Has any one hunted Magee Marsh? Any tips please

[Dnraven99]

Looking for tips for hunting archery at Magee marsh this year. I was lucky enough to get picked this year for opening day. It looks like a pretty tough hunt with almost no cover in my spot any ideas would help. Thanks

 

[giles]

Welcome!

What area did you get? Kinda hard to give advice without a map.

 

[jagermeister]

It’s a controlled hunt every year with relatively limited permits. Unfortunately that means there are very few, if any, members here that have actually hunted at Magee Marsh. Your best bet is probably going to be calling the District 2 office for the Division of Wildlife and asking to be put in touch with an employee or manager up there at Magee.

A lot of times you can see deer trails through marshes and wetlands on Google Earth or other quality aerial imagery applications. If you know your exact area boundaries, I would start there with some online scouting. Key in on obvious areas of high ground, or “islands.” Usually those are pretty apparent also. Good luck!

 

[Dnraven99]

Here’s the area the best I can get. I marked the only tree areas I could see the rest looks very wet.

 

[Bigcountry40]

I know nothing about that particular marsh but wood look for a area that acts a bottle neck from.the swamp.to drier land. Sometimes these are beaver dams etc, look for a side of creek it worn out with tracks

 

[Bigcountry40]

Also my phone auto corrected would to wood. Dustin and fikes

 

[Bigcountry40]

Giles not files, damn

 

[jagermeister]

Here’s the area the best I can get. I marked the only tree areas I could see the rest looks very wet.
View attachment 106928

That is Ottawa Refuge which is a separate area from Magee. You will want to call someone at Ottawa Refuge and speak to them prior to your hunt.

Also don’t get too focused on setting a tree stand. Most of your best spots in a marsh area will require you hunting from the ground. My advice is take a tree stand with you, but don’t set it up unless you are convinced it’s a worthy spot. As soon as you plant your ass in a tree you’re going to lose motivation to move around and find good sign.

 

[GoetsTalon]

If you want to check it out Ottawa has auto tours every weekend. You drive about seven miles of dike wall through the refuge. It will give you a good idea of what you will be dealing with.

 

[mike hunt]

I have a gun hunt there this year, first time. I've always seen big deer there while on waterfowl hunts.