As avid hunters, one of the best and most rewarding things we can do is pass the love for our sport on to the next generation. The good news is that it’s fairly easy to get kids interested, as many are naturally interested in wildlife and nature, but some will take to it slower than others. You can start by watching turkeys and deer at close range and show your kids the little things. Just[...]

My first rod was flamingo pink with a reel that flashed pink and green lights when you cranked it. That rod isn’t what made me want to go fishing as a kid or spend time on the water. I didn’t fall in love with my FisherGirl-branded cap, or pink camouflage, or even my Barbie tackle box. I fell in love with fighting a fish and watching it get scooped up by the net, being dunked[...]

Hunt & Hike Family Road Trips, Part 1: Western Maryland Maryland has one of the most varied outdoors in the country. From freshwater rivers, thousands of miles of Chesapeake Bay coastline and the Piedmont Plateau, to thick forests, dozens of hills, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachia, the state’s geography is full of beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife. For Maryland hunters and out-of-state visitors, that means there’re plenty of unique outdoor activities and experiences[...]

Local lore around here holds that the waterfowl migration begins on the first north wind after the full moon in October. The beginning of November is the peak of the waterfowl migration in our area. Ducks such as Pintails, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Mallards, Black Ducks, Shovelers, Wood Ducks and Widgeon, as well as Canada Geese, find their way back here to the farm each year. We don’t hunt the early seasons in September[...]

Maryland has long been a favorite to many sportsmen across the nation. The woods, waterways and heavens bring a smorgasbord of game to the table, year in and year out. Maryland’s deer season runs the first week of September to the last week of January. It is hard to resist by any savvy woodsman. The January late gun season in Maryland is a second to last chance to put some meat in the freezer. It[...]

If you tell someone you are headed to a muskrat-centric weekend, they might look at you a little funny. That is, unless they are from the Eastern Shore. In that case, they’ll tell you that you are in for a treat. First things first—what’s the deal with these muskrats, sometimes marketed in the restaurants of yesteryear as “marsh rabbits?” Most folks get them a bit mixed up with beaver, otter, and the like. They are[...]

Alright, let’s set the stage…its cold, and you haven’t fished for several weeks because of the chill. However, the meteorologist is calling for a warm spell that just might be your best excuse this winter to get out on the water. If the recent chill hasn’t put an ice covering on Maryland waters, then you have a pretty good shot at catching some wintertime crappies throughout the state. Here’s a game plan for success and[...]

Productive winter yellow perch fishing in upper Chesapeake Bay tributaries attracts many anglers. When the days get shorter and the chilly weather comes, yellow perch gather in schools and feed heavily. Yellow perch fishing starts in November and continues into March. After the yellow perch spawn in early March, they scatter and are harder to find. In the meantime, fun fishing can be had from piers and boats. And, fresh-caught yellow perch is tasty and[...]

Gear Although ultra-light rods from five to six feet have been the panfishing standard for many years, an increasing number of panfishers are opting for the longer rods that tape seven to ten feet for longer casts and better leverage when hoisting slabs out of brush or away from man-made wooden structures. Crappies can hunker down tight to them during the cold. We use B&M crappie poles from eight to ten feet and Wally Marshall[...]