First tme in the field-Colliers Mills

[EJSP850]

Today was my first day day bird hunting and ended up having a great time out at Colliers Mills. We pulled up a little after 6 and the roads leading in looked like the parkway heading to the shore on a friday night. There were so many people on the first 2 fields I didnt think we would be able to hunt. The first wave walked the fields and we saw a handful of birds downed. I ended up walking a couple fields in the next wave with no birds flying.
After a few hours and nothing to show for we headed back to the truck and saw that just about everyone had left. We were deciding what to do when we starting watching a guy (who turned out to be one of the nicest and most helpful hunters I have ever met) work his GSP along the field edge. His dog had been hitting on a small area near us when a hen took off and as fast as it went up it was downed. We spoke briefly and decided since we were there we might as well push one more time. He asked us if we were going in and said he would run his dog for us. So off we went eager to work with him and his dog. About 10 minutes after we began I lost sight of the dog in the high grass but could hear his collar starting to beep. Thats when Fred told us to get ready the dog was onto a bird. As we moved in a bird took off just to my right, I let a round off and he disappeared! My first bird was down. A great ending to a day that wasnt looking so good. Sorry this post is so draw out I was hoping this would bring back memories to everyones first bird down.......Ray

[njgolfer]

I stopped by there this week for the first time. I needed to use the firing range to sight in my deer guns.

I have never hunted there - I usually hunt Black River, Clinton or Assunpink.

It was a different world at Colliers Mill - sand barrens, low grass fields and pine trees. The other WMAs are nice too, but it seems that they are wide open fields, dense woods or thorn bush hedgerows.

The range is deep inside the WMA and there are many other fields to hunt that I drove by. Next time try your luck heading deeper into the area. However, that may be tough hunting if you don't have your own dog.

[hunter]

good deer hunting and pheasant hunting there

[scu078]

Congrats on your first Pheasant... I will never forget my first bird.... Happy to hear that you enjoyed yourself... good luck to you in the future and Happy Hunting

[EJSP850]

I started bow hunting there this year, my first time in 10 plus years. I missed my first 2 doe :huh:. Too jumpy in the stand, I should have let them come in closer. It beats going to work!