Mid-Atlantic bird hunting in the 21st Century

[24 grams]

I left the Old Dominion four decades ago for the mountains and plains of the west, and I haven't fired a cap east of the Mississippi since. But the time has come to think about moving back closer to old friends and family, most likely somewhere around Annapolis or Talbot County (Easton, St. Michaels, or Oxford).

Back in the day, gunning on the Chesapeake had seriously declined, but there were ducks to be had on Back Bay or Currituck Sound (as long as burlap bags full of corn lost their way and mysteriously ended up in a marsh somewhere).

Goose hunting on the Eastern Shore was excellent, and you could still find wild quail on the timber company properties on the south side.

What's it like now?

And what are the trends?

[Matt Mahoney]

24 grams. Talbot County is still a nice place to live, but wild quail are unfortunately a rarity all over the Delmarva now. Hearing one whistle in the summertime is unusual.

Waterfowl hunting is still decent. However, the vast majority of duck marshes and Canada goose farms are private with little opportunity for freelance hunting. So, waterfowlers must be lucky(family or friend's property), or get involved with leasing property. There are public opportunities predominantly in the Dorchester/Wicomico County area.

PM me if you you'd like more info.

Matt

[Double Lab]

Matt pretty much nailed it. Wild quail are gone. Canada geese bag limit is 1 bird with a 30 day season and ducks are spotty at best with some areas better than others. Nothing like it was in the late 70's and much of the 80's. I had half a dozen farms in Dorchester county where I could put up 2-3 coveys per farm. No more.

Kent Island, Easton, St. Michaels and the surrounding area has become a suburb of the Baltimore / Washington metro area.

[6pt-Sika]

I’d vote Talbot over Annapolis hands down . But if I were moving to the Eastern Shore I think I’d rather go to Dorchester County somewhere south of Cambridge .

[Joe Graziano]

I spent a lot of time on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and now live on the Eastern Shore of Alabama. Easton and Talbot County and beautiful, and pricey. Good waterfowl hunting still to be found out of Tilghman Island, particularly for ducks. Everything costs money, however. Plenty of nice game farms but the wild birds are gone. Pintail Point in Queenstown, which most PGCA guys know from The Vintager Cup is fantastic. The Eastern Shore is a great place to live and hunt, but neither are cheap.

[Alfred Greeson]

We always head for Easton when in D.C. Enjoyed the Vintage Cup at Pintail Point when I was on active duty at FT. Belvoir. Always stop at the Fisherman's Inn for dinner and found a high condition 16 VH at the Anglers bait shot just before the bridge in Annapolis. It is 28 inch, full and fuller, probably saw a lot of use on the bay. Albright's gun shop in Easton could give you ideas on hunting, 410-820-8811, they usually have a few Parkers too.