New Hunter looking for help

[AZBuman]

Good morning everyone, I am new to Maryland been here about 10 months now moved out from AZ. Long story short I did a lot of quail hunting in AZ over my dog. Now I have no more dog and no quail around here and haven't hunted since I've been here.

I am active duty military living at APG. There is some hunting opportunities here on post and I picked up a bow to try that out, I've never bow hunted in my life so that should be interesting.

What I am most interested in is waterfowl. I recently picked up a Rem. 1100 2 3/4 real cheap. I've hunted goose before but that was about 20 years ago in North Dakota, so I imaging it is much different here. I have no decoys, boat, or dog and limited hunting funds. So how can I jump in with limited investment? Is there good public land to hunt?

Next question is I have been doing some research into pheasent and quail hunting in southern Jersey. I can get an in state license because of my military status so that is not a problem. Does anyone have any experience over there with these birds? I'm not looking for exact locations just some heads up on what I'm getting myself into. I know from experience that without a dog these will be difficult hunts but I don't mind walking to hell and back for pheasent and quail.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AZBuman]

Guess not

 

[willy]

Southern jersey has a a lot of turkeys.

 

[Devonian]

There is a lot of public land for waterfowl hunting over on the eastern shore. Most of it requires or benefits having a boat to access but you could probably get by with a pair of waders and a canoe/kayak. There are also limited walk up blind sites in southern MD, I'm not sure of the WMA names but take a look at the MD DNR hunting website and you should be able to figure it out.
I've never done it but guys wade hunt the Susquehanna Flats area. You basically just wade amoungst your decoys.
You also should consider a few guided hunts this year. It will help you learn how to set up and what works here on the coast.

Good luck

 

[LONGSHOT]

Millington wm,DNR, good deer hunting and goosewith good fields to hunt over.5 day notice to reserve field.advise you to scout out first,very large areaand its free.rt 40 to 213 to front door.

 

[Marshmallow]

Shoot me a pm. I can help you out with all aspects. I hunt waterfowl, deer and hunt pheasant in jersey.

 

[AZBuman]

Thanks everyone for the input. I do have access to boats and kayaks through base here and that may be a way to look at. Again I appreciated it very much.

 

[mark71211]

Marshmallow offered you help and I would take him up on it. If I remember correctly he took a newbie on a waterfowl hunt last year and they had a blast.

 

[Marshmallow]

Marshmallow offered you help and I would take him up on it. If I remember correctly he took a newbie on a waterfowl hunt last year and they had a blast.

I did take a guy last year, but I don't know about a blast being had lol. Got him his first goose though.

 

[IndispensableDestiny]

Southern jersey has a a lot of turkeys.

Aberdeen Proving Ground has lots of turkeys. Plenty of deer too.

 

[AZBuman]

I plan on taking him up on it!

Yeah a lot of deer here on APG and I plan on trying to thin the heard a bit this fall. Missed spring turkey so I'll have to wait until next year.

 

[sxs]

I did take a guy last year, but I don't know about a blast being had lol. Got him his first goose though.

If he got to shoot, I'd say he had a blast!

 

[Marshmallow]

If he got to shoot, I'd say he had a blast!

Did quite a bit of shooting, we just couldn't hit anything lol. Pretty sad when two fairly competent shooters are missing birds timing straight in with wings set. I blame it on the amount of laughter.

 

[Franklin]

find yourself a kayak at a yard sale and you oppertunites are endless.

And when you say you picked up an 1100 for cheap, how cheap? reason i ask is i am looking for another 1100 such as yourself my spending is regulated and would be willing to trade you a nice mossberg 500 to destroy duck hunting rather the 1100


http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Publiclands/allwmabyregion.asp

 

[AZBuman]

$300 from a co-worker who just didn't need it anymore. And I've had mossbergs before, tough guns but I couldn't shoot it work a damn.

So I've been reading the state regs on blind sights for public land. Are all the WMA's on a lottery system or reservation? Are some first come first serve or do you have to call ahead on all of the blind sights in order to utilze them? It seems that the regulations often contradict themselves. Example, I was looking at blind sights in Cecil county, Elk Neck State State Park states waterfowl blinds are by reservation only and it gives a number to call, however Grove Farm WMA states on the website its open for hunting and on the maps lists blind sights but does not state reservations are necessary. So does that mean its first come first serve there then? Thanks

 

[Franklin]

yes some are first come. normally, actual blinds are by reservation and blind sites are first come but there are exceptions...best thing to do is call.

If you want your own blindsite, you will need to either 1: attend the blindsite lottery drawing in august or 2: go to your local dnr agent office after the blindsite drawing is done and pick up sloppy seconds.

I will be doing charles county this year so if you want a decent spot, you can hook up with us. If you draw good numbers, we can use my boat to hunt your blindsite and vice versa.

 

[AZBuman]

Ok thanks for the info. Being that I have a young family and limited time I am just trying to get out. Hell I don't mind wading through stuff and getting dirty, sweaty, tired, wet or cold, I just want to hunt.

I found an older thread that Marshmellow posted on back in January, and if I'm not mistaken all the WMA's, unless otherwise restricted, are open to hunting, so I can basically just sit in the weeds camoed up and hunt. Sounds good to me actually but I still may take you up on your offer Franklin so I can learn from poeople who know what their doing.

 

[Franklin]

I feel your pain. I have a january baby now and one in the oven that may be a christmas baby. The duck hunting gets tricky around then with all three of our birthdays in the same month plus one soon to come.

Ok thanks for the info. Being that I have a young family and limited time I am just trying to get out. Hell I don't mind wading through stuff and getting dirty, sweaty, tired, wet or cold, I just want to hunt.

I found an older thread that Marshmellow posted on back in January, and if I'm not mistaken all the WMA's, unless otherwise restricted, are open to hunting, so I can basically just sit in the weeds camoed up and hunt. Sounds good to me actually but I still may take you up on your offer Franklin so I can learn from poeople who know what their doing.

 

[AZBuman]

Yes it can get crazy, I have dec birthdays and Anniversary. Dec is a painful month for me!

 

[Marshmallow]

Ok thanks for the info. Being that I have a young family and limited time I am just trying to get out. Hell I don't mind wading through stuff and getting dirty, sweaty, tired, wet or cold, I just want to hunt.

I found an older thread that Marshmellow posted on back in January, and if I'm not mistaken all the WMA's, unless otherwise restricted, are open to hunting, so I can basically just sit in the weeds camoed up and hunt. Sounds good to me actually but I still may take you up on your offer Franklin so I can learn from poeople who know what their doing.

On most wma's you can hunt waterfowl anywhere, except within posted distances from their blinds. I'm gonna try and get a blind at millington wma for the opening day of the second split.