Bear Island. What do I need to know?

[WNM]

Hope things have changed for the better since 3 years ago, but I think it has gone the other direction. The biologists (or maybe they were just hired help) suggested hunting in the blinds, said "there are ducks at every spot!" and put everyone in the closest to access for them areas, which left us crowded on a huge complex. Don't pass the teal expecting a limit of big ducks.

[Catdaddy]

I realize there are some ducks already here, but there are still plenty of ducks in Canada and the northern US.

If I waited 4-5 years with preference points, I would apply for a trip in early to mid January.

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[2thDoc]

bunch fun suckers.

go hunt it and have a ball. take a few decoys and be mobile.
other than that, I would remember a gun and shells.
dont listen to the negative nancys.

[ersepton]

Hunt was a heck of a good time. Birds were plentiful, and it was well organized start to finish. We had a huge pond/impoundment to the 3 of us in our group. The tech told us when he dropped us off not to hold off on the teal, and I listened a little too well. I killed 4 teal early and decided to wait on big ducks, well I managed to wait about 15 minutes and after watching about 3 volleys land in the decoys and take back off, I decided to shoot one more on the next group. A group of about 12 came in and flared, I decided to shoot one and ended up knocking down two with one shot and I was done, with a limit of teal, and I wasn’t mad about it!
Our group ended up with 1 Mottled, 1 Gadwall, 2 Shovlers, and 14 teal. All 3 of us have some work to do on Id’ing birds on the wing. We thought the shovlers were Gadwall, and passed on Gadwall we thought were shovlers.
All birds were shot coming into the docoys, or coming out of the spread.
All the advice was noted, and most was used. 6 decoys were perfect, and there was just enough wind to keep movement in the decoys.
We came home with 4 or 5 shells a piece, so I call it a success.





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[JABIII]

Fine hunt!

[cajunwannabe]

Looks like a GREAT hunt!!! Glad to see Bear Island producing!!!

[DoubleSprig]

Never one to complain about full straps, nice work.
Also thanks for updating with your results.

[davisd9]

Been 4 years but it was a blast when we were there. Congratulations! Jealous.

[Palmetto Duck]

Congrats, the bill is a dead giveaway on spoonies if you’re struggling to ID.

[TXFowler]

Awesome! We were covered in teal on our hunt in December last year but weren’t greedy enough and the sun and shore birds screwed us after we decided to finally quit letting teal land tax free.

[BoykinBeau]

Looks like an awesome hunt. I got drawn this year for Jan. 4, 2025. I've never been and had a lot of the same questions you already asked. How was the mud is the ground solid or fluff mud? Where did you stay, we will be driving down Friday around lunch and spending the night? I hope we can be as successful on our hunt as you were on yours.

[ersepton]

The 3 of us in our group are all in relatively good shape, so we didn’t have any issues with navigating the pluff mud, but it is certainly not a hard bottom. PM me your number and I will give you a call and tell you exactly what to expect.

[ersepton]

The 3 of us in our group are all in relatively good shape, so we didn’t have any issues with navigating the pluff mud, but it is certainly not a hard bottom. PM me your number and I will give you a call and tell you exactly what to expect.

[wcrites307]

if its coldish take a dog. trying to wade out 6 times and back to blind is a bitch. I have hunted BI about 5 times over the years. One youth hunt was incredible with teal. Kid couldn't help himself and ran out of shells before any big birds showed up. Don't call unless your a pro, feed call will be enough. Thermocell is a must no matter the month. Watch out for that first step off the levee.

[2thDoc]

see you on the 4th, Beau

and good stuff ersepton. glad you didnt listen to the naysayers who think SC doesnt have birds or our WMAs suck.

[trash2]

Couple airbnbs at Bennetts point, would look at availability. Next closest is Walterboro which will still be 25mins or more drive time to get there

[Cdnredneck]

Couple airbnbs at Bennetts point, would look at availability. Next closest is Walterboro which will still be 25mins or more drive time to get there

Edisto Motel

[Hogg]

Oyotungi

[MS31]

We rented from someone on here a few years back -5 min from the gate. Let me try and dig it up.

[Short_track_champ]

Glad you had a nice hunt man! Thanks for the update.
Shame you guys have to wait so long for such an opportunity.