OK so I got this email about wasting money on a chance for the Quota hunts and I saw this
NEW for 2013-2014!
New Hunts at Doe Creek Wildlife Management Area
Doe Creek WMA consists of 447 acres in Accomack County on the bayside of the Eastern Shore. This new Wildlife Management Area is located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, north of the town of Onancock.
Doe Creek WMA Waterfowl Hunts (#109) - Hunt waterfowl on selected managed impoundments at Doe Creek WMA in Accomack County. Hunt includes half day hunting each Saturday during the last segments of the general duck season.
Doe Creek WMA Archery Deer Hunts (#216) - Archery hunting for white-tailed deer on designated lands of the Doe Creek WMA in Accomack County.
Doe Creek WMA Archery or Muzzleloader Deer Hunts (#217) - Muzzleloader or Archery hunting for white tailed deer on designated lands of the Doe Creek WMA in Accomack County.
Doe Creek WMA Spring Turkey Hunts (#405) - Hunt spring gobblers on the Doe Creek WMA in Accomack County.
So I went to dgif to check out this new WMA between Saxis and Mockhorn and couldn't find any info of the place . Now I have gotten mad as all heck with dgif for keeping a lid on this new public land that is going straight to the damn quota system in of all places as the out of the way Eastern Shore . I hated the fact that I missed the public comment meeting b/c I don't know if they said anything about the Doe creek news . But after getting this email maybe I will take a road trip to the July 9TH board meeting and ask the people in the know about September goose and teal hunting at Doe Creek .
Been chewing on this thing all day long..... More I got to thinking about it,the less I like the whole thing. I suppose I should be greatful that our commonwealth thinks enough of us,and the sportsmens dollar that they are offering up another place to kill a duck. BUT, to offer Doe Creek up as a Sat. only Quota hunt system means the place will be setting idle 5 days a week, then for about 8 Sats only a limited number of "the chosen few" will get to hunt it. Plus, if it turnes out like Hog Island :huh: Just Sayin.
BINGO !!! That 's what I'm talking about Cut . If the dang thing was next to a big city where it was going to get hard each day , maybe , but ES in a creek near Parksley ? Just who is going make sure the winners hunt the place and which is next Saxis or Mockhorn . All one needs to do is to look at the map of the place and see the best duck hunting is going to be on the islands offshore the mouth of the creek .
LEW....from what I can tell its about 5 or 6 impoundments, if Im looking at the right place on google...I may take a ride up there this weekend and let you all know what I see..... depends on if I fish up there or not.
Your right though..the best duck hunting will probably be where we cant hunt. Unless there is some food in the impoundments. There isnt any info on it that I can find.
I do wish they would open it up a little more, maybe because its the first year they are just testing the waters so to speak and they will do more the following years.
I spend a good bit of time up on the ES so I will definitely check it out.
Yeah let's beat up a couple of ponds and run the birds out and then complain that there's 1100 duck dynasty wannabes behind every clump of sawgrass. Can't have it both ways.
Alert - Alert: Possible Obama voters in the house.
If you are depending on the state to supply your hunting spots(and possibly more), that should be indicator #1. If you don't want to waste your money, then don't apply.
Long time, first time....
Doe Creek WMA is a brand new WMA in Accomack County just north of Onnancock. The property was previously part of the Level Ponds Hunt Club. The WMA was acquired from The Nature Conservancy by funding from the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and the USFWS. VDGIF's contribution came primarily from a USFWS grant that was awarded to the Agency to purchase additional acres at Saxis WMA. Unfortunately, the Saxis deal fell through and when Level Ponds (now Doe Creek WMA) became available the USFWS allowed the money to be redirected towards its acquisition. The impoundments at Doe Creek were / are in rough condition. In the year prior to VDGIF's acquisition of the property, a non-profit agency, in partnership with the USFWS, was able to secure a Virginia State Duck Stamp grant and replace the water control structures, remove woody vegetation from the dikes, control phragmites, install a well, and purchase a generator. The generator is necessary because the new WMA is "off the grid". Unfortunately the 2 wells (there was an existing one) probably won't be able to do more than offset evaporation and seepage so adequate rainfall will be needed to fully charge all impoundments each year. I think the VDGIF is kicking around the idea of keeping some water in the impoundments annually to hold on to whatever precipitation occurs so I wouldn't expect too much plant and flood. Probably not too unlike the management approach Maryland is trying to implement at Deal Island WMA or Virginia at Hog Island. With the newness of the property, its small size, the uncertainty of the habitat or waterfowl use, and substantial public hunting opportunity already nearby, it seems wise to manage access through a quota system. I suspect as the area is developed Virginia's waterfowl hunters will have a really nice area to hunt in perpetuity. I know from my readings here that feelings are mixed but I think the area will compare favorably with Princess Anne and Hog Island.
"Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone."
BINGO !!! That 's what I'm talking about Cut . If the dang thing was next to a big city where it was going to get hard each day , maybe , but ES in a creek near Parksley ? Just who is going make sure the winners hunt the place and which is next Saxis or Mockhorn . All one needs to do is to look at the map of the place and see the best duck hunting is going to be on the islands offshore the mouth of the creek .
Good luck. The marsh and islands offshore are private and hunted heavy. So have fun dealing with the owners. Keep in mind many of those impoundments that you all are looking at on google earth are private too. Once the sky blasting starts there are plenty of other places with food for them to go. Not to mention 90% of the season most impoundments here sit empty for the most part. IMO its a waste of the states money. Have fun and good luck.
Thanks for your info and insight Deadrise. Like I'd said in an easlier posting, I am thankful for any added spots allowing the public duck hunter to have an opportinity to kill a duck. Do hope , with proper planning in time it can/will offer a good place to spend a morning waterfowling here in VA. :thumbsup:
Good info and welcome to the board but it doesn't change how I feel about the quota system and what dgif is doing to the little public hunting lands of Va. . Then deadrise type in 3 words that is worst than the two words I hate ... quota system ... which is The Nature Conservancy . That Org. already has just about all of the seaside islands and many marsh lands all around the Chesapeake bay . Sport fishermen and tree huggers love the people but being a waterfowler and a beach camper I have nothing good to say about them at all .
DS said : If you are depending on the state to supply your hunting spots(and possibly more), that should be indicator #1., IMO you have it all wrong for the state needs to provide the have nots a place to hunt so that they are not pushed into the haves hunting grounds . It's great that the state, Wildlife Foundation of Virginia, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and the USFWS all put money into buying the wetlands but a dang shame that dgif had to put it into the quota system . Other than Saxis WMA can someone tell me of a legal spot that a waterfowler can WALK into and hunt without having to ask for permission on eastern shore .
The dgif quota system doesn't work b/c dgif are not funded by the general funds of the state so they need to make money through licenses , permits and the dang quota system so they need the 1100 duck dynasty wannabes t5o put in for the great Doe Creek , Hog Island , Dutch Gap , PAWMA so they can keep their jobs .
Maybe Virginia should contract out the DGIF jobs and require them to fill a quota of happy hunters and fishermen each day . I would bet that a contractor would run their own quota system and we would send our money to them and not to Hicksville NY .
Hear ya LD & agree.... guess for me, I'd hope they (DGIF) does not pattern this WMA(Quota hunt WMA system)after Hog Island. Been there many times and while it can be a decent place to kill a duck and overall,set up is solid BUT, several things the state could do to help/make it even better. Simply hoping they(DGIF) will can keep and open mind when setting it up for " a public hunting spot" rather than another means to make a few extra dollars. :biggrin:
LD - The cost of the quota hunts is determined by the vendor that provides the service. They are chosen by the "low bid" competitive process. I guess it would be correct to call this outsourcing. No revenues from the Quota Hunt System go to the DGIF.
In addition to Saxis WMA, which includes the separate Guard Shore tract, you can "walk in" waterfowl hunt the GATR tract of Mockhorn Island WMA. Saxis and the GATR tract offer better than average hunting at times. Guard shore is probably not as good but I don't think it gets hunted much.
Cut - call or contact John Randolph, HIWMA area manager, with your suggestions. You can get his contact information through the Charles City office of the VDGIF. He'd appreciate your suggestions.
Quota hunts are by no means perfect and are designed to provide equitable opportunity to all Virginians while possibly offering better bird use by managing the amount of gunning pressure an area receives. Similar management techniques might include restricted days, times, or first come - first served; all of which have pros and cons.
Deadrise.....Thanks for the useful information. Do you work for DGIF or are you in some other way connected to the operations, plannings, suggestion process of Doe Creek or other state owned facilities? You seem to have useful information and it would be nice to know with whom we are talking.
Yes I know dgif doesn't get any money , like I said "I would bet that a contractor would run their own quota system and we would send our money to them and not to Hicksville NY ."
Let's look at Saxis where one can drive in , put on some boots , grab a bag of coys and a gun and walk in and enjoy a day on the marsh . The black duck the hunter shot at and missed headed South hard and ended up at Doe creek where it stayed untill the next Sat. morning when the gate was open to one of the 1100 duck dynasty wannabes winner of the quota system stomps into the marsh and flys North up to Saxis . How tell me what good is the Quota system is doing over on the shore ? The Quota system should only be use next to large cities so the wannabes doesn't have to drive 3 hours to get their feet muddy . Looking at the map all one needs to do is to put in at Hopkins creek ramp and go around the Oaks marsh point and run into Doe creek and find a spot to hunt a few hours on a weekday morning ...
DUKSLAYA92 said:
Alert - Alert: Possible Obama voters in the house.
If you are depending on the state to supply your hunting spots(and possibly more), that should be indicator #1. If you don't want to waste your money, then don't apply.
IMO its a waste of the states money.
[/quote]
... and put any money you want to send to NY into playing your hunting license numbers and hip numbers into the Virginia lottery and try to win enought money to hunt in upstate NY .
I heard/read that the area was hunt club and private property in past years SOOOOOO, now VA.Joe waterfowler does have the opportinity to sit in a spot that once was closed to him... Perfect world it will never be, but a step in the right direction, DEFINATELY :bow: Guess, at the end of the day, all this ole boy can say is THANKS :thumbsup:
Deadrise maybe I was wrong to use contracting out dgif as a tool for fixing a problem I feel need working on , I am a supporter / fan of dgif and surely wouldn't wish that on anyone . Birds fly over this state without looking down b/c the bay is about dead and freshwater is running sour . The email I got about Doe creek didn't say anything about the impoundments , wells , pumps , and gens to power them . All of which will have cost that dgif doesn't need on them and why not just let it be public land that someone can drive to get out and hunt .
Nothing was said as to why the hunt club sold the land , could it have been that the cost to maintain it was too great for the little fowl and game that was using it ? My guess is the people that haunted the place own the islands offshore along the Thoroughfare and will have the birds that use the Impoundments no matter who maintain it .
Other than Saxis WMA can someone tell me of a legal spot that a waterfowler can WALK into and hunt without having to ask for permission on eastern shore .
LD :fingerhead:
It's so few 'WE' overthere and do Y'all really want another public spot that is going to take it one step more by selling a quota hunt to the wannabes ? Again gussing that someone that would have never come overthere to hunt will make the trip after winning the spot , fall in love with the no blind law place and start a yearly trip and branching out like the rest of us .
I remember my first trip to Saxis , shot me a big old black duck . That afternoon I drove home by way of riding to every boat ramp on the bay side planning my next trip towing a boat .
Dont really care. You can go out on the seaside and only see mergs and dippers all day if you dont know where to go. The bayside creeks as you near the bay are great places to swamp a boat if you dont know where you're going or understand the conditions. I kill my ducks and will continue to do so regardless of what the comehere's do. Might not be many of us, but it is all owned. If you look at a map of what the conservancy (I agree with you here they are worthless) owns there isnt even that much state owned marsh. They only allow you to hunt to the high water mark so its not like you can get out on the barrier islands they own or the high tumps within the 1ft tall salt hay.
I just know......I gots mah piece of the pie. :yes:
OK I could see turning the page on my thinking of the quote hunt deal overthere . What you said is right , the locals don't need the spot and won't miss the little game that will be taken at the place and dgif will gain spots for the have nots to win a hunt in an area with a lot of hunting history .
I still hate the fact that the money generated from the quota system goes to NY with none of it coming back to dgif or the WMA that it was made at .
So what does it take to pull winners out of the hat , why must dgif go to NY to find ping pong balls a vacuum cleaner and some people to read numbers ? Va. wants to save money , the WMAs need money to live and the state has the Va state lottery that do that kind of work every dang day .
Lewdog, what difference does it make? Are you going to try and rook someone into towing your trailer to the shore so you can drive across the bay and load up and then launch over there like you did last time? It's a place to hunt. It will probably suck, but so what.
OK I could see turning the page on my thinking of the quote hunt deal overthere . What you said is right , the locals don't need the spot and won't miss the little game that will be taken at the place and dgif will gain spots for the have nots to win a hunt in an area with a lot of hunting history .
I still hate the fact that the money generated from the quota system goes to NY with none of it coming back to dgif or the WMA that it was made at .
So what does it take to pull winners out of the hat , why must dgif go to NY to find ping pong balls a vacuum cleaner and some people to read numbers ? Va. wants to save money , the WMAs need money to live and the state has the Va state lottery that do that kind of work every dang day .
Lew, Read my post in the ohter thread about the DGIF. The money generated by the entire lottery system is a big pile of cash for a simple random number generator program and two administrators.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Duck Hunting Forum
3.2M posts
63.3K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to duck hunters and hunting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more!