VomSteinbruch
FNG
Good morning, RS.
I have a question about hunting opportunities in North Carolina. I'm not asking anyone to share their spots. I'm just trying to get an honest picture of the state's hunting overall.
If you had to rate North Carolina as a hunting state on a scale of 1 to 10, what would you give it, particularly for someone who enjoys upland birds, waterfowl, and small game?
Here's why I'm asking.
The company I work for was recently acquired by a larger firm that is restructuring the organization. A few of us have been offered relocation packages. Originally there were opportunities in Texas, the Kansas City area, and Oregon, but those no longer appear to be available. My manager told me he can't guarantee those positions will reopen or won't be filled locally. At the moment, the only relocation option is the Charlotte area.
If I turn it down, I will probably lose my opportunity to leave Connecticut. I desperately want to get out of here. Politics aside, I find Connecticut to be a fairly game-poor state with limited access. There are a number of WMAs, but many are small, heavily pressured, or simply don't hold many birds.
After living here for eight years, I've managed to find a few reliable woodcock covers and a couple of ponds that consistently hold wood ducks, but that's about it. I never really got into the coastal marsh hunting here, so I usually drive to southern New Jersey for that.
I have found a few town forests and parks where I can run and train my dogs, but those opportunities are fairly limited, especially in southwestern Connecticut, which is essentially an extension of the NYC suburbs.
What makes this decision difficult is that I don't want to move from one game-poor area to another and spend years trying to find places where I can hunt and work my dogs. On the other hand, this is a generous relocation package with a salary increase and bonus, and the cost of living around Charlotte is considerably lower than in southwestern Connecticut.
On my own, I've also been trying to find work in NH, TX, ID, or even in eastern Washington, without success, so I've pretty much accepted that it isn't going to happen. My field is tied to large metro areas unfortunately.
I've been to North Carolina several times. I tested one of my dogs at Hoffman and absolutely loved the longleaf pine savannas and the people I met there. Everyone was welcoming, although many were disappointed by the decline of wild quail across the South.
I also spoke with a member of my breed club who moved from New York to South Carolina. He recommended joining a hunting club, which is something I've never really considered before. Judging from his experiences, it seems to have worked out very well for him, although I have no idea what memberships typically cost or what access they provide.
A little about me: I'm an avid upland, waterfowl, and small game hunter, and I'm heavily involved in hunting dog training and testing. I belong to several hunting dog clubs in southern New England. While I've never hunted big game myself, I have helped track wounded deer with my dog.
One thing that is absolutely essential for me is having access to public land—whether it's a state forest, game land, or park—where I can walk and train my dogs almost every day. I'm perfectly happy to drive an hour or more to hunt, and walking 10–12 miles to find birds doesn't bother me at all.
For those of you who live in North Carolina, especially around the Charlotte area, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks in advance. I'm not looking for GPS coordinates or secret spots, just an honest assessment of what life is like for a hunter and dog owner in North Carolina.
I have a question about hunting opportunities in North Carolina. I'm not asking anyone to share their spots. I'm just trying to get an honest picture of the state's hunting overall.
If you had to rate North Carolina as a hunting state on a scale of 1 to 10, what would you give it, particularly for someone who enjoys upland birds, waterfowl, and small game?
Here's why I'm asking.
The company I work for was recently acquired by a larger firm that is restructuring the organization. A few of us have been offered relocation packages. Originally there were opportunities in Texas, the Kansas City area, and Oregon, but those no longer appear to be available. My manager told me he can't guarantee those positions will reopen or won't be filled locally. At the moment, the only relocation option is the Charlotte area.
If I turn it down, I will probably lose my opportunity to leave Connecticut. I desperately want to get out of here. Politics aside, I find Connecticut to be a fairly game-poor state with limited access. There are a number of WMAs, but many are small, heavily pressured, or simply don't hold many birds.
After living here for eight years, I've managed to find a few reliable woodcock covers and a couple of ponds that consistently hold wood ducks, but that's about it. I never really got into the coastal marsh hunting here, so I usually drive to southern New Jersey for that.
I have found a few town forests and parks where I can run and train my dogs, but those opportunities are fairly limited, especially in southwestern Connecticut, which is essentially an extension of the NYC suburbs.
What makes this decision difficult is that I don't want to move from one game-poor area to another and spend years trying to find places where I can hunt and work my dogs. On the other hand, this is a generous relocation package with a salary increase and bonus, and the cost of living around Charlotte is considerably lower than in southwestern Connecticut.
On my own, I've also been trying to find work in NH, TX, ID, or even in eastern Washington, without success, so I've pretty much accepted that it isn't going to happen. My field is tied to large metro areas unfortunately.
I've been to North Carolina several times. I tested one of my dogs at Hoffman and absolutely loved the longleaf pine savannas and the people I met there. Everyone was welcoming, although many were disappointed by the decline of wild quail across the South.
I also spoke with a member of my breed club who moved from New York to South Carolina. He recommended joining a hunting club, which is something I've never really considered before. Judging from his experiences, it seems to have worked out very well for him, although I have no idea what memberships typically cost or what access they provide.
A little about me: I'm an avid upland, waterfowl, and small game hunter, and I'm heavily involved in hunting dog training and testing. I belong to several hunting dog clubs in southern New England. While I've never hunted big game myself, I have helped track wounded deer with my dog.
One thing that is absolutely essential for me is having access to public land—whether it's a state forest, game land, or park—where I can walk and train my dogs almost every day. I'm perfectly happy to drive an hour or more to hunt, and walking 10–12 miles to find birds doesn't bother me at all.
For those of you who live in North Carolina, especially around the Charlotte area, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.
- How would you rate North Carolina overall for upland, waterfowl, and small game hunting?
- Are there enough public lands or game lands within a reasonable drive of Charlotte to regularly train and hunt dogs?
- How crowded are those areas during hunting season?
- Is joining a hunting club almost a necessity, or can a dedicated hunter do well on public land?
- If you belong to a hunting club, what do memberships typically cost, and what do they usually include?
- If you moved to North Carolina from another state, are you happy with your decision from a hunting perspective?
- Is there anything you wish you had known before making the move?
Thanks in advance. I'm not looking for GPS coordinates or secret spots, just an honest assessment of what life is like for a hunter and dog owner in North Carolina.
