Got my Blackwater application in the mail monday and priority sent it back tuesday .

So hopefully I can get my preferred dates and areas.

Put in for the early ML season in OCT the shotgun season in NOV and the reguler ML in DEC . Three days total for $30 plus MD state non res license which is about $165 .

Not cheap but not outrageouse either .

Now if I can get a Sika deer this year for the freezer I'll be happy :D

Of course another six pointer for the wall would be nice as well ;)

Well did the early ML hunt in October and didn't get anything !!!!

But my "Thermacell" kept the mosquitoes away and I did hear some stags bugling !!!!!!!!

So I am leaving in about 11 hours to do the shotgun hunt tommorrow :D

Already have a stand hanging and waiting on me in an area that has not been hunted this year so far !!!! I killed a nice 6 pointer about 200 yards from here in 2005 , so I'm pumped ;)

Have the little H&R Untra Slug Hunter Deluxe 20 gauge all sighted in with a Leupold 4.5-14AO up top . And am shooting the Hornady SST sabot slugs . I have her sighted in dead on at 100 yards , which will be about max for a shot in this snarly mess I'm hunting tommorrow .

Possible bag tommorrow is a Sika stag and hind as well as whitetail buck and doe . So I think a dozen rounds of ammo should be way more then necessary .

Might throw my Savage 215 bolt action 12 gauge rifled slug gun in for good measure in case something unforseen should happen to the H&R . Incidently I have a Leupold 3-9 on the Savage and it is sighted in with the SST sabots as well !!!

I think perhaps the horseshoe has fallen out :(

Got there this AM and was situated by about 5:45AM . But it was cloudy and foggy this morning .

Anyway before I went up , I put out some Sika doe scent foam . And I put it directly below my treestand . I only went up about 18-20 feet today .

Well sunrise was "supposed" to be at 7:05AM and "normally" you would be able tp see well enough to shoot from about 6:35AM .

Well precisely at 6:50AM a big boy comes walking up and is sniffing around my scent foam . Bear in mind he is about 20 feet away from me straight down . And I am unable to make out his entire body because of low visibility . Although every so often I could see antlers . I am pretty sure he was a very nice 6 point .

Anyway he was below and around me for about 5-10 minutes and I was never able to see him well enough to get a shot .

So I am pretty sure the horseshoe has fallen from my *** :eek:

Oh well there is still another chance on december 15th ;)

Maybe the third time will be a charm for you, 6pt!

Kansas , I killed a veyr nice 6 pointer in 2005 and a smaller 6 in 1999 . I truly believe this one today was a good bit larger then the one I took in 05 !

I was raised in Madison county Virginia and left there nearly 30 years ago. I am not familiar with the term "Blackwater permit". Would you please tell me what that is?

Thanks,
Terry

I was raised in Madison county Virginia and left there nearly 30 years ago. I am not familiar with the term "Blackwater permit". Would you please tell me what that is?

Thanks,
Terry

Terry , I live in Orange County and have pretty much for the entire 46 years of my life !!!

However the "Blackwater Permit" has nothing to do with anywhere in Virginia !!!!

The "Blackwater Permit" is for the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County Maryland . Thats on the eastern shore of Maryland and the refuge is not to far from Cambridge Maryland !!!!

Maybe the third time will be a charm for you, 6pt!

Well the third time didn't take place this year !!!

I came hoem from work thursday night with the beginning of sinus infection . Friday morning I had the alarm set to hunt that morning at the house , but I was to stopped up to go outside . Slept all day friday with hopes of feeling well enough to go uo early saturday morning . But I woke uo about 11PM checked the weather report and decided I would be better of to stay home !!!!

So , as I have gotten used to saying . There's always next year ;)

Well boys next year is now here and I am waiting for my permit application to come in the mail and send it back for the 2008 season !

Think this year I will put in for an archery permit , early and late BP and the gun permit !

I hunted private ground on the edge of Blackwater, on the river, back in the mid 70's as a kid. My best friends dad was Iowa State Champ caller for ducks and geese some years earlier so he had a good teacher. I'll never forget the first morning when the sun came up and the sky was full of birds, Great memories! Jim - you out there? I've never hunted private ground, always my own or a neighbors place since then. I might just look into that.

I hunted private ground on the edge of Blackwater, on the river, back in the mid 70's as a kid.

We had a pair of leases in the late 90's , one was on Hip Roof Road and the other was on Beech Ground Road . Both of these butted up against the refuge .

Matter of fact the piece on Hip Roof road has become part of the refuge now . And the piece on Beech Ground is now owned by the state even thou it's open to the public now .

Went to the PO today about 3PM and checked the mail !

My Blackwater application was in there , so I immediately took it out marked everything had a postal MO made and sent it back Priority . SO they should have it back by thursday !

Only put in for the early ML and the shotgun hunt !

Work schedule will not allow me to hunt the late ML season and if I decide to bow hunt I'll get a permit when I go up !:D

Well work situation has changed so I may go on and get a late ML permit after all !

When I go up to scout and hang a stand for the early ML and gun season I might just purchase another permit for the late ML as well !

Called the refuge today to find out what the deal is with the permits as I hadn't seen or heard a thing !

Seems they are holding them a few more days as some folks would start bow hunting to early on the refuge !
Noraml season starts 9/15 and the refuge bow season starts a couple weeks later !

Anyway I got the two areas I put in for ! So I am set for the first day of the ML season in the area I have hunted the last 2 years !

And for the gun season I have the same area I hunted the last 3 years and happened to kill a right nice 6 point sika .

When I go up for some scouting in early october I might go ahead and get an archery and maybe permits for the extra ML and shotgun hunts .


So with that being said I stuck the Chincoteague NWR app in the mail today as well ! Maybe I'll get lucky and draw an area for in january ! Haven't hunted there in about 4 years !

Well I headed to the Blackwater this sunday to hang my stand for next fridays early muzzleloader hunt !

And I'll pick a tree sunday and mark a trail for the gun hunt in early december ! I may go back up the week before the gun hunt and hang my treestand again ! I don't like hanging my climber the morning I hunt but sometimes you just can't help it !

Also will have to make a decision whether or not I want an additional ML day in december and an additional couple days of gun season in decmeber . It's only an additional $30 for both so I may very well invest in it !

Other then hanging stands in Blackwater , now all I need is to hear from Chincoteague to see if I got drawn to gun hunt there in january ;)

Went up sunday and hung a stand in my area for the early ML season !

Plenty water in the marsh this year !

And WAY WAY plenty mosquitoes !
I think they were hungry as they tried to eat me whole :(

Anyway got the stand in the ML area and scouted out 3 good spots for the gun hunt in my other area :D

And I think I will buy permits for the extra ML day in December and the extra gun days in December as well ! Only another $30 !

So firday I bound for the marshes of southern Dorchester County ! And it looks like it will be raining that day ! Which is nothing new as I've gotten rained on during the early ML season for the last 2 years running !

Got there with time to spare firday morning ! It was cloudy but no rain ! Got checked in before 5AM and was settled in my stand and 30 feet up by 5:30AM although legal shhoting time was not until 6:41AM .

Along about 6:30AM I sent a Sika Bomb down in my hanger with a string attached to about 4 feet off the ground . After the can sent all it's scent I pulled it back up and put it away .

My Thermacell was working pretty well with the skeeters . And I heard a couple stags bugle before legal shooting light .

Finally legal time was here and after a bit I started hearing some shots ,some close some not so close .

Along about 8:15 I decided to take a couple pics of the marsh and was done about 8:20 .

I was just getting settled again when I looked to my right and saw a very nice 6 point Sika Stag about 100 yards away walking along semi slowly .

He went behind a small pine tree and I got in position . After a few seconds his head poked out and he stopped which gave me plenty time to size up his rack ! He was a good bit larger then the 6 pointer I killed in 1999 but not quite a s large as the one I got in 2005 . Regardless he was a nice mountable specimen ! And I could feel my pulse rate quicken !

Finally he stepped out from behind the tree and when the chest was clear I fired . He stopped and stood still while I started reloading . Then he put his head down , so i thought for sure I had hit him . While I was still reloading he turned and stepped back behind the pine tree .And I waited for him to appear on te other side . I waited for 5 minutes and he never reappaerred on either side so i assumed he was either dead or had layed down behind the tree . As I thought I had a pretty good look behind the tree after about 20 yards also .

SO I proceeded down the tree and slowly worked my way over to him ! When I got to the tree I looked around and NO deer ! So then I started checking out more and more looking for blood or tell tale signs ! I saw NOTHING . But I kept looking . I looked for about 4 hours and kept up empty so all I can assume si that I jerked the rifle when I pulled the trigger . I suppose I had to long to look at the rack and just got nervouse .Can't say as I ever had that happen before , but at least I now know I can still get excited when in a hunting situation ;)

But on the other hand I'm still PO'd about missing him !
I think sometime today I will take the Savage to the range and check it on paper . I would like to make sure that I jerked the gun and not that the scope had been nocked off from home to the marsh !

Here are some pics I took friday from my stand about 30 feet up a pine tree !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0388-1.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0389-1.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0390-1.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0391-1.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0392.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0395-1.jpg

I'm always glad to hear about another sika addict. People think you're kidding when you say it, but it's true with me, anyhow. I was warned by the buddy who first took me sika hunting on Beechground Swamp Road, this is the piece immediately northwest of the Insley Tract (the public piece you mentioned, right at the end of the road)which was owned by the Bridge brothers in the '70s. The state muzzleloader record was killed by my friend Sonny Williams in 1992 on the Bridge tract and still stands today - it's a 6 pt that eclipsed an 8 pt, a beautiful stag. I think one of the earlier rifle records came off the Bridge tract also.
I never hunted Blackwater, only some in Crapo and mostly at Assateague (it's closer for me and we camp overnight) but it sounds like you have it figured out.
Good luck if you return for archery or firearms season, be careful in that 30-foot treestand, and I hope the next sika you take stinks to high heaven. If you're a sika hunter you know what I mean!!

I was warned by the buddy who first took me sika hunting on Beechground Swamp Road, this is the piece immediately northwest of the Insley Tract (the public piece you mentioned, right at the end of the road)which was owned by the Bridge brothers in the '70s. The state muzzleloader record was killed by my friend Sonny Williams in 1992 on the Bridge tract and still stands today - it's a 6 pt that eclipsed an 8 pt, a beautiful stag. I think one of the earlier rifle records came off the Bridge tract also.


We leased the "Insley Tract" from the state of Maryland in 1999 . I killed my first 6 pointer on that tract in the early ML season !

Got my other 6 on the Blackwater in 2005 !

Now I normally kill about 10-15 whitetails a year here on my own property in central virginia . And if I had my choice I would take one 6 point Sika over all those darn whitetails and be more happy in the process !

I "WILL" be down on the Blackwater this coming monday (12/1/08) for the first day of the shotgun season on the refuge !

Wasn't able to get up yesterday to hang a stand ! But I already have a trail marked to my choosen spot on B2 !

About a 4 minute walk from where I park the truck to the tree :D

Well the truck is packed and I'm heading out in about 8 hours for the first morning of the shotgun hunt on the Blackwater !

Took my Savage 12 gauge Slug gun to the range today to check the scope so the same crap that happened with the Savage 10ML during muzzle loading season doesn't reaccur ! The 10ML missed a 6 pointer in the early ML season ! When I came home and went to the range I found out my bullets were hitting 5" to the right and 3" high !

Well sorry to say no luck and no sightings this year !

But there's always next year :D

Here are some pics I took from my stand monday !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0497.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0496.jpg


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0495.jpg



http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0494.jpg



http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0493.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0492.jpg


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0491.jpg


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0490.jpg


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0489.jpg

Here are a pair of pics I took of an average sized 6 point Sika Stag in Maryland or Virginia !

Also in the full size pic there's a squirrel above the deer mounted on the wall ! Thats one of the "endangered" "Delmarva Fox Squirrels" ! These guys are about the size of an average house cat !
They also seem to have a thriving population of the Fox Squirrels here on the Blackwater as well as in Virginia on the Chincoteague Refuge !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0505.jpg


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0506.jpg

On december the first during the middle of the day I came out and did a little sight seeing so to speak !

Actually I went around to some places I used to hunt before to see what kind of pressure they seemed to be getting !

One is now part of the refuge , another is now open to the public as we leased it from the state of MD back in 1999 !

Then I rode over and looked at a couple pieces of real estate that have been for sale :D

And I gotta say one of them with a decent looking house on the property sure looked good ! This piece has about 70 acres with plenty marsh ! Might just be the perfect vacation/retirement spot ;)

6pt -- don't leave us angig. I read teh whole thread and ws wondering f you got one this year!

Bukkaboom ,

I used to hunt on private leases in Dorchester in the mid to late 90's . Then I stopped for about 5 years .

In 2005 I put in for the first day of the shotgun hunt on the refuge and was able to kill a rather large 6 pointer .

In 2006 I decided to do the early ML season and the shotgun season on the refuge . Both hunts that year I had no sightings .

In 2007 I again did the ML and shotgun seasons although this time I had a 6 pointer right under my stand and not enough light to be able to shoot him .

In 2008 I had the missed shot at the 6 pointer during the ML season and then in the shotgun season I saw no deer although raccons were all around my stand :rolleyes:

And yes I have all intentions of returning next season for both the ML and shotgun hunts on the refuge .

I've kinda been thinking about hunting the refuge in Dorchester ever since replying the other week !

Now I'm ready to send in my money for the 2009 season !

Its nice to see someone thats into sika as deep as me.I don't hunt the Va. side I do Md. But but a hunter and his son goes there and Blackwater a lot.Seems to do good at all 3.Maybe you know him his name is Ed Frost.Been hunting Md. around him for better that 10 years.

Its nice to see someone thats into sika as deep as me.I don't hunt the Va. side I do Md. But but a hunter and his son goes there and Blackwater a lot.Seems to do good at all 3.Maybe you know him his name is Ed Frost.Been hunting Md. around him for better that 10 years.

When i started going to Maryland I was hunting out of Tom Fleming's old camp on Hip Roof Road . Now where we had our camp is part of the refuge .

The last year we had a club we also leased the piece of state owned ground on "Beech Ground Road" , think it's called the "Insely Tract" .

First year I hunted MD was 95 or 96 I think . I started hunting Chincoteague maybe 5 years before that .

I don't do Chincoteague too much walking for me.Been hunting on the Maryland side for about 20 years.Used to be much better.They let you kill WAY too many.I just went to blackwater this year.Tryed it 3 times with a bow.Not a bad hunt but the drag wow.Would have to be nice for me to kill one.Ed Frost tells me where he hunts if you shoot early it takes all day to get it out.Hope to find out next year!Sounds like you have hunted there a lot any help on the public land?????

Sounds like you have hunted there a lot any help on the public land?????

Your best bet is to hunt one section of the Blackwater ! Do your scouting during bow season and make sure you put in for the same area for ML and shotgun .

Also Fishing Bay WMA isn't a bad place to try either , but you'll need a small jon boat to access the better parts of it .

It is my sincere intention to purchase about 30-50 acres in one block in the southern part of Dorchester COunty . Don't know if I'll ever have the money at the same time a piece of property I like is available but only time will tell .

I got a hunter survey a few weeks ago from the DNR in MD . Filled it out and returned it !

I hope they publish the results and send me a copy of their findings .


Lets see the Blackwater apps should be here in about 3 months :(

Well I'm in the Philippines for about 7 weeks now ! But am scheduled to return home June 29th and hopefully the 2009 Blackwater apps will be to me a day or two later ! Also need to call Chincoteague and have them mail me one so I can donate $5 again this year to the friends of Chincoteague since I haven't been drawn at Chincoteague in about 5 years !

Out of curiosity,what makes the sika so special when compared to the whitetail? I have been intrigued by them but never partaken in a hunt for them.

It will become a bad habit.They are not deer but small elk.They do all the same things elk do.Most stags are very nocturnal and like to hang out where you or whitetails don't.A big stag only goes about 100lbs.but very good eating.Try it you'll like it . lol.

Out of curiosity,what makes the sika so special when compared to the whitetail? I have been intrigued by them but never partaken in a hunt for them.

Lets put this all in perspective !

I've been hunting whitetails pretty much my entire life and I am 48 now !

Over the last 18 years or so I really got into it and in my life I have taken about 200 whitetails be it does , small bucks or trophy deer .

I have been pursuing Sika deer on Chincoteague in Virginia and Dorchester County in Maryland on and off since 1991 . To date I have killed a pair of 6 point SIka , missed another 6 pt . Killed one spike and also killed three femal Sika's . Of those SIX 4 were killed in Maryland and 2 were killed on Chincoteague .

Granted I now only hunt Sika Deer a day or two a year . But a few years back when I had a lease I was in Dorchester County Friday thru sunday every weekend from September 15th until January 31st . Back then I would also use atleast 2 weeks of my vacation in pursuit of these little guys !

The best thing I can tell you is go once or twice ! You're either gonna love it or hate it !

I would suggest that your first time you shoot for the gun season when the bugs are more dormant ! Dealing with them does not help a first timer get into the sport ! And if you like it you'll eventually wanna try the early ML season as well as the early bow season .

massbb44 , I assume you are a resident of Massachusetts .

If thats the case might I suggest you do a google search and find a guide service or such in Dorchester and maybe hunt with them a day or two during the gun season .

Yes it will be a little more expensive , but they "should" have you in a good area and therefore your chances of actually seeing and or hearing them are far increased .

With a guide they have your area scouted with stands already hung for you in most cases . If you go to a public piece of property it's a crapshoot when you have an idea of what to do and a lot worse when you try it the first few times if you have no previouse experience ;)

Not trying to talk you out of it but possibly help make it a little better experience for you !

A big stag only goes about 100lbs.but very good eating.Try it you'll like it . lol.

The larger of the two 6 pointers I've killed weighed 89 pounds gutted when I weighed it at the check station on the Blackwater in 2005 !
And he was a pretty decent sized one !

My other 6 pointer that I killed in 1999 weighed about 70 pounds gutted I think .

One I missed this past early ML season probably would have dressed 75-80 pounds I think .

I've thought about hunting sika deer but never got around it.

I need to get the scope back on my Savage 10ML for the early ML season and check the scope settings on the Savage 215F for the shotgun season .

After that my firearms selection will be set !

Well maybe shoot a pattern or two with my Remington Sparten 12 gauge 20" SxS buckshot gun :D

You could also try Assateague Island.I've hunted there for the last 18 yearsand had a good time and gotten a few.I think the hunt is easier,not as many as Dor. but still a good hunt.You do ceed a 4x4 to get to the better areas.Its a great place to take the family.You get a hunt and the wife and kids can go to the beach or watch the wild poines.To find out more call 410 641 3030.If you do co there and need help finding a good area or tracking just ask about Richard hunter I.D.28.Always happy to help!

#1 , whats the water situation like up there in the marsh this spring ?

Been getting plenty rain so they stay pretty flooded or are things drying up ?

Always good when you have lots of water in the spring and early summer ;)

Just got the new Blackwater applications and I'm going for it all.Only been hunting there 5 times last year but really liked what I saw!

Just got the new Blackwater applications and I'm going for it all.Only been hunting there 5 times last year but really liked what I saw!

I'm gonna send money for an early ML tag and a shotgun tag . That may be about it for me this year I think !

My application was in the post office this AM when I checked the mail !

In about 30 minutes I had the app filled out and sent Priority back to the refuge so they should have it wednesday I would think !

I put in for the early ML , the december ML , the quota shotgun and the non quota shotgun !

Cost me $50 but thats okay !

Talked to a few and did the same.Good luck!

Talked to a few and did the same.Good luck!

I put in for "M1" for the early ML season and "B2" for the Quota Shotgun hunt !

What areas did you try for ?

I may get an archery tag later !

Just don't know yet . All depends on how the work situation goes :rolleyes:

Also put in M1 and E I put in with 2 other hunters and thats what they hunt.I liked U when I was turkey hunting but they said NO so here I go..I'm a beach hunter so I'll just take the ride. If you do the bow thing save a week near the end of the season and try the beach its Not that bad!If you do kill a stag up there you can still kill 4 on the beach!

I've never been on "E" or "U" before .

I have however been on "M1" a number of times as well as "B2" and "M2" .

I've hunted the beach on Chincoteague a number of times and taken a couple Sika .

But I gotta be honest I much prefer the marsh/swamp you get in the Blackwater NWR over the Chincoteague NWR anyday .

Chincoteague works great for an after the normal VA season hunt with a couple other friends where we can get away for a couple days get a room at the "Driftwood Hotel" in Chincoteague and just hunt "easy" .

I do the Maryland side,no draw just sign in and hunt.Not as many but a good hunt and the Fed. doesn't count for the state.

I'll let you know what days I get and where !

Perhaps we'll run into each other !


I'm easy to find there aren't to many folks with Virginia tags on their trucks at the Blackwater for the hunt :D

I do the Maryland side,no draw just sign in and hunt.Not as many but a good hunt and the Fed. doesn't count for the state.

Yeah Sika Deer at Chincoteague don't count towards the Virginia state bag limit either .

Heck at Chincoteague you hunt for 2 days and the bag is FIVE Sika per day and of the five , two may be antlered males each day !

I know this sounds bad , but I would love to go to Chincoteague once and limit out both days ;)

This reminds me I need to call Chincoteague and see about getting the forms to mail in for the draw this year !

Also need to get forms for the Radford Arsenal draw as well !

Well I'm starting to get the itch to call the hunt director at Blackwater and see if I got the spots I put in for :D


Still need to get stuff for Chincoteague and Radford !

This seems to be a 99% one-way conversation.

Time to bring it to a close.

Thread locked.