Delmar Waterfowl Club - Maryland Whitetail/Sika Deer Hunting and Delaware Deer Hunting

Delaware Whitetail and Maryland Whitetail Deer Hunting:

Basically, we have rules to ensure the safety and equal use of club property. The scheduling forum and reporting format are the best tools to ensure fair use of the property. The system is open for all members to reserve any stand on the property. We don't deer hunt as a group. Each member is free to hunt any area he/she desires. We have approximately 150 deer hunting sections, all with quality loc-on, ladder and box stands. We typically try to maintain a ratio of two deer hunting sections per member and the sections vary in size.

Our first and most important rule is that everyone be a safe hunter. It's written in stone. This comes first and is one of few reasons that any member might ever be removed from the club. If a member shows himself to be an unsafe hunter, he will be asked to leave. Secondly, all hunting must be done in a manner consistent with state law. We just do not allow anyone to pursue illegal hunting practices. And finally, no member or guest is to ever do anything that is detrimental to the land or to act in any way that is offensive to any members of the families that reside on the farms we lease. To violate this policy could cause all of us to loose one or more of our leases and we will not tolerate any member or guest risking that.

Archery 3-D course:

DelMar Waterfowl has a large membership consisting of many hunters who enjoy using a variety of weapons to pursue their favorite game. Many of our hunters choose archery gear and for them, we have created a 3d archery range on our clubhouse property. The location may change based upon the members interest in the range.

The range is located on the back side of the Rouse farm reminiscent of your favorite hunting spot. Several lanes have been creatively cut into the woods with many different 3d targets at varying distances found in each lane. You might find yourself up against a standing Black Bear, a strutting Turkey or a feeding Whitetail Buck. Several different animals challenge any skill level and will be the most fun you’ll have without the need to drag the animal to the butcher when you’re finished!

Please enjoy the range as much as possible and take good care of the targets so we can enjoy them for seasons to come. Click here for photos

Scheduling a Deer Hunt:

All hunting dates must be scheduled in advance. However, each member should confirm the property is not closed to hunting on the scheduling forum. The member must pick morning, evening or both. This applies to bow, muzzleloader, shotgun and rifle. The are guidelines to the schedule hunts in the rules. All scouting must be scheduled just like a hunt because we want to let owners know when we are accessing the properties in the off season and provide a framework during the season.

For all dates that are scheduled on the forum, a complete report must be prepared if a deer was taken or a shot fired. Walk-in hunts also require a post on the schedule after the hunt occurs. This should be done on the same post. We do not require anyone to report what they saw. It’s been our experience that these types of report can be less than reliable.

Walk-in Rules

The club tries to select a portion of the stands for walk-in locations. Many of the members hunt both waterfowl and deer. We like to keep the flexibility of setting up for a deer hunt any time of the day after a hunt. These stand locations are designated a walk-in spot’s and no advanced reservation is required, nor can members reserve walk-in locations. For firearm season openers we close walk-ins for the lottery and this is always promptly posted on the deer hunters chat forum. The club has constructed check in boxes for all the larger farms.

How we hunt:

I'm not going to go into details about the hunting methods we use, you can read magazines with writers that are much better than me at telling you how to hunt, but I will say that we use various techniques in pursuit of deer. We practice Quality Deer Management because we believe the greatest achievement in hunting is the harvest of a mature Whitetail buck. Once a buck is harvested he will mature no more, thus taking a buck before maturity is adverse to the sport.

We also do not permit deer hunting with dogs and do not take deer less than a year old. Specific rules are posted below.

Harvest Policies:

All deer harvested must be photographed with a digital camera and posted on the site. If a deer is dressed in camp entrails will not be left in camp and must be removed. Do no dress in the vicinity of the deer stand.

Tree Stands

Elevated stands provide an advantage in outwitting whitetails in some situations. Unfortunately tree stand injuries are our sport's number one injury, which usually results in serious injury, paralysis or death. Please properly maintain your equipment, climb healthy trees and most of all wear an approved SAFETY HARNESS. Not having one on is considered a serious violation of club rules. The only casualties we want to carry out of the woods are the ones that will end up on the table.

All members must hunt from the established stands. Exceptions are noted in the rules. A list of club stands is located in the White forum maps under each property. Detailed maps with the property lines, tag boards and stand locations are posted on the schedule site. All stands should be positioned facing away from the property line. Any member may place a personal stand anywhere on the lease that meets the listed qualifications. When a private stand is hung it must be within a set distance from the club stand. Club management may require stand relocation when safety is a factor or the lease as a whole would benefit. (I.e. another stand can be safely placed by moving the existing stand a relatively short distance). Do not relieve yourself proximate to any stand during the season. We hunt according to stand locations in a sections on the property. Each member must reserve a stand/section in order to hunt a private stand.

Deer Hunting Manager:

Skip Pepo is the manager of the deer hunting.

No stands may be moved unless the Deer Manager is consulted.

All broken equipment, such as a loose stand must be reported to the Deer Managers. Please try to repair it yourself before calling.

Food Plots/Feeders:
Food plots, trail cameras and feeders tend to enhance the quantity and quality of deer on the lease. Do not tamper with the feeders or the trail cameras without consulting the deer manager's beforehand.

Guest Policy:

The guest policy is stated in the general rules section of the site. No guests will be permitted during any portion of the gun season. Guest are permitted during the bow season for a fee of $100 a day/hunt and must be accompanied by the member. No guests are permitted on any opening days. Anyone bringing a youth hunter must follow Maryland’s and Delaware’s laws.

Other Information

No deer drives are permitted.

Lotteries may be held for opening days of muzzle loader season and/or shot gun season. The deer hunting managers or his designee may choose to waive the lottery and members self select if demand is minimal. In order to make this determination, the deer hunting manager may need to obtain a count of the expected members. Please respond via the internet as soon as possible.

There are three work days required to complete preparations for the waterfowl season. Anyone primarily hunting deer, should participate in at least three additional deer hunting work days. During the season, the regular deer hunters will be asked to perform short additional tasks, such as refilling a feeder. There is a considerable amount of deer hunting locations and stands spread among a relatively small number of deer hunters.

Please remember we share the properties and the work.

The Club Concept:

Here's a listing of what's considered "good club member" characteristics for deer hunting at DelMar:

1) Making good efforts at setting up and maintaining hunting area.
2) Being outdoors savvy.
3) Contributing toward the club’s program, being responsible for providing complete records on deer taken, and exercising good judgment on taking a buck.
4) Being respectful of wildlife and making good effort to locate animals that are shot.
5) Attending the hunting club meetings, communicating regularly with the deer hunting manager, and answering emails within a reasonable time period.
6) Maintaining good relations and being considerate of others, putting safety first, and helping out on club member projects.
7) Willingness to lend ideas, give feedback, help solve problems, and responding when ideas are asked for.
8) Helping keep the lodge area picked-up and maintained, not leaving stuff in the shop and barn that should be taken home, and making repairs when something has been broken.
9) Making fee payments on time.
10) Adhering to all the club member policies.

Although the doe harvest is important to our overall deer management program, no one is required to take a doe, although you're encouraged to do so to help out.