Anyone hunt the Chesapeake Bay Area? My friends and I are thinking about doing a DIY in that area on the eastern Maryland part. Basically get like a air B&B and hunt for a few days around thanksgiving if the season is open. Not looking for anyones spot but if you could point me toward a WMA or area for us to check out to hunt. I?m not picky either divers or puddlers. We have two layout boats, 17? Garvey and larger 17? boat blind, not to mention Sanford boxes. Any help anyone could provide would be appreciated even if you don?t want to post it you could PM me. I live in south Jersey so I?m only 3-4 hours away.
South Jersey

The season will be open Fishing bay wma.

Duck season closes the friday after thanksgiving for the 2 weeks of deer firearms. Seaducks should stay in though.

Josh, I don?t know much about it but I heard there are water rights so people can own a certain portion of the water that youre not allowed to hunt. Also there are some boat blind laws and requirements. Worth looking into.

No special seaduck season anymore on the east coast.

In Md. your not allowed to hunt at bank in front of licensed property's. Distance out front you can hunt varies by location. I believe its 800 yds. away from licensed shoreline along eastern shore side of Chesapeake. WMA,s you hunt where you can set up on that side. Areas are generally pretty full though so don,t think going during week you,ll be uncrowded. Theres also licensed blind stakes that allow hunters to set up in front of unlicensed propertys. Drawing for them is in August and limited to Md. residents. Regs say they need to be marked but many aren,t. With both of the above the best option is WMA,s. Md. DNR,s website has a listing and directions to those areas.

Your right . Finally found it in proposals as DNR hasn,t up dated their waterfowl seasons listing yet. So no Sea duck hunting during the deer season closure for Md.

Thanks that?s some good information. I?m going to read more my friend just suggested we go down in October fish and look into some areas.
South Jersey

Doesn't Maryland ban out of state hunters from hunting from a boat without a Maryland resident in the boat? Total BS, but I believe it used to be that way.

  
I believe you are correct on having a md resident with you while hunting from a boat.

. Only in the sea duck zone and the gunning rig zone. Hunting from a boat on wma or any state land is legal for anyone.

hey john, give me a call happy to help you guys.. i hunt out of town all the time and appreciate the advice when i travel. 302-373-3687

A good place to hunt on eastern shore MD is PHA deal island thanksgiving might be a bit early.
I have tuned deal island when living in Maryland and when moving to maine would go back with a friend tuning Christmas time
best~ bill

If you decide to hunt Deal Isl. Impound check Md. Regs as they limit access as of last year. Opening days and I believe weekends are thru an online lottery process prior to seasons beginning. No motors in impound either other than Electric.

way back in 2005, my friends and I hunted out of Crisfield, MD for a week. I believe that area is called the Pokemoke Sound. The tides are wind-driven, and depths vary from 1-6 feet. At low tide, it is very possible to be stranded on the mud, as we were one day.

We had private housing, but there are hotels in the immediate area, and a good harbor in Crisfield. We hunted mostly in Maryland, but had Virginia licenses, too, and hunted below the border at least once. The state border is marked by large telephone poles. We hunted around the area of Great Fox Island and the small bays and islands surrounding it. Check it on google maps, and you'll see where I am referencing.

At night we could hear very distinctly the loud flocks of widgeon on the water.

Our week's bag included all the puddle duck varieties, along with bluebills and redhead divers, brant, and canada geese. The diver flocks were numbered in the 1000s. It was the hunt of a lifetime for me, and I would recommend that area to you if you are of a mind to go there.

You'll need to bone up on local laws, I think. We had a local guy with us and he knew what we could do and not do.

BTW, Crisfield is home to some historic decoy makers and great seafood. I think their high school mascot is the crab.

Hope this is helpful info. good luck.