With some assistance from other posters, I've hunted Scarborough Marsh. Lots of good access points. Expect company. A big chunk of the marsh is owned by MDIFW, in part to provide hunting opportunity. Anything below the high tide line is essentially public land, and you can hunt there. Keep track of the location of houses and make sure you are legal distance from them. Residential development is heavy down there.

You may also want to check with Scarborough Police Department to make sure that parking is legal where you access, and that you are not violating any of the "no firearms" areas, which I think are mostly around Scarborough Beach, but may extend over to Black Point. I think you should still be OK below the high tide line, but it's probably better to check with them and make sure.

I don't think this applies anywhere on Scarborough Marsh, but some nearby areas are parts of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. To hunt there, you need to get a refuge permit. (Again, you may technically be legal below the high tide mark, but it would suck to have a dead duck land above the high tide line and have it be illegal to retrieve it.)

 

Thanks a lot of good info.

 

Also, regarding blinds. There are a bunch of them out there. I generally don't hunt out of a blind somebody else has gone to the trouble of building. However, at least two blinds I know of on Scarborough Marsh has signs inside them inviting you to use them on days the owner is not in them, and I have taken advantage. My observation, though, is that the ducks down there are hunted hard enough that they avoid the blinds, and I've done better when hiding well in natural cover or putting up a temporary brush blind. There are a lot of little tidal creeks that offer great cover when the tide is anywhere below half full.

I think the other marsh areas in Scarborough probably see a lot less pressure, but don't forget to get your refuge permit.

I think a permit is $10 for the season. Here's the contact info:

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
321 Port Road
Wells, Maine 04090
Phone: (207) 646-9226
rachelcarson@fws.gov
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm

You can find maps of the refuge lands here: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/rachelcars ... ction.html

 

Native brookie is spot on with his info. I shoot the area a lot, and it gets pressured big time. The blinds belong to those who took
the time to build them, although if you are respectful, I'm certain no one will give you a hard time.

 

I have a blind in the marsh and don't mind anyone using it....but all I ask is that you don't use the boat....it has already been stolen once but later recovered....I just ask that you treat it as it was your own. The marsh is a GREAT place to hunt, let the birds work, don't SKYbust and you will be VERY successful!!!

 

I'm pretty new to duck hunting and have a few questions for you southern maine veterans...
Do more ducks tend to be farther north earlier in the season? I live in Portland and I am trying to decide if I should head north this weekend, or stick to Scarborough Marsh, which is a much closer drive???
What tides tend to be best for hunting Scarborough Marsh?

 

After 30 years of doing this, I have found that ducks will do what they want, when they want, but a good rule is as follows.
Early season, a lot of local birds, sticking around their "summer" areas. Migrants starting a slow push into the area.
They will usually "stage" in larger numbers up north before coming down. Inland hunting is usually more productive than coastal, in that the water is still open, once iced over coastal waters tend to produce better.

 

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I need to stay local on Saturday...so I will be going to Scarborough. Any tips on hunting the marsh at low tide? Should be quite low early Saturday morning.

 

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I need to stay local on Saturday...so I will be going to Scarborough. Any tips on hunting the marsh at low tide? Should be quite low early Saturday morning.

I'll be out there Saturday morning.....As for advice...the best advice is Let the Birds Work, DON'T be a Skybuster!!! If you don't call very well, don't call at all!! Half the time I don't call at all, and I consider myself a good caller. GOOD LUCK!!