Here in the Lowcountry, sportsmen associate large, high tides with tailing redfish, for good reason. While the hunt for a tailing redfish is a thrill in itself, there is another game, often overlooked, that is readily available during fall's large tidal pushes.
Hunting marsh hens in the Lowcountry is exceptional fun, and offers a particularly good way of introducing children to the sport of wingshooting. These childhood memories are connections that last a lifetime.
The best hunting is had on flood tides, as the increased water levels tend to concentrate birds in smaller areas. The caveat is that these birds can not be shot from a boat under the power of either an outboard or a trolling motor. This adds to the challenge a bit, but the higher-than-average water levels make it easy to pole or paddle boats through the spartina grass.
The best advice is to check your tide charts and schedule your hunts around the highest tides possible. The higher the tide the better, but anything over nine feet works well.
Once on the water, you can target birds with both your eyes and ears. Anyone who has spent time wading redfish flats has likely heard the distinctive cackle of a marsh hen. You can listen for the birds and direct your movements accordingly, or you can paddle or pole your boat and have a shooter in the front taking aim as the birds flush.
And if you’re quiet, it isn’t the least bit unusual to see the birds well in advance, allowing you to position your boat while giving the shooter time to prepare.
Interested in giving this a try? Consider finding a hunting partner and renting a kayak from the boating department. For $21 a day, you can take a two-man kayak and leave from the boat ramp at the gazebo. Target hens with a light gauge shotgun and light loads. Lead shot is legal. Limits are a liberal 15 birds per hunter.
And, since the optimal conditions for marsh hen hunting are the same conditions needed to target tailing redfish, it’s definitely worth throwing an eight-weight and a couple of flies in the boat.
Marsh hens are not fast flyers which makes them a particularly good target for introducing kids to the sport of wingshooting. They also offer a great opportunity for waterfowlers to give their retrievers some reps prior to duck season.
Season Dates Sept. 9--Sept. 14 Oct. 7--Dec. 9