Waterfowl hunting began in the late 70’s for me after the loss of the many farms we rabbit and coon hunted for years. We owned a kennel and at one time had 23 hunting dogs including Black & Tans, Blueticks and Beagles. The rapid development on the western shore especially near my home in Baltimore County forced us to give up the upland hunting we so desired. I always thought of the water as the last frontier here in Maryland and took it upon myself to partake in the bounty it offered. Like many before I started out hunting Fishing Bay, setting up on the property edges of the old clubs which used to exist. I lived through the era that you needed a permit to shoot a canvasback and never was lucky enough to get picked. I witnessed the moratorium on geese and the effects it had on the duck population. Stood in line at the court house to get a gunning rig license and had to make the switch from lead to steel shot.

 

For us old timers a lot has changed, for the youngsters not so much. I hunt public and private sites. I still hunt teal in the marsh and have blind sites in certain counties, after all the blind site lottery day is like visiting your old high school buddies right ? Many days I can be found in a body booting rig up on the Flats or a puddle duck blind on the Choptank. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to hunt every part of the state and travel to Manitoba to witness the migration.

 

As for the family life, married to someone who does not understand the addition but supports the efforts put forth. We have 3 daughters all who shoot and enjoy goose jerky.

The kennel is gone and the dogs are in the house. Training a Labrador takes up any remaining time I may have. The most enjoyment I receive from waterfowling is the companionship, the time spent with my friends. I’m really not sure what it is but I can spot a waterfowler in a crowd. There is just something about us that we can see in each other.

 

In 2005 the former PRWA asked me along with a few others to go statewide as an association. I became the Region 3 Director which grew into the largest region. Additionally, I ran the legislation in Annapolis for that year and later became Membership Secretary. We have a great group of volunteers, all who make this an outstanding association. Like my predecessor I want to allow the MDWFA to preserve and protect waterfowl hunting for the future generations. We are here to protect Maryland’s last frontier.