Hello, long time reader, first time poster.
I’m considering going to either Donnelly or Botany Bay for the opening day of dove season. Does anyone recommend one over the other? Or possibly recommend staying as far away as possible?
Thanks in advance.
I might be wrong but I think Botany Bay is a youth only hunt. I’ve heard mostly good reviews of Donnelly and Bear Island
The fishing was good, it was the catching that was bad.
Magnitude - I’m kinda in the same boat as you. I’m orginally from Charleston but stationed here in Beaufort. I normally hunt the Canal fields up there but was thinking of Donnelly on opening day. Word I got from the DNR on Donnelly is that they get very busy and it is first come first serve.
We do not rise to the occassion…but fall to the level of our training
quote:
Originally posted by lil earlI might be wrong but I think Botany Bay is a youth only hunt. I’ve heard mostly good reviews of Donnelly and Bear Island
The fishing was good, it was the catching that was bad.
You are right, Botany Bay is youth only, so that answers that question. Thanks for the tip.
Pop POP
So whats opening day like at these places…also at Donelly, Canaal, and Samsworth - overcrowded to the point it isnt worth it or is it manageable?
Canal is crowded. However, hunts there can be good if you scout. I recommend going out to the different fields in the afternoon and see what flight path the birds take and aim for sitting in that spot. That being said, if you have a preferred spot, get there at least 3 hours early so you can be one of the first on the field.
Most people don’t want to put that much effort into in dove hunt (which is understandable) but that’s really what it takes to have a successful shoot on a public field in my opinion.
Thanks for the ■■■■■■■■…1st time goint to a public hunt so trying to know what to expect . First come first serve - but you have to wait outside the field right? do people form kind of a “courtesy” line as they come in or is it a rush when time hits for a good spots? Is there anyone from DNR helping to organize…What is crowded - hunting 20 yards apart or 100?
Think I’m stickin with my front yard this year, they seem to be lovin the gravel fines I put down in driveway!
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
Hunted a public field one time, eutaw springs, got there late, field was 2/3rds full, got my limit, and rolled on home. Lots of sky busting and people shooting birds across each other and 1 guy had a dog that retrieved anything in sight and took it to him. Won’t go back, ever. 2 box shell limit ran more folks off than them getting their limit.
08 Bowtech Tribute
11 Bowtech Destroyer
Remington 700 30-06
Tried it for two years in 09 and 10… never again. More idiots than you can imagine and DNR does NOTHING about controlling the amount of people on a field. I hunted 8 different fields around the state. Can you imagine them putting that much time and money into a duck impoundment and then just allowing the masses to come in and RUIN it??? I will NEVER go to another one until they institute some sort of draw system on ALL the hunts. The way it is now, I would rather stay home.
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.”
Will Rogers
if you go plan on some eye protection and a long sleeve shirt, wear something orange to help keep folks away from you while they are entering the field to set up - can;t say they didn’t see you
too many idiots
Pioneer 197SF
Scouting or getting there early won’t do you a bit of good either because they won’t let you in the field until 12 and then its a mad dash for any good spot. If you can out run the kids that take off running through the field then you may have a decent chance but I’m through with the public thing. They do have some good shoots sometimes but its VERY crowded. They should put a limit on the people in the canal fields as was said. Then getting there early might pay off. Usually at the canal fields there is one particular field that gets packed first. The other ones aren’t too bad and are less crowded but you will need to be patient for any number of birds. Also they are done at 6 and they normally don’t even start flying good till 4 or 5 in my experience.
Unfortunately the only option I have is public fields so I already know that they will be crowded. Can’t seem to find any other options here in Beaufort.
We do not rise to the occassion…but fall to the level of our training
I second the sentiments above about the Canal. Haven’t hunted Donnelly, but I have heard better things at least.
www.jhcooper.com
Admirlty and Maritime Law
The worse the society, the more law there will be. In Hell there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed.
All public fields are crazy opening day. My favorite are the guys who walk in at 4pm and sit right on top of you. Any hunt after sep 15 is decent on public land because doe season opens and the crowd decreases. Donnelley is a good field, though, when it’s not crowded.
KeyWest 1720cc 90 Ymha
I use to go to Manchester a lot. Had great shoots years back. No rain and poor grain crops had last several years short on birds. The had 130 peeps in a 60 ac field. Still was ok.
Last couple years we go to Patrick and shoot. Lots of birds and they limit the number in the field at one time. You have to get there about 10:30-10:45 to get your name on the sheet. Then you wait 'til 12 for the dash to the field. It seems DNR would step up and put limits on the number of people for safety reasons and help the quality of the hunt on all the fields?
If you apply by Aug 15 (too late), there are several drawing hunt public dove fields. The one in Manchester was good last year and it had a limit on people. It is worth the extra $. Not sure the price but I saw it a few weeks back on DNR newsletter.
J Ford
I appreciate the info. In my case being active duty I dont get only so many weekends off in my current position. Saturdays are hard to come by. I had to take leave for the 1, 8, and 15th just to make sure I had them available. Otherwise I would have been working at least 2 of those saturdays.
We do not rise to the occassion…but fall to the level of our training
so i got selected for the draw hunt at Oak Lea WMA ? Anyone been to this draw dove hunts? How many people usually get picked?
no clue
We do not rise to the occassion…but fall to the level of our training
I think they limit the draw hunts to 120. I was drawn for the pee dee station hunt in Florence.
KeyWest 1720cc 90 Ymha