Adak is one of the most unique places to waterfowl hunt in North America. This remote island is located where the Pacific Ocean meets the Bering Sea.
This convergence brings not only brings bird rarely seen in North America but also a landscape that has sweeping variety in a very small area.
Whether hunting pacific eider and harlequin on the Bering Sea or Aleutian teal and European wigeon on ancient fresh water lagoons, Adak offers an opportunity that should not be missed in a waterfowler’s lifetime.
Common species include pacific eider, harlequin, Aleutian teal, American wigeon, Eurasian wigeon, common goldeneye, old squaw, black scoter, surf scoter, common merganser, red-breasted mergansers, bufflehead, greater scaup, pintail and mallard. Rarely seen in North America Asian vagrants such as tufted ducks or smew are also seen on Adak, depending on weather conditions during the season.
Besides the wide variety of waterfowl, there are also opportunities for upland birds such as the beautiful rock ptarmigan and snipe.
Caribou Hunting
Caribou on Adak are big and abundant. They were introduced to Adak in the 1950’s to provide hunting opportunities and emergency food for residents of the Adak Naval Air Station.
There are several reasons caribou are so abundant on Adak: no predators on the island, no prior grazing had reduced or altered the plant life, no significant parasites or biting insects, and no need for long-distance migrations. Because of the remoteness of the island, logistical challenges, and limited year-round human population, there is not enough hunting to control herd size.
With plenty of food and little to bother them, Adak caribou can get big as well as numerous. The largest caribou on record was taken on Adak (weighing in at more than 700 lbs.). The quality of caribou meat taken from Adak is also excellent.
These animals are not under pressure to continually migrate and are able to graze leisurely.