Driving the East Coast (kind of long and rambling, will involve ducks soon)

Bill Savoie

Bill Savoie

Active member
So yesterday I left New Hampshire driving my wife down to North Carolina for the winter (she stays, I don't). On the ride I saw waterfowl and habitat of all types. Late yesterday afternoon while crossing through Delaware I saw a decoy spread ( at 75 mph it can be hard to tell, but when I saw a head pop up out of a boat I was sure) and an idea came to me. I turned 50 this year and have been thinking about some of the wonderful hunts I've had, the wonderful partners and friends I've met, and the dogs, mainly good, that I've had the pleasure to gun over. I've always wanted to see all 50 states, I've made about half of them so far and some of those just passing through. I am going to hunt waterfowl in all 50 states (need to check if there's duck hunting in Hawaii), not guide hunting, but the public hunting that I've mainly done. I am going to hitch up my TDB and start. I know I can get some of the New England states this season. I'll be posting questions and asking for tips (not asking for anyone's spots) and will be posting as I go along. Any help, advice or company will be much appreciated. I hope to meet some of you folks along the way.
 
Bill,
that is an awesome idea. My dad was always talking about taking a train thru all 50. I like the duck hunt better.
 
Sounds like a really cool idea.
When you get ready to hit the Gulf Coast, PM me, my son & I will guide you and we'll chase open water gadwalls & divers on Mobile Bay or Mississippi Sound!
 
I just turned 50 too. I'm just trying to do the eastern seaboard. I'll trade you a hunt in NJ for a hunt in NH. Just let me know what's on your bucket list.

Phil.
 
Good luck, that sounds really fun. I have been in 39 states so far hope to see the other 11 some day. I'm only 30 so I still have plenty of time. Just recently I thought of starting to do what you are doing. Not just seeing the states but hunting them too. Good luck on your journey. If you happen to find yourself as far south as you can go in New Jersey let me know. Luke
 
Let me know when you hit Oregon and Washington. As for Hawaii, there is no legal waterfowl hunting there, but there is terrific upland gamebird hunting on the Big Island. Turkeys, francolins, chukar, doves, etc.

Here is a wikipeadia list of introduced gamebirds in Hawaii.

# Wild Turkey (Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, & Niihau)
# California Quail
# Gambel's Quail (Lanai & Kahoolawe; possibly Hawaii)
# Chukar (all main islands from Kauai eastward, except Oahu)
# Black Francolin (Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, & Molokai)
# Gray Francolin (Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, & Oahu)
# Erckel's Francolin (all main islands from Kauai eastward, except Maui)
# Japanese Quail (all main islands from Kauai eastward, except Oahu)
# Red Junglefowl (Kauai & Oahu's Waimea Falls Park)
# Kalij Pheasant (Hawaii)
# Ring-necked Pheasant (all main islands from Kauai eastward)
# Green Pheasant (Lanai & Kauai; possibly Maui)
# Common Peafowl (Hawaii, Maui, & Oahu)
# Helmeted Guineafowl (Hawaii; possibly other main islands)
# Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Hawaii)
# Rock Pigeon (Hawaii, Maui)
# Spotted Dove (all main islands from Kauai eastward)
# Zebra Dove (all main islands from Kauai eastward)
# Mourning Dove (Hawaii)
 
Bill,

That is a great plan. I love the idea of what you are doing, especially that you want to freelance it. I have a lot of respect for that.

T
 
I guess I should have wrote "guide".
Not in the pay us to take you sense, but more in the "one DHBP guy helping out another" sense.
 
I'm in Oregon/Washington also. PM me when the time gets close you're headed this way.
I'd be glad to help you out on a venture like that.
I also hit Idaho and Wyoming but it can vary on timeframe from year to year.
Sounds like a great adventure in the making. Make sure you get a good camera for those trips.
 
First off, thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement and offers to help. I do appreciate it and intend to take each and every one of you up on your offers. I look forward to meeting many of you. My wonderful wife thinks I'm crazy, but she is supportive on the idea.

I'm working on the logistics right now, will be setting up a blog so that I have a place to post stuff, will add a link here when I get that up and running.

I hope my hunt this morning wasn't an indication of how my journey will progress...
 
Bill when and if you hit Southeast FL we have some great hunts and the marsh never get frozen. Fl is not a bad place to be in late January. Just let me know.

Regards,
Tony
 
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