creek, and tidal area. For a species that has faced population challenges and habitat loss, seeing this kind of abundance represents something special. These are the historic bay birds that defined Long Island waterfowling for generations, and their strong showing suggests good things for the future.
Scaup numbers around Long Island have reached heights not seen in over a decade. The Great South Bay and western Sound are holding thousands of these diving ducks. Looking across the bay reveals birds as far as the eye can see, a sight that seemed unlikely just a few years ago when scaup were notably absent from many traditional areas. The return doesn't necessarily indicate a full population recovery, but it shows these birds are using Long Island waters again in meaningful numbers.
Sea duck hunting gets progressively better moving toward Long Island's eastern end. Common eiders have flooded into Moriches, Shinnecock, Montauk, and portions of Orient Point. The concentrations represent exceptional opportunities for hunters equipped to pursue these birds effectively.
The eider numbers in Shinnecock Bay have been particularly impressive. Thousands of these large sea ducks have settled into the area, creating visual spectacles alongside hunting opportunities. The sight of that many eiders in one location qualifies as remarkable even by historical standards.
Common mergansers have also appeared in exceptional numbers, the highest concentrations seen across Long Island in the past ten years. While not everyone's favorite species to hunt—their fish diet affects meat quality—the abundance demonstrates how well the area is currently supporting waterfowl.
Canada goose hunting on Long Island's East End has provided consistent action throughout the season. Unlike some areas where resident geese dominate the harvest, migrating birds from Canada make up the bulk of what hunters are killing. These birds key heavily on agricultural fields, presenting different hunting opportunities than targeting waterfowl on water.
Captain Jack Passie brings serious credentials to his assessment of the goose hunting. The former captain of the Windy has been hunting these fields for 63 years, giving him perspective few can match. His evaluation carries weight earned through decades of observing bird behavior and migration patterns.
Recent weeks have delivered very good hunting for those working agricultural fields. Rye fields have clearly outperformed corn ground late in the season. The preference makes sense given how bird feeding patterns change as winter progresses and different food sources become more attractive. Understanding these preferences separates successful hunters from those who struggle despite being in good areas.
The East End operates under a two-bird daily limit for geese, more restrictive than many hunting zones. Despite the lower limit, hunters are finding plenty of opportunities. Passie estimates taking around 125 geese so far this season, demonstrating that quality hunting can happen even with conservative regulations.
The fact that most birds are migrants rather than residents matters for several reasons. Migrating geese tend to be less educated about hunting pressure in their stopover areas. They're also moving through, which means fresh birds continue arriving even as others are harvested or pushed out. The pattern creates more sustainable hunting than areas relying primarily on resident bird populations that can quickly become call-shy and decoy-wary.
The current late-season success across much of the North Atlantic region contrasts sharply with the difficult beginning many areas experienced. The turnaround illustrates why committed waterfowlers don't give up when early-season hunting proves tough. Migration timing, weather patterns, and food availability all shift as winter progresses, creating windows of opportunity that only materialize for those still hunting.
The snow and ice line has played its crucial role in pushing birds toward the coast. As interior waters freeze and snow covers agricultural fields in northern areas, waterfowl must relocate to find food and open water. The coastal zones of the Atlantic Flyway become refuges where birds concentrate, sometimes in impressive numbers.
These concentrations won't last forever. As the season winds down, hunters have limited time to capitalize on current conditions. But for those able to get out, the birds are there. The hunting requires work and knowledge of specific areas, but that's always been true of quality waterfowling.
The varying conditions across different states and even within regions highlight how local waterfowl hunting can be. What's happening in Chatham differs from Boston despite their proximity. Rhode Island's puddle duck success contrasts with its diving duck struggles. Long Island's exceptional hunting represents a different experience entirely from what Massachusetts hunters are finding. These differences remind us that migration and waterfowl distribution involve complex factors that don't affect all areas equally.
As the 2025-2026 season approaches its end, hunters in the North Atlantic still have opportunities. The strong finish won't erase memories of the difficult start, but it will certainly create some satisfying final hunts before decoys get stored and guns get cleaned for the last time until next fall.
