EASTERN SHORE HUNTING REPORT

[SAXIS ISLANDER]

Most of the hunting reports that I read on this site are from NC or wherever the hell Glen W hunts. I guess that if I had those sprigs I'd be tight lipped too.

What's going on on the Eastern Shore of MD/VA/DE???

I think that I am privy to hunting the area with the worst water quality, least sub-aquatic veg, and consequently few ducks. The area from the mouth of the Pocomoke River, around Saxis, Messongo Creek thru Guard Shore on the map should hold ducks, but just doesn't. The Maryland side of the Pocomoke sound is a much different story. From Fox Island to Apes Hole and over to the Annamessex the bottom is littered with patches of grass, the water is cleaner/clearer and guess what??? More ducks.

The skinny: We've been killkin a few sportatic teal and black ducks. We've killed more mallards than usual. There are a fair number of big divers in the area but we haven't had the weather to whack them in any substantial numbers.

On the whole...we're down. What about you??????

[Glenn W]

It's no secret CL, I am very fortunate to be a member of a hunting club that has the best 2 of the 5 leases on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation. The Pamunkey River attracts and holds Puddle ducks in more numbers than any other area of Virginia for the exact reasons you mention-- water quality and Food. When ducks have food, they will come and stay. This river is blessed with tremenous Millfoil growth as well as ellodea, coontail, and some other kinds of subaquatic food. The river also has the topography that puddlers love--- some sawgrass marsh, alot of hardwood tidal swamp, big resting bays, marshmellow and some other kind of marshgrass marshes. a perfect tidal swing (about 3') and CLEAN water.
I hunted my whole life on marginal waters just a few miles from this river (James, Rappahannock, Chickahominy, Appomatox) so I am well aware of less than stellar duck hunting locations.
Now, back to your questions: I tried a big river set up yesterday as I have the diver urge setting in. I got word that there was a big raft of Bluebills on the main river so got all excited. Well, the "Big" raft wasn't so big, maybe 400 birds tops. The black bombers wouldn't fly or cooperate yesterday and only managed a handfull of Dippers and a Ruddy. The guys that hunted the bay, marsh, and swamp did real good considering the weather. The Pintail hole was fair and two parties got their Sprig limits. Pretty good Mallard hunting and more Blacks were killed than we've (the Club) killed in the last 2 years combined yesterday. Nara GW teal-- they have all left. I think the Gadwalls musta got lost this year as they have been almost non existant. A very few Widgeon earlier, but none seen in a while now ( we never get many widgeon). On the whole, this season has shown more Teal than ever, Mallard numbers are down a little from last year (although the #'s are improving now), Pintail are about the same, and we have no idea what happened to the Gray ducks and Ringnecks this year. A decent, but not banner season.

[Bert Rodgers]

CL thanks for the report. It seems the Upper Bay and Susky Flats are holding a ton of Divers. Strange when you consider most of the poluting nutrients enter they Bay up there.

Our place in Dorchester has been hit and miss with too many misses. Geese are plentiful but well educated and I have notice mega flocks on fields lately
(acting like snows) which makes them even tougher. That said I have a lot more geese in the freezer than ducks.

Is a trip down to Chrisfield to hunt Janes Island or Cedar Island worth the effort?

Bert

[Capt-D]

but we haven't had the weather to whack them in any substantial numbers.

On the whole...we're down. What about you??????

Looks like the forecast may change that this week!

-D

[neilinov]

We've had a below average year here in Delaware on the Rehoboth Bay. That one week where we had the ice up was the best week. Saw a few different birds show up with the Widgeon, Gadwall, Pintails in limited numbers. Of course the Black ducks are always around in huge numbers. The other day I think we could have gotten like 30. Too bad you are only allowed 1. The mallards have been ok this year. Not huge numbers, but enough to limit out a couple of days.

[SAXIS ISLANDER]

Bert- I dunno anymore...It seems that the boys at Fox's are doing ok if they get weather...I'd think that Cedar would be ok as well. Nice water and bottom over that way.

Lemme know...I'll play.

[BluePrints]

Slower Lower DE has been up & down this year. The first two splits were the best I think anybody can remember in a while. The last split has been a toss-up w/ some good & some really bad days.

What I can't figure out is some usual great spots like smyrna/bombay hook & areas down around Neilnov have been slow.

Goose hunting has been great all year but you can only stack up so many Canadas before you want to get back to some real birds.

Weather looks great for the next ten days, hopefully we can finish up w/ a bang.

[biebs]

I think if I shoot another canada that I might turn into one. The sea duck hunting i've done on the south Chesapeake has been amazing. All you want, but that gets old. Only good ducks I have killed this year have been in farm ponds between centreville and a little past chestertown. All mallards.

Karl

[Fiore3]

Blue Prints,
The Bombay area has be geat to us all year, but we play the weather game and only go when it going to be bad out, Hunted one blue bird day and still ended up with six..

Hope we get some weather for the end of the season...

[BluePrints]

Blue Prints,
The Bombay area has be geat to us all year, but we play the weather game and only go when it going to be bad out, Hunted one blue bird day and still ended up with six..

Hope we get some weather for the end of the season...

My buddies are all wacking them up there also but ONLY on weather days. There daily average the last 10 or so years has been about 4 ducks & 2 geese this year they are down to about 1 duck & less than one goose. Of course these are the same guys that don't ever leave the same fields, so that can't be all that accurate for the whole area.

Pray for crappy & cold weather to wrap it up.