Pheasant and Marsh Creek

[Bob Dole]

Hello Everyone,

I've never hunted pheasant before and wanted to give it a try this season. Can someone give me couple pointers as to what places around Marsh were stocked, how recently, when is the next stocking.

any additional info will be greatly appreciated

-bob

[teb67gt]

They stock whenever, nobody knows exactly when they do, nor should they. I hunt there a lot because a) it is close to home, b) been doing it for years c) it used to be pretty consistent.
This year, there has been way too many people for such a small area. Maybe hunting is getting more popular..more likely there are less places to go combined with an increasing population. I had an older lady shoot over my head as I was approaching my car ( in a saftey zone ) last year. That is the stuff I am talking about.
So, if I am ranting a bit, forgive me. But I hunt that land when the birds are not fresh off the truck and have at least half a chance. Anything else is dangerous and is certainly not hunting. They do put pheasants out, and have probably done there second/maybe third stocking by now. The dam is a good area, esp. the woods on the right and thickets on the left. Lakeview drive is trampled down like crazy now. Any birds that are there will either be shot in short order or will hop over to the posted land across the drive. It is a small patch too, so unless your there when they put them out, they won't be around longer.
The best hunting is when the truck chasing riff raff is gone. You might not see as many, but you'll have some peace and not have to worry as much about getting peppered. When you do get a bird, you've earned it.

[Bob Dole]

Thanks for the response, greatly appreciated.

Besides Marsh would you recommend other less congested areas? or places where you can hunt non-stocked birds or any small game for that matter (up to lets say 2 hrs from Philly suburbs)

thanks again

bob

[teb67gt]

Marsh is pretty good for rabbits. Non stocked pheasants basically don't exist in PA anymore, unless you know someone who owns a farm with the right cover, they are non existant.
The sad truth is that you either need to get permission to hunt such a land, and will still basically have to settle for squirrels or rabbits, or head north to go for Grouse...which are anything but easy to get a shot off of. If you are into doves, they can be found in decent numbers around the various SGL around here. For stocked pheasants, try Blue Marsh. It is big and can handle some pressure.

[Bob Dole]

I got a shot at a grouse in Central PA couple days ago, damn fast birds! My buddy shot at one too, altogether we spotted 3 but gone none of them!

again thanks for your feedback,

bob

[Ol Man River]

I hunted birds at Marsh Creek area before they created the lake and never came back empty handed. Game commision said lack of birds was due to loss of habitat. I for one always believed that was alot of bull. When you figure in the fox problem, herbicides, and the avion flu that killed all the chickens, as far as I'm concerned they were the primary factors. All this occured to my recollection in a 3 to 4 year period, and they were all gone. Chester and Lancaster counties were the primary places to hunt birds in Pa. A general once said " We have met the enemy, and they are us". Sad to say how true. Good luck Bob and if you do see a bird shoot it with a camera.

[Hawgcatcher]

You might want to try the State game lands up at Warwick state park. They do stock phesants there and last year I hardly ran into another hunter during the week. If you have have a dog great other wise good luck. Very thick cover.