Hunting · Dorchester County · Eastern Shore
Real base camp. Eastern Shore Maryland.
FIREARM DEER OPENS · waterfowl continues · sika continues · peak month
6 bedrooms · 1,600 sqft barn for gear · 10-truck parking · smoker on the rear deck · pet-friendly for retrievers.
Bay View
Pergola
Flex Barn
Kitchen
November · Eastern Shore hunting
PEAK SEASONNovember — peak hunting season.
FIREARM DEER OPENS · waterfowl continues · sika continues · peak month
- •Firearm deer season opens late November — the year's busiest
- •Waterfowl seasons continue in good flight conditions
- •Sika deer firearm season
- •Pre-rut + rut activity for deer — best hunting of the year
- •Cold-front mornings = peak waterfowl movement
What's open this month
- White-tail Deer (firearm) — rifle season — rut activity peaks
- Sika Deer — firearm season on Hoopers Island
- Duck (all species) — cold-front flights; good decoy work
- Canada Goose — field hunts with full spreads
Closest public hunting
- ▸Fishing Bay WMA
- ▸Public deer woodlots
- ▸Hoopers Island sika range
- ▸Private waterfowl impoundments
This section updates automatically each month based on the calendar — what you see here is what's happening on the property + at Blackwater right now.
Verify Maryland DNR regulations before traveling. Maryland season dates, bag limits, and licensing requirements change annually. The seasonal block above describes what's typically open each month — always cross-reference dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide for current legal seasons and dates.
Base camp · not a lodge · honest about what we are
What we are — and what we aren't.
We are: a private 6-bedroom home with a 1,600-sqft barn for gear staging, a 10-truck driveway, a rear-deck smoker for cooking game, washer/dryer pairs for muddy waders, and a pet-friendly policy for hunting dogs.
We aren't: a guided-hunt outfit. No guides on-site. No gun safe installed. No game-cleaning station. No lodge meals or guides included. We're the base camp; you bring the hunt + the gear + the program.
Public hunting land nearby. Sika range on the island itself. Atlantic Flyway waterfowl country. Verify current seasons at Maryland DNR before booking.
What are you hunting?
Pick your hunt.
How a day actually unfolds here
The base camp day.
4:30 AM
Kitchen coffee. No whispering.
Lights on, full pot, breakfast on the island. Working watermen community — everybody on the island is up by 5. No tip-toeing around sleeping non-hunters in a hotel hallway.
Pre-dawn
Trucks loaded from the Flex Barn.
Decoys, waders, blinds, the bow case, the ammo bag — everything staged in the barn the night before. Dry, out of the weather, no walking gear up from the basement in the dark. Walk it to the truck and roll.
Dawn
Public land nearby — or sika range on the island.
Fishing Bay WMA, Taylors Island WMA, Idylwild for turkey. Sika deer range is on Hoopers Island itself — permit-application process per DNR. You're in the blind or on the stand before legal shooting hours.
Mid-morning
Back to base or push through.
Some crews break for hot food and a nap; some stay out until the bite slows. Rear deck has rocking chairs and Bay view if you're easing off. Hot showers for the half-frozen guy who's done.
Late afternoon
Game prep in the Flex Barn.
Waterfowl: breast + bag on the rubber-mat floor (easy hose-down). Sika or whitetail: a local meat processor in Cambridge or Hoopers Island handles cut + wrap — we'll send the short list at booking. Dirty gear goes through the washer/dryer pair while you eat.
After dark
Smoker fires up. Fire pit takes over.
Duck breasts on the smoker, beer in the cooler, the day's hunt re-told around the fire pit. Quiet hours at 10 PM are real (watermen community) — but the fire and the conversation keep going as long as you do. Pre-dawn alarm set for tomorrow.
Explore the Property
Every room, at the scale a group uses it
Why You'll Love It Here
Curated highlights for your stay
Flex Barn (1,600 sqft)
16-ft ceilings, 16-ft sliding barn door, step-free ramps in and out — 'the yes space' for families, strategy room for teams, yoga studio, storage for boats & gear. No extra cost.
Step-Free Main Level
Both decks have ramps and French door entry. The Flex Barn has ramps in and out. Three bedrooms, including the master with its soaking tub, are on the main level and take no stairs to reach. The other three bedrooms are upstairs by a standard staircase and there is no chair lift
10-Car Parking + Boat/Gear Storage
About 10 cars comfortably, more with careful parking, and room for a boat trailer. The Flex Barn can be driven into for unloading and takes overflow cars when it isn't in use. No permit needed
Whole-Home Water Filtration
Pure filtered water throughout. Dual water heaters so back-to-back showers for a large group never run cold
4-Load Laundry
Two full-size washers and two full-size dryers — ideal for extended stays, fishing trips, or large groups doing same-day turnover
Rear Deck Grill-Smoker + Outdoor Dining
Grill-smoker combo with outdoor dining set for 6 on the rear deck — cook your catch right there or go low-and-slow for the group
Pet-Friendly
Up to 2 dogs, $150 per stay. No cats.
Wildlife: Deer, Birds & Bay Creatures
A deer feeder draws sika and white-tail deer plus songbirds — visible from the rear deck and rear windows. Walk across the road to the water to crab. Spot dolphins by the bridge. Look for herons at the shoreline.
About 110–125 miles from major metros
No surprises at checkout
What it actually costs.
One price covers the whole house, the Flex Barn and every bedroom, for up to 24 people. Here is everything that goes into it.
$1,161
2 nights for the whole house, cleaning and Maryland tax included. The cheapest 2 nights still open are Mon 7 Dec to Wed 9 Dec.
30% deposit at booking for stays 14+ days out, balance 3 days before check-in; closer in, paid in full.
Full refund if cancelled 14+ days before check-in.
Check-in 4 PM · Check-out 10 AM. No early check-in or late check-out.
Quiet hours 10 PM–8 AM; sound carries over the water out here. No events beyond the people staying unless the owner approves them, and only on stays booked here. Up to 50 people on the property, including the 24 staying the night during an approved event. Ask before check-in — there is no fixed number of days — and the owner's approval must be in writing.
Same nightly rate as our Evolve listing. You just don't pay a booking platform's service fee on top.
What Guests Say
"We had such a fantastic stay! The house truly lived up to the listing—tons of space for our group of 20, and the layout made it easy for everyone to relax and enjoy. The host was amazing: super responsive, thoughtful, and proactive with details and local tips. The property itself is beautiful and private, with a great backyard and a huge flex barn. The kitchen had everything we needed, and all the linens were spotless. We'd absolutely come back for another stay!"
Smitha Ann
Group trip · July 2026
Verified review — see it on Airbnb"This is great property for folks looking for accessibility - there's a ramp and primary bedroom / bath are on the main floor. This was a must for us as we were traveling with elderly parents with limited mobility. The setting is scenic but the location is more remote than some — so good for those looking for a quiet and relaxing time. We enjoyed nearby restaurant called "Old Salty's." We appreciated how responsive the host was to our suggestions and questions. We appreciated small details, like laundry baskets in the rooms as well as Tupperware in the kitchen, puzzles and card games in the sitting area. I believe the host is continuing to add more amenities as guests send more suggestions!"
Anoka F.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2026 · Traveled with family and young children
Verified review — see it on Vrbo"We absolutely loved our stay. [The] house was beautiful, the amenities were excellent, and we loved the crabs!! We went for a family weekend (mix of 18 kids and adults) and it was very spacious and comfortable for everyone. The pergola in the back was an especially big hit! We highly recommend and would stay again."
Bridget C.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026 · Traveled with family and young children
Verified review — see it on Vrbo"I stayed here during the long Memorial Day weekend with 6 couples and 4 children. The place was large enough to accommodate us all for sleeping arrangements. The views were very nice. The place was very clean and looked new. We had a wonderful time. The host was very accommodating and responsive. I highly recommend."
Andrew
Herndon, VA · Group trip · May 2026
Verified review — see it on Airbnb"We had a wonderful experience staying at this beautiful house. Kitchen was fully equipped, bathrooms were clean with enough towels and toiletries and bed was very comfortable. Host was very responsive to answer questions via chat and was checking regularly everything was going well. I would recommend this place to others and will stay there again in the future."
Siva
East Brunswick, NJ · Group trip · July 2026
Verified review — see it on Airbnb"The house was perfect for a large family get away. It was quiet and private enough that we had a great sense of privacy and comfort while still being not too far from stores, restaurants, and other things to do if you want to get outside. The views on the drive in and over the water were incredible"
Esli
Chicago, IL · Group trip · August 2026
Verified review — see it on Airbnb"Very peaceful with great views. The host was very kind and helpful."
Koo
Boyds, MD · Stayed with kids · July 2026
Verified review — see it on AirbnbWould rather book somewhere you have used before? The same house and the same dates are on Airbnb and VRBO. Each site shows its own total at its own checkout.
Hunter-specific questions
What you're probably wondering.
Have a question we didn't answer? The AI concierge in the bottom-right knows the property inside out.
Pick your dates. Park the trucks. The base is ready.
Pay by card and it's saved at booking; nothing charged until the owner personally approves your trip. 30% deposit on approval and the balance 3 days before check-in, for stays 14+ days out; closer in, paid in full on approval. Free cancellation 14+ days out. If Maryland DNR shifts a season last-minute, text us — we'll work on a date shift when possible. Pet-friendly for retrievers.