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Allegan GMU

3K views 6 replies 2 participants last post by  Woody27 
#1 ·
Has anyone ever hunted the Fenville farm GMU for birds? Is it field hunting or water? Looks interesting and I heard you can get good shooting on honkers there. Any advice would be appreciated
 
#2 ·
Hey, Fennville can be good. I went up there today to look at where some of the birds are flyin around and it looked very good. It is field hunting with a ton of pressure. It's a different type of hunting in that way. There were a ton of ducks up there and the same usual ton of geese. If you know where the birds are goin' it's good. Getting a good draw always helps too. If you have any more questions I'll try to answer them.

Joe
 
#4 ·
There are like 80 places around this refuge that holds probably 10,000 geese and 3,000 ducks. They come off some water in there during the morning, fly around for awhile in this huge mass and then either try some of the guys spreads or go into the refuge. So it's sort of a calling contest and a who has the nicest life like spread. Quantity does seem to do a number up there at the right times. There are some good places to pick and some bad ones so...ya. I think there is a map of it on the DNR site if you look around. Helps to explain what it looks like. There are some open zones where you just have to get a zone permit and you can go there and not have to worry about the drawing. Always a good fall back tool. Hope I'm helping. Planning on going there for opening? I'll be there Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Good luck.

Forgot to say about the water. There are some ditches that you can see and hunt by if you get the right spot, but the major water in the refuge can't be seen by driving around. The place is pretty small too. It's only like 2 miles by 3 miles big or so. Some pretty concentrated hunting there.

Joe
 
#5 ·
This is a huge help! Thanks a lot. So I can get by without a boat it seems right? Can I drive my trailer right up to "the post" that I've drawn and unload all bigfeet or do you have to carry them in? Duck season will still be open Thursday so We can kill ducks in the GMU as well? Do you use layout blinds? How big is the line for the draw typically? If I lose out and go to a zoned area is it the same deal field hunting and can you drive the decoys into your area?
 
#6 ·
Don't bring a boat! Just make you look dumb. I guess that was straight forward. Layout blind maybe if you are in one of the zones (1,parts of 8, 9, or 10) The rest mostly have corn that you can sit in and then you put your decoys out in front of you. You can drive to most every spot. So you don't have to carry them far at all. Yes you can shoot ducks when they are in season. Lookin' like there is a good chance of being able to do that too from what I've seen up there lately. And yet but not least, the line, you drive in and go through a booth where you get a card with the number of hunting members in your party (you tell them and they write it) You then drive around back and park with all the rest of the guys. They stop giving those cards out at 5:30 so we usually get there 5:15 ish. Opening day I'm going to say about 250 parties. A ton of people. Thanksgiving might keep some from coming but ya never know. There will be a ton there. I've been there when they've drawn 75 parties though so it fluctuates. Expect a bunch though.

You might want to try driving there once and looking around before you go so you have some clue of what the place looks like. I have a hard enough time finding my ways to certain spots and I've been there quite a few times. Just a tip. Always better with a first hand experience at looking around too. Just my $.02 Good luck.

Joe
 
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