One of the most frequent questions we get is what load should I use to hunt eiders.
We recommend using a 12 or 10 gauge for sea ducks. Shell size isn’t the most important factor. I am not going to go into the differences between a 3 inch shell verses a 3.5 inch shell. That is a personal preference I leave up to the hunters. Shot size should be no smaller than number 2’s.
As far as brand of shells that is also left up to the hunter. In a perfect world everyone has patterned their shotgun to find out what load works best for that specific gun/choke combination.
I will say these birds kill hard. Nobody believes how hard they are to put down until that first morning and they witness it for themselves. Bring plenty of ammo and keep shooting until you are sure they are dead. More than one eider has “come back to life” to quickly dive and never be seen again.