EASTERN SHORE HUNT CLUB

"THERE IS SOMETHING WONDERFUL ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE IN A GOOD HUNT CLUB THAT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED"......... NORM STRUNG

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WATERFOWL HUNTING ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA

OUR DAD...76 YEARS OLD...OUT PICKING UP BIRDS...JAN 2007

AN OVERVIEW FOR PROSPECTIVE CLUB MEMBERS

WE ARE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY ON THE OCEAN SIDE OF THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA. ONE AND A HALF HOURS NORTH OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AND ONE AND A HALF HOURS SOUTH OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND EASTERN SHORE PENINSULA IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WINTERING WATERFOWL, CANADA AND GREATER SNOW GEESE IN NORTH AMERICA !!

CANVASBACK, BLACK DUCK, BRANT, CANADA GEESE, SNOW GEESE, DIVERS, OVER TWENTY SPECIES OF DUCKS AND GEESE INHABIT OUR COASTAL WATERS DURING THE ANNUAL MIGRATION. MANY BIRDS SPEND THE WINTER SEASON HERE. THIS IS A LEGENDARY AREA WITH A RICH HISTORY OF FAMOUS GUN CLUBS, MOSTLY ALL GONE NOW. HUNTING SEASONS RUN ON AND OFF FROM SEPTEMBER (CANADA GEESE) TO MARCH (SNOW GEESE). WORLD CLASS RAIL BIRD SHOOTING IS ANOTHER SPORT ENJOYED IN THE EXPANSIVE MARSHES HERE.

INDIVIDUAL DAILY BAG LIMITS THIS YEAR (2006-2007) ARE: 5 DUCKS, 5 MERGANSERS, 7 SEA DUCKS, 2 CANADA GEESE, 2 ATLANTIC BRANT, 15 SNOW GEESE, 15 COOT, 15 GALLINULE & MOORHENS, 15 CLAPPER & KING RAILS, 25 SORA & VIRGINIA RAILS .............QUITE LIBERAL BY ANY STANDARDS. PLEASE REFER TO STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR SEASON DATES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

FOR CURRENT INFORMATION :www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/waterfowl.asp

THIS AREA IS RECOGNIZED AS A GLOBALLY-IMPORTANT COASTAL MIGRATION CORRIDOR FOR THE PASSAGE OF MILLIONS OF SONGBIRDS, SHOREBIRDS, RAPTORS, SEABIRDS, WATERFOWL AND WADING SPECIES.

NICE FLOCK OF BRANT HEADING FOR THE RIG...JAN 2007

OUR AREA

LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE SPARSELY POPULATED, MEANING THERE IS MUCH LESS HUNTING PRESSURE HERE THAN MOST AREAS. YEAR ROUND POPULATION IN SOME TOWNS IS LESS NOW THAN 100 YEARS AGO. WE HUNT DIFFERENT POINTS, COVES, ISLANDS, CREEKS, EACH TIME OUT. THIS MINIMIZES HUNTING PRESSURE ON THE BIRDS AND MAKES FOR GOOD SHOOTING EACH DAY.

THIS REGION, RECOGNIZED AS A BIOSPHERE RESERVE BY THE UNITED NATIONS, IS TRULY ONE OF THE LAST LARGE WETLAND HABITATS IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE MANY UNINHABITED BARRIER ISLAND BEACHES, ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY BOAT. THEY CONTAIN AN ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE AND ARE WONDERFUL PLACES TO EXPERIENCE COMPLETE SOLITUDE. ALL WATERS BELOW THE MEAN TIDE MARK ARE CONSIDERED PUBLIC. THIS INSURES HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES OF MARSHLAND WILDERNESS AVAILABLE TO THE WATERFOWL HUNTER, RESIDENT OR NON-RESIDENT.

OUR AREA IS CONSIDERED "THE FLOUNDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD".THERE IS WONDERFUL SALT WATER FISHING TO INCLUDE THE "ROCKFISH" (STRIPED BASS) AND MANY OTHER SPECIES OF GAME FISH IN THE SURROUNDING BAYS, INCLUDING THE CHESAPEAKE AND ATLANTIC OCEAN. THE CLIMATE ON THE EASTERN SHORE IS QUITE MODERATE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS SURROUNDED BY SEA WATER, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TO THE WEST, THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE GULF STREAM TO THE EAST. AS A RULE, WINTERS ARE NOT AS SEVERE HERE AS THEY ARE INLAND.

GOOD SHOOT ON A RAINY MORNING....MIXED BAG OF BRANT...BLACK DUCK...SNOW GOOSE...2006/2007

THE CLUB

MY BROTHER, DAD, SON, FRIENDS AND I HAVE BEEN HUNTING THESE MARSHLANDS AND IT IS ALWAYS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING TO TRANSPORT ALL OF OUR GEAR HERE. DUE TO THE REMOTENESS OF, AND DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THESE VAST WETLANDS AND COASTAL MARSHES.......A HUNT CLUB IN THIS AREA MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO US.

WE HAVE BEEN GUESTS AT SEVERAL OLD DUCK CLUBS AND ALWAYS ENJOYED THE COMPANY OF OTHER WATERFOWL HUNTERS, THEIR STORIES, EXPERIENCES AND OF COURSE THE FRIENDSHIPS MADE THERE. SHOOTING BIRDS IS ONLY A PART OF THE HUNTERS ROUTINE. RETURNING TO THE CLUB AFTER A DAYS GUNNING, YOU ARE IN THE COMPANY OF OTHER MEN THAT SHARE YOUR LOVE OF THE SPORT. WADERS, PARKAS, GUNS AND GEAR PILED EVERYWHERE, COFFEE BREWING, STORIES OF THE DAY BEING TOLD, PLANS FOR TOMORROW'S HUNT ARE LAID OUT, WEATHER IS DISCUSSED ALONG WITH STRATEGIES OF WHICH POINTS OR COVES TO HUNT. SKIFFS ARE MADE READY FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AN AGE OLD RITUAL IS FOLLOWED.

AS A MEMBER OF THE CLUB YOU WILL ENJOY MANY BENEFITS: YEAR ROUND ACCESS TO THE FACILITY. YEAR ROUND STORAGE OF YOUR BOATS, DECOYS, HUNTING AND FISHING GEAR, CLOTHING, GUNS, ETC. WARM MEALS ON COLD DAYS. VALUABLE "LOCAL KNOWLEDGE" GAINED BY US AND OTHER MEMBERS. ACCESS TO SOME OF THE BEST HUNTING AND FISHING GROUNDS ON THE EAST COAST. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DRAWING A BLIND. IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO HUNT A DIFFERENT LOCATION EACH TIME OUT.

WE HAVE ADAPTED OUR CLUBS BY-LAWS AND HOUSE RULES FROM ANOTHER HUNT CLUB THAT HAS EXISTED FOR OVER 120 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION. THIS WILL INSURE ALL MEMBERS ARE TREATED EVENLY AND FAIRLY. TEN MEMBERS WILL SHARE FIVE BEDROOMS, TWO MEMBERS PER ROOM. THEY MAY STORE THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS THERE AND DECORATE THE ROOMS AS THEY PLEASE. COMMON AREAS ARE WELL SUITED FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY THEIR TIME HERE. WE ARE A SELF-HUNT CLUB.

REST ASSURED, YOU WILL SEE A LARGE VARIETY OF WATERFOWL ON YOUR TRIPS OUT TO THE VAST MARSHES SURROUNDING US. THE DAILY BAG TAKEN IS UP TO YOU. THIS IS AS CLOSE TO "OLD FASHIONED" WATERFOWLING AS YOU WILL FIND ANYWHERE.

OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED CLUB FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS.

GREATER SNOW GEESE VISITING THE MARSH...JAN 2007

MEMBERSHIP

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF THIS HUNT CLUB, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BEGIN MUTUAL COMMUNICATION AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

MEMBERSHIP IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF TEN INDIVIDUALS
(GUESTS OF MEMBERS ARE WELCOME )

EMAIL: WaterfowlClub@aol.com