Easton Maryland

[smith]

I got invited to go to hunt the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Easton Maryland. Has anybody hunted up there and what can I expect? I sounds like a great time and definitely a new experience. Oh I'm goin Jan. 13-17th so I imagine it will be freezing.

[teul2]

Never done it. But i plan on it.
I want to take my Chesapeake hunting on the Chesapeake.
I know Gator and RR2 have done it.

[GulfCoast]

I did it a long time ago. Lots of fun, but FREEZING COLD. There are lots of really neat old waterfowling shops around Easton.

[mottlet]

Might be cold, might not.

Most of the commercial operations on the Shore concentrate on geese or sea ducks, as they are far and away the most consistent gunning. Duck hunting in the Atlantic flyway is one of the biggest crap-shoots in American waterfowling. I shot a limit of greenheads out of the hundreds that poured into and over my decoys during the second split. Less than a week later, I went to what should have been a better spot on a day with better duck weather and saw four ducks all morning. Just not many birds using this flyway and there's lots of dudes chasing them. Unless you're controlling a pretty big chunk and can provide everything a duck needs while controlling pressure (pretty rare in these parts), if you find a wad, you best get in there and kill em poste haste.

Least that's my opinion after three and a half duck seasons here. But I'm western shore, not eastern. Others' mileage will probably vary.

[Bonecollecter1111]

good bad or ugly, i'd take the trip if'n it was offered to me. i never had a bad day in the duck blind, just a few slow ones

[DukGrl]

Try to pm MSUMDuck. He might know a little something about hunting up there. Haven't seen him on here lately so a pm might work better than waiting for him to read this thread.

[MSUMDuck]

Surprise, I am here...good call though, Dukgrl...you know how this time of year is.

Smith, I am from about 30 mins north of Easton. Easton has some great hunting, especially if you're getting to hunt private lands. Many of the lands that border the eastern shore of the bay have private impoundments that, unless a deep freeze sets in, hold literally thousands of Canada geese, mallards and black ducks. If a freeze sets in, the ducks usually just move out to the salt marshes...which isn't a bad thing since md's eastern shore has tens of thousands of acres of public salt marsh. The salt marshes are easily accessible, especially with a mudboat (this is what we use, and is a necessity at low-tide). A little scouting with someone who even has slight knowledge of the marshes will usually produce at least a decent shoot with a mixed bag of mallards, black ducks, gw teal, wigeon, and buffleheads, depending on which marsh you hunt. If you can, get in on a field hunt for Canada geese...usually this is done from pit blinds and man, what a rush! Plus, Canada goose hunting is what the eastern shore is known for, so you're experiencing a bit of history. From reports I'm getting, there's a lot of birds on the shore this year...and the weather is good-- no deep freezes yet, but that could change by mid-january. Lastly, if you want to make the most of your trip, get in on a guided sea duck hunt. A friend of mine, Jeff Coats, owns pitboss waterfowl. He does mostly sea duck hunts...and knows the game well! He is most likely booked for the season, but will be able to point you in the direction of other guides that are equally as knowledgeable.

If you want jeff's number, or any other info, give me a call. We hunt the areas around Easton a lot, and I'll be up there about 2 weeks before you get there, so I can give you a report. My number is 662-617-1947. Look forward to talkin with ya

-RW

[ewd506]

My Dad took me for my 18th birthday(25 yrs ago), amazing goose hunting. Stop in Anapolis if you have the time. Go out to eat every night you can(spice caked boiled crabs) by the dozens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Best you'll ever get.

[teul2]

There are lots of really neat old waterfowling shops around Easton.

2 to check out are the Canvasback Gallery and Chesapeake Classics

[mudsucker]

My Dad took me for my 18th birthday(25 yrs ago), amazing goose hunting. Stop in Anapolis if you have the time. Go out to eat every night you can(spice caked boiled crabs) by the dozens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Best you'll ever get.

They steam the crabs. Great eating!

Where in Easton will you be exactly?

[smith]

It is going to be a guided trip. I was invited and the only thing I have to pay for is the plane ticket, around 200 bucks, and the license. I am pretty pumped to say the least. MSUMDuck, I will Pm you with the details of the trip and let you know what guide we are using. Thanks for the help and the great input. I help out docshuntnstuff and he went to the big waterfowl festival they have in Easton a couple of weeks ago. He met a couple people, guides and a seven time goose calling champion and is taking them some new rigs he has made for hunting the tidal marshes. He started to ask if I wanted to go and I said yes before he even finished. Thanks again...

[mudsucker]

The Maritime Union I belong to, MEBA Dist1, owns alot of land on an inlet of the Ches. right on the bay and I understand they have pits in a salt marsh that they host politicians and others at. I heard it was a jam up spot! Loads of geese around there.