Hooded Merganser

The hooded merganser is a small, ornate duck with a dramatic fan-shaped white crest on males. Preferring wooded ponds, small lakes, and slow-moving rivers, hooded mergansers dive for small fish, crayfish, and aquatic insects. They’re often found in quiet backwaters rather than open water. Hunters occasionally harvest them while targeting other species, though they’re more admired for their beauty than table fare.

Hooded merganser hunts in the Atlantic Flyway typically run from November through January, with peak windows shifting year to year based on weather and migration timing. Guided trips, limited to small parties of three or fewer, focus on locating open-water and river‐edge habitats—wooded ponds, slow‐moving streams, and shallow bays—where these diving ducks congregate. Hunters use specialized merganser decoy spreads, high-floating layout boats or shore blinds, and targeted calls to entice birds into range. Guides monitor daily Flyway migration reports to time outings for optimal action. These tailored, small-group hunts offer both seasoned waterfowlers and newcomers a personalized experience, complete with all decoys, boats, and field‐dressing service, while ensuring adherence to local bag and possession limits.

Hooded merganser hunts are structured as guided day trips with no on-site lodging or overnight facilities included. Hunters should arrange their own accommodations and meals, as camps do not provide sleeping quarters, food service or climate control. Typical outings run from first light through mid-morning, focusing on river and marsh habitats using portable blinds or boats. All necessary hunting equipment and guidance are supplied by the outfitter, but lodging, meals and any heating or cooling needs must be handled independently.