I'm moving to the Ellicott City area the 17th of July and would like to know if there is anybody out there who enjoys the stick and string and could possibly point me towards any places to shoot and fill me in on the hunting in your(our) state? I love fishing too so if you have info on that you could share it would be appreciated. I'm starting a new life and looking for new friends who share the same outdoor interests. Wish me luck guys this is the scariest and the most exciting thing I've ever done.

Ron Goodrum

Hey Ron,

I'm just east of Ellicott City (Jessup). The area your moving to is pretty much a metro area. As far as hunting goes, public land can be pretty good during bow season. There are several public tracks not too far from you. Private land requires deep pockets as (what's left) of farms in the area are leased up. Your going to find that all over Maryland and to get into a private hunting club (eastern shore or western MD), I think you have to will them just about everything after your gone...

There are a bunch of "Marylander's" who visit this site. As a bonus, most of them are pretty good folks. Be safe with your move.

Jerry

You could join the Maryland Bowhunters Society and the Tradional Bowhunters of Maryland.  There is a course not far from you The Heart of Maryland Bowhunters.  All of these have websites.  I'm in Finksburg and there are several Tradgang members in Sykesville and Eldersburg.  I'm retired and always looking for shooting companions.

Ron, there is a good number of us here. I work in Ellicott City and live in Eldersburg which is @ 12 miles away. As mentioned, Heart of Maryland Bowhunters will be the closest place to you. It is a really nice place and has a pretty big stick & string influence.

Plenty of hunting opportunities, just have to connect with the right people like the Maryland Bowhunters Society. There is a lot of good info on a local site we frequent.

Plenty of really good fishing around too. Trout streams, bass lakes, tidal rivers, Chesapeake Bay...etc.

If you get bored here in central Maryland for lack of something "outdoorsy" to do, then I'll be surprised.

Ron, Welcome to MD! I am in the western portion of the state about 45 +/- minutes or so West of where you will be. Lots of MD guys on here and all great guys! Advice above is rock solid from some super fellows. Lots of fishing too!

Welcome... As they said Md does have some productive public land for early archery season and some decent bowfishing as well. There is a 3d course in westminster, not too far west of you. Good luck

Here's a link that could be very helpful in making contacts.

http://www.neckofthewoodsoutdoors.com/video/

Thank you for the replies, I feel a lot better now,lol. Looks like I'm going to an area with the potential to meet a lot of new people who share the same interests. Hope to run into some of you soon when I reach my new home!!!!

Ron Goodrum

Ron,
I live in Sykesville 1 mile from Raineman, one mile from Hatrick, Reddog, and 2 miles from Migrabill. Look us up.

Rich....I never heard of those towns...Raineman, Hatrick, Reddog????      

I can see him now....Googling-up a map to get directions to Hatrick, Maryland.

Hey Ron....you can also take a two hour drive, up 70W to 68W and visit Green Ridge area.  Lots of public land with huntable populations of game.
On further another hour takes you into Garrett County and thousands of acres of state forest land.   I live in Pa., 20 miles N. of the Md. line above Cumberland/Lavale area.

George, I live smack dab in the middle of Hatrick, Maryland. Population of only 5 and we like to hide our location from the general public. For those that have ventured here unannounced, some have never been seen again.   :eek:  

Ron, as has been pointed out, there is a rather large contingent of traditional shooters in the area. In fact, as Raineman and I were just discussing last night, it's pretty amazing how many of us live in such close proximity.

You will have an excellent range within 10 - 15 miles of where you'll be living, and more public bowhunting only ground than you'll be able to hunt in one season.

As Rich suggested, look us up (figuratively, George) when you get in town.

We have an all traditional shoot planned for the Heart of Maryland Club on September 13th. The Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland will also be holding their fall meeting there that day. A great time for you to meet a lot of people.

We might even be inclined to allow cantankerous old coots from PA to attend.   :D

Ron, I'm the only sane one in the whole bunch that answered you. I'm in Glenn Dale, about 20 miles or so from you. If you don't mind traveling a bit, the eastern shore has Sika deer on Assateague Island that are a hoot to hunt.

Aww c'mon now Fred, there is at least one other sane one here in the bunch besides you...you just haven't told us who it is.

Let Ron get settled in before you go corrupting him with tasty sika backstraps.

Ya know, Jim, you might be right. Tellin' all the folks on here that swamp critters is mo' better'n whitetail might be the wrong thing to do. Update: Sika deer tastes like a football bat, don't eat it or hair will grow in bad places! Hows that?

Ron, this might help also.
http://www.traditionalbowhuntersofmd.us/
there is also a club listing under the Maryland listing on this site.

Ron,

Proceed with caution.  I spent two days with those guys. Left there even more corrupt than when I arrived.      

Also left with a '59 Grizzly and a Baltimore Orioles cap--made a nice contribution to their local economy!

They do have some beautiful countryside though and the folks are top notch.    

One more thing: I think there are dress code requirements for their 3d shoots, but as long as you have a tshirt, shorts and knee-high black socks I think you'll be ok.

Maybe something on this thread will give you an idea of what you are getting into:

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=075595

Good luck, you are guaranteed to have fun!

Bernie

Let's just say Maryland is pretty much acceptable to "alternative lifestyles".

Example;




Now I'm not saying anything is wrong there but everytime I see that pic, I hear banjo's playing in my head...

You can get a permit to hunt in the Patapsco State Park along the Howard County/Baltimore County border with several hunting areas open in September through January. There are other public areas available such as Soldiers Delight, Loch Raven and Pretty Boy reservoirs.

Welcome!
1st thing you need to do is try some  Maryland steamed crabs!!! Loads of fishing (salt an fresh water)an crabbing.   I`ll see you at the next TBM shoot an meeting.

For some strange reason that pic doesn't surprise me in the least....go figure!!