Fox Collection and Duck Camp

[snakeeater]

Would like to take the opportunity to share some photos of our duck camp on the Chesapeake Bay as well as some gunning photos over the last few years. The heritage of the location is ingrained in the walls and the recent increase of hunting excursions from The Shack have rekindled what it means to be "at duck camp." Can't always make it out with the crew due to the weather but when I can, my trusty Fox side-by-side always comes along.

Myself:



The Shack:








Sunrise at the Shack:




My collection:




Some hunting photos from days at camp:







This year we hosted a group of youth for the state youth day...with no "goto" ducks around, we were able to find them some shooting. Hopefully their experience will lead them to a life long passion for the sport of waterfowling:

[Jim Cloninger]

Fantastic photos! I am an avid duck hunter and really appreciate your pictures. Thank you. Jim

[Mills]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing

[Jeff S]

Beautiful pictures and thanks for sharing them. I never grow tired of looking at duck hunting pictures. You are fortunate to have a "duck camp" such as that.

[SmithShady]

Wow, Duck Camp looks like the place to be! Thanks for sharing the photos.

Mike

[snakeeater]

Thanks guys, The has a lot history . It was built in 1840 and moved to its present place in 1913. The gunning is not what it once was but its still worth rigging out and enjoying the Bay. Now that Jason can post photos I will put more on later. Thanks , Fritz.

[fox-admin]

Great pictures, I hunted for 6 years on the coastal marshes when I lived in South Jersey a million years ago and your pictures brought back great memories.
Some of my best memories are of duck camp also, beautiful Cans and Labs. Thanks Craig

[Silvers]

Thank you Fritz for taking the time to do the pics and to post. Looks like a wonderful place with many memories. Hey one of those Fox guns looks familiar. Hope to see you again this year at Hidden Hollow and maybe at the Northern ..... Hausmann's and Rock Mtn in June and September respectively.

[snakeeater]

Great pictures, I hunted for 6 years on the coastal marshes when I lived in South Jersey a million years ago and your pictures brought back great memories.
Some of my best memories are of duck camp also, beautiful Cans and Labs. Thanks Craig

Craig, I used to gun Jersey from Sandy Hook at Key Port all along the coast and up the Delaware bay. That was 25 yrs. ago our Shack is in lower Chesapeake Come down some time and gun with us, ill get Kevin Mc. Cormack .to come along. Best Fritz

[fox-admin]

Years ago I was hunting a creek on Barnegat Bay in my sneakbox. Anyhow the wind was blowing from the east in a hard gale and it moved all the Cans from the bay into the small creeks. The Cans had a gale at there backs and where flying just off the water at an ungodly speed. I shot a box of shells and did no damage, I still can see those birds flashing by at light speed and they just kept coming in small groups all morning long. It was a frustrating morning for a young duck hunter!! I have only shot one Can in our marsh here in the finger lakes in 27 years. A group came in fast and low and I killed the third bird in line but was leading the first bird!!

[Sporrns]

My God, Fritz, after looking at those pics, I am going to need another NORVASC before the end of the day!! How long it has been since I slid the skiff off the ramp at Dames Quarter - and who are those YOUNG guys!! (I know, the ones you've been telling me about). And so good on you for doing the youth hunt - we need more and more of it! The picture of the dog bringing in the Can belongs on the cover of Shooting Sportsman!!

Craig, when MD had its 3-yr. experiment on trying to bring them back in the daily bag, they had a Canvasback season back in 1983-84-85, it was 5 days only at the end of January, limit was 5 Cans/person/day only one of which could be a hen. You had to have a special permit but there was no charge for it and you were contacted afterwards about details of your hunt for the DNR database.

The 1983 season was a washout due to warm weather; in 1984 we were iced out completely, but in 1985 we nailed it. At our old club "Winodee" just off the Wye River on Skipton Creek we gunned every day and took the DNR limit most days. Classic gunning weather all week; cold, cloudy & windy with lots of ice floes in the creek (God I hate chasing decoys!). We had a great Can rig and used both the 'wishbone' and 'fishook' diver rigs. I succeeded in getting our members to avoid shooting hens and when I made my report to the DNR at the end of the week we recorded 78 Canvasbacks with only 5 hens killed.

That hunt is burned into my memory; it was the very first time I ever watched the big birds do the "figure of eight" as they drilled high past the rig, flew a couple of hundred yards up the creek, then whirled around in that tight vortex and came back low and fast at breakneck speed, looking for a place to pitch. With a strong tailwind and their high airspeed, some of those we killed dead in mid-air fell out and when they hit the water, skipped like flat stones on a mill pond, sometimes 2 and 3 times. Without a doubt among the greatest and most exciting duck hunts I've ever been a part of! Kevin

[snakeeater]

Kevin, That brown dog is Marley, one of the best damn gun dogs I ever saw. unfortunately He passed on last year suddenly of a illness, it hurts to even think about it. We will see what can be done about a cover shot. I wish all of you could of seen Him do His thing. See you on the Bay. Fritz

[Stan Hillis]

Wonderful photos, Fritz, from one old duck hunter to another. Great to see so many young guys in the pictures.

Please post more as you can. It will help get me through the "DTs", now that duck season is again only a memory. Withdrawal is bad.

SRH

[snakeeater]

Frank, There was no doubt that you would recognize Blondie , love that gun. Yes we will try to make Hausmanns this Spring if the Rock Fish are not running. Had a nice time there last year & it was good meeting you and the other members. Best Fritz

[Mills]

Fritz, I recognized Blondie too. I am glad you are enjoying her and hope she produced some ducks for you this season.