Virginia Afield

Virginia Afield

By Robert M. Gooch

Marsh Bird Season

The Old Dominion hunting picture gains variety this week as marsh birds join doves and squirrels on the open season list. The season on rails and gallinules opened'Monday and extends through November 30. Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset. The dally bag limit for sora is 25 with the possession limit the same. Fot the other species the daily limit is 15 and the possession limit 30 with both limits applying to a combination of rails and gallinules. While these game birds of our marshes are subject to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the only license requirement is a state hunting license. Of the 5 marsh birds found in Virginia, the most popular but the most remote from Central Virginia is the clapper rail. Most abundant on the Eastern Shore, the clapper is strictly a bird of the salt water marshes. A clapper rail hunt is easy to plan however, as a ’phone call to hotels in Oyster or Wachapreague will reserve accommodations and also a guide to pole you through the marshes. Guide fees average about $15 and this includes a boat and motor. Hotel Wachapreague is one I have always found satisfactory, but there are no doubt other good ones. A word of warning. The salt water marshes can be tough on a gun, so use an old one. Or if you use your favorite field piece, oil it well, and after the hunt clean it thoroughly -- several times. The other 4 marsh birds are sora, king rail, Virginia rail and the common gallinule. These birds all prefer fresh water and frequent the marshes of the rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. Of the 4 the sora is by far the most abundant and can furnish some top sport. The difficulty is finding a guide to pole your boat. A pair of sportsmen can make out fine however, alternating the poling and the shooting.

Ammunition-wise, ordinary