Maine Sea Duck 2019 Season Recap

Thornehead Guide Service experienced a banner season this past year! Most clients either limited out on their desired species, or at very least, had an opportunity to bag their limits.
Long-tailed Ducks (Old Squaws) arrived early this past season and provided our clients an opportunity to gun these fast moving little birds during much of November, in addition our late season hunts. Common Eiders remained numerous throughout the season in Casco Bay. We even bagged a few Northern Eiders during December, which is earlier than usual for that Eider subspecies. All three Scoter species were present and offerred us much early season action from our layout boats. The plumage was superb on all species, particularly from Thanksgiving on.

Our clients bagged several banded Eiders this past year. One client bagged one hen Eider that was affixed with a radio transmitter, nasal disks, and leg bands! We were able to reach the biologist who affixed the apparatus last May. We had worked with him in the past and report the data directly to him. He was delighted by our find and said he had observed the bird in Northern Casco Bay all summer. He indicated it was very rare to have that transmitter still attached this late in the year.

We aquired a third Bankes layout boat and utilized it later in the season. Three layout boats on the water really kept us hopping!
We met lots of new clients and reaquainted with old ones. We consider them all friends!
We had a few weather delays but were able to work with our clients to fit most of those lost days in during their stay in Maine. We moved one or two days to next season and everyone left very pleased. We always reschedule lost hunting days due to severe weather. It’s just the right thing to do.

So what are we aticipating for the 2020/21 season?……
The proposed opening day for Maine Sea Ducks is November 9th. The season is expected to close on January 16th. Bag limits should remain the same.
We are currently researching the purchase of a new sea duck hunting boat this spring. Although our current Polar Kraft is in fine working order, it is showing its age. Reliable, late model, equipment is important to us. (and you!)
Since our layout boat hunts have become so effective and popular, we will be rigging the new boat to carry all 3 layouts on board so they may be easily transported to remote locations. Look out sea ducks!
The Hilton Garden Inn-Freeport, where we lodge our “package hunt” clients, was recently fully renovated and is nicer than ever. It will be tough to find more comfortable accomodations during a Maine sea duck hunt.

Business at Thornehead Guide Service is also very good. We are nearly booked full for the 2020/21 season with only one set of 3-day hunts still available in late December. However, we do have a few single day hunts available for booking throughout the season. We are currently booking hunts for the 2021/22 season. Please inquire by email or phone if you wish to discuss a guided Maine sea duck hunt with us. Superior client services are what we pride ourselves on. WE WILL return your call or email in a timely fashion if we miss you.
We hope you had a sucessful 2019 hunting season as well.
Please tune into our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, TripAdvisor) for our off season updates! Thanks!