Mergansers are a group of diving ducks that belong to the genus Mergus. There are three main species of merganser that can be found throughout North America and Eurasia – the Common Merganser, the Red-breasted Merganser, and the Hooded Merganser. These birds are often targeted by hunters for both sport and sustenance.
In the opening section of this article, we’ll provide a quick overview answering whether people hunt mergansers, the reasons why they are hunted, and the regulations surrounding merganser hunting.
Do people hunt mergansers?
Yes, mergansers are legal game birds that are commonly hunted by waterfowl hunters across their range. Their abundant populations, wary nature, and excellent table fare make them a popular target for many hunters.
Why are mergansers hunted?
There are a few primary reasons why mergansers are hunted:
– Food – Merganser meat is considered good eating by many hunters. Their lean, tender flesh makes for a tasty meal.
– Sport – Hunting mergansers provides a challenging opportunity. Their swift flying speed and diving abilities test a hunter’s skill.
– Population control – Biologists sometimes recommend merganser hunting to control overpopulated groups in certain areas. Their numbers have increased alongside human-altered wetlands.
– Feathers – Merganser feathers can be used for decorative and practical purposes like arrow fletching and fly tying for fishing.
What are the hunting regulations?
Merganser hunting is regulated with daily limits, possession limits, and seasonal hunting frameworks. These regulations vary depending on the specific species and location. Most states allow the hunting of Common, Red-breasted, and Hooded mergansers during normal waterfowl seasons with usual duck bag limits.
Now that we’ve provided a quick overview, let’s explore these aspects of merganser hunting in more detail.
Merganser Species Hunted
There are three main species of merganser that are commonly hunted throughout their ranges:
Common Merganser
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is the most widespread and frequently hunted merganser species. Its range extends across North America, Europe, and Asia. This large diving duck is known for its green head, red bill, and shaggy crest.
Common Mergansers are hunted for their meat and feathers across their entire range. Their populations are robust enough to sustain regulated hunting pressure in most areas. This species has benefitted from human-altered wetlands and thrived alongside development in many regions.
Red-Breasted Merganser
The Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is another popular game species regularly pursued by hunters. Their range spans throughout Alaska, Canada, the contiguous United States, and parts of Mexico.
Red-breasted Mergansers are slightly smaller than Commons. As their name suggests, males have a distinctive red breast and green head. Female Red-breasteds lack the vibrant plumage but share the shaggy double-crested appearance.
These mergansers offer fine table fare and challenging wingshooting opportunities for waterfowl hunters across North America. Their abundant numbers and short migration flights concentrate them heavily during the hunting seasons.
Hooded Merganser
The smallest and most reclusive of the mergansers, the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is also hunted in certain regions. Their range stretches across Canada, the United States, and into parts of Mexico.
Male Hooded Mergansers have a distinctive black and white crest that can be fully expanded or completely compressed. Females have a rusty brown crest.
Hooded Mergansers are less pursued than Common and Red-breasted mergansers, but they are legal game birds that are taken occasionally where sufficiently abundant. Their small size makes them less attractive for meat, but they provide a challenging shot.
Reasons for Hunting Mergansers
Now that we’ve looked at the three merganser species commonly sought after by hunters, let’s explore the main reasons why people hunt these diving ducks:
For Food
One of the primary reasons hunters pursue mergansers is for their meat. Mergansers provide tasty, lean flesh that is excellent table fare. Their diet consists mainly of small fish and aquatic insects that gives the meat a savory flavor.
Merganser breasts are often smoked, dried, or cooked similar to other wild waterfowl. The meat holds up well to a wide range of recipes and cooking methods. For hunters in cold climates, a merganser can provide a valuable source of food during long winters.
The good eating qualities of merganser meat make them a popular target for hunters looking to put some wild game on the dinner table.
For Sport
Beyond meat, mergansers are also chased by hunters for the sheer challenge and sport. Hunting mergansers tests a shooter’s skill and shooting abilities.
These diving ducks fly at high speeds up to 60 mph. Their streamlined bodies allow them to zip through the air. Lead shot must be delivered accurately to connect with a merganser in flight.
Mergansers are also extremely adept at escaping danger by diving under water. They can submerge in the blink of an eye to avoid predators or hunters. This challenging nature ups the sporting ante for waterfowlers in pursuit.
The combination of speed, wariness, and diving ability make mergansers a favorite waterfowl to hunt for those seeking an exhilarating and challenging hunt.
For Population Control
A third motive behind merganser hunting is to control populations in areas where they are overly abundant. Due to habitat changes alongside urbanization and wetland alteration, merganser numbers have surged in many regions beyond natural levels.
When at high densities, some biologists believe mergansers can have detrimental impacts on ecosystems and native fish populations in certain areas. Hunting is sometimes used as a management technique to regulate overly abundant merganser populations.
By selectively harvesting adult mergansers, hunting provides a mechanism to curb population growth and minimize negative impacts. For hunters, it provides more hunting opportunities. So population control becomes a shared interest for managers, hunters, and habitat protection in many cases.
For Feathers
Finally, merganser feathers are sometimes sought after by hunters for their practical uses. Both their body feathers and wing feathers can be used to make arrows or tie fishing flies.
The feathers are naturally water-resistant. This makes them desirable for arrow fletching or fishing lures. Some hunters will specifically use merganser feathers for these practical purposes or even sell them to other outdoor enthusiasts.
Between their practical uses and aesthetic beauty, merganser feathers are another element sometimes utilized by hunters beyond just the meat.
Hunting Regulations for Mergansers
Given the popularity of mergansers among hunters, wildlife agencies regulate merganser hunting within the broader framework of waterfowl seasons and bag limits. There are some variations depending on region, but most states follow similar rules.
Season Dates
Mergansers are primarily hunted during the regular duck and waterfowl seasons set forth in each state. The season dates for ducks apply equally to common mergansers.
For example, if the duck season runs from early November through January, hunting common mergansers would be allowed during those months. Some states may set special sea duck seasons that include red-breasted mergansers. But common merganser season dates align with general duck seasons in nearly all areas.
Daily Bag Limits
Most states and provinces include mergansers as part of the daily bag limit for ducks in aggregate. For instance, if the duck bag limit is 6 per day, a hunter could take any 6 ducks including mergansers of any species.
Some states may have subtle distinctions or sub-limits on certain species like redheads or pintails. But in general, mergansers are not distinguished and a hunter could harvest up to the daily duck limit, which may range from 4-7 birds depending on region.
Possession Limits
Possession limits regulate the maximum number of harvested mergansers a hunter may have in their personal possession at one time. This limit aims to prevent over-harvest and waste.
For Common Mergansers, the possession limit tends to align with two or three times the daily bag limit. So if the daily limit is 6 ducks, the possession limit may be 12 or 18 ducks. This allows for a successful multi-day hunt within reasonable limits.
A hunter must make sure they stay within both the daily and total possession limits set in whichever state or province they are hunting mergansers in.
License Requirements
To hunt mergansers, a hunter requires a valid state hunting license that includes waterfowl hunting privileges. Junior, senior, and disabled discounts may apply.
Beyond the basic license, hunters must also obtain permits like a state duck stamp and federal duck stamp in most areas. These additional permits are required to hunt all waterfowl species including mergansers.
Completing a hunter’s safety education course is mandatory in most states and provinces as well prior to pursuing mergansers or other game birds. Mandatory reporting of harvest numbers may also be required.
Best Practices for Hunting Mergansers
When preparing to hunt mergansers, there are some key strategies and best practices to apply for success:
Choose the Right Location
Scouting areas with good merganser populations is a critical first step. Search for areas holding good numbers of the species you plan to hunt. Typical merganser habitat includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and coastal shorelines. Look for spots holding ample food sources like small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects.
Focus on areas with sufficient cover like emergent wetland plants, submerged logs, and overhanging trees or vegetation. Mergansers use cover to hide from threats. Natural areas are better than highly developed waterways when possible.
Use Proper Decoys
Set out an appropriate spread of floating merganser decoys to improve your chances of attracting birds within range. Pay close attention to the species being hunted and use look-alike decoys.
Position the decoys where mergansers are likely to raft up or frequent based on scouting. Place some decoys on anchor lines to add movement and mimic swimming birds. A quality decoy spread is a key asset when hunting mergansers.
Pick the Right Boat
A boat optimized for waterfowl hunting can be a major asset when hunting divers like mergansers. Low profile layout boats allow a concealed approach and hidden access to hunting spots. More traditional fishing boats can also be used.
Look for boats that are stable, enable low-profile concealment, and have sufficient power to navigate upriver or along the coast to hunting areas. Consider options for concealment like camouflage or portable layout blinds when in a boat.
Use a Retriever
Given mergansers live and feed exclusively in water, having a well-trained retriever dog is almost essential for efficient hunting and recovery of downed birds. Mergansers dive and swim away when shot, often dying out of sight underwater.
A capable waterfowl retriever can mark the downed merganser location, swim out, and retrieve it before the current can sweep it away. Good communication between the hunter and well-trained dog enables the most effective merganser hunting.
Aim for Clean Kills
Hunters should use effective shot sizes and shooting techniques to promote clean, ethical kills on mergansers and all waterfowl. Using steel shot in improved modern shotgun loads allows clean kills without heavy wounding losses.
Avoid excessively long shots that are beyond your effective range. Remain patient for quality shooting opportunities that increase odds of cleanly harvesting your limit. With proper preparation and sporting techniques, merganser hunting can be an exciting and sustainable tradition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mergansers are migratory waterfowl that are legally and commonly hunted throughout North America and Eurasia for meat, sport, population control, and feathers. The three main merganser species pursued are the Common, Red-breasted, and Hooded mergansers.
Hunters are drawn to the excellent table qualities of merganser meat as well as the challenging nature of hunting these swift diving ducks. Harvest is regulated based on general waterfowl seasons and bag limits but remains popular where merganser populations are robust.
Using proper scouting, decoys, boats, and an effective retriever dog enables productive merganser hunting. Following ethical practices regarding shot sizes and shooting opportunities promotes sustainability.
When carried out responsibly within regulations, hunting these wary diving ducks offers excellent opportunities to put wild merganser meat on the menu or test waterfowling skills against a challenging quarry. Though not all people may approve, regulated merganser hunting remains a lawful tradition across many states, provinces, and countries.