Bear Island. What do I need to know?

[ersepton]

Heading to Bear Island next Saturday, other than cold weather, what do I need? Give me all the intel from those who have been. This will be our first time there, hunted Cedar Island 5 years ago and it was awesome! Water was deep there, waste deep with pluff mud sucking you up to top of waders. We managed fine, but I remember most groups bitching. Is it about the same at Bear Island? Just trying to know what to bring, and expect. I have never laid eyes on the place.

[Hambone]

Thermacell and watch for Gators....

[DRDUCK]

Worst I have ever been bitten by mosquito's was in December at Bear Island. BUG SPRAY

[Catdaddy]

Leave dog at home

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[nitro5x6's]

It's been a long time since I have been drawn and hunted there. I would say to enjoy the experience as it is a fine place. Listen to the prehunt speech. The staff will tell you what they are seeing. We hunted the last January hunt.

We didn't listen , got greedy and punched our tickets on Teal. Shot a couple nice Pintail and were done when the Black Ducks lit on our pond. We did kill some dandy mature Greater Snows which came out of the fog silent.. that was worth the trip.

Take 5 or 6 #7 steel swatter loads..and a Thermacell or two Just in case....

[Highstrung]

it's been years since we've hunted it, last week of the season.. there were a few pintails around, but a ton of blue wings, and twenty thousand gadwalls. I killed six gadwalls, Chess killed six blue wings.. trying not to mention a spoonbill he saw too close. Just listen, we never throw out more then a dozen decoys at any of them, out of diving bag of mine.

[nitro5x6's]

it's been years since we've hunted it, last week of the season.. there were a few pintails around, but a ton of blue wings, and twenty thousand gadwalls. I killed six gadwalls, Chess killed six blue wings.. trying not to mention a spoonbill he saw too close. Just listen, we never throw out more then a dozen decoys at any of them, out of diving bag of mine.

I forgot that detail. We put only out 6 handcarved Black duck decoys and the birds swarmed them

[Gander]

Don't take more than 25 shells. Be selective on the shots you take. Listen to the recommendations from the DNR folks. They do monitor those areas pretty well. I've hunted bear island quite a few times going back to early 90s. Cover the boat as best you can. Stay well hidden. Prepare to be mobile if you see birds working another area. You don't need a ton of decoys. A dozen is as many as you will ever need. Go easy on the calling.

[Buckin Bronco]

Draw a spot where the birds want to be.

[BMAC_ducks]

I would have a sled, marsh seat and some camo burlap. Along with all mentioned above

[DoubleSprig]

Chest waders are a must.
I like to pack “tank camp netting in our decoy bag.
easy to weave native vegetation into, incase a move is needed.

Pack lite and observe for the first little while.
Be ready to move to the area the birds are wanting.
(have had good hunts using the blind and have also had to abandon the blind)

[Carolina Counsel]

Jerk cord and a half dozen black or gray duck decoys.

[davisd9]

Take a dozen decoys and be ready to move if they not landing right where they put you. For mottled take a couple hen mallard decoys on a jerk string away from the rest. Our walk in was not bad, ground was solid walking. Shot mostly blue wing and our mottled. Buddy killed one green wing.

[SCHUNTINFANATIC]

I would stay at home. Every time we’ve been drawn there it gets worse than the previous time. We didn’t even put in for any hunts there this year.

[cat III]

Bug spray

[DuvnDux]

It’s been a while but as mentioned before, Thermacell and bug spray, the bugs will make it miserable. DO NOT take more than 25 shells! I hunted the Cape one year and the next blind down from me sounded like a war. It was two guys and after they fired shot #72, the game wardens shut them down. They evidently bragged to someone that they were going to take more than 25 each. It wasn’t a good day for them to say the least. Take a marsh seat and prepare to move to where the birds want to be. The staff told us not to even go to the blind and told us where to go. They were right, I had pintails all around me before legal shooting time. Follow the rules and the advice they give, most of those guys enjoy seeing hunters be successful.

[pluffmudder]

Good info. I expected to draw BI or SCR this year, but I didnt. Im at 4 preference points… how many preference points do I need before I should start getting pissed?

[ersepton]

We had 5 points this year and finally got drawn. We’re in the first hunt of the year, which would have been great if it weren’t 85°.

[willyworm]

You've gotten about all the good advice so far. But if you have a dog take it. Trouncing thru that mud picking up birds, and heaven forbid chasing a cripple, even if you're in great shape it can be brutal. Water is cold enough that gators are literally unable to digest anything, so they've stopped feeding.

As for shells, spend a little extra for tungsten. That way you or the dog won't be chasing cripples. It's a hand changer. Make the few shots you have count.

Last we went was mid January and literally the day before the hunt wigeon and pintail showed up en mass. It was a fun hunt.

Worse comes to worst, you should have teal, mottleds she spoonies to shoot at.

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