Wassaw 2008

[fishingwithblue]

I just camped on Petite Gauke Island Hammock a couple weekends ago. It was beautiful. We cruised up the ICW from St. Cats during the day. It was a great trip. Those barrier islands we have are amazing. How would one go about getting to hunt Wassaw? I'm trying to get on Ossabaw......I have never hunted on either.

[tsubaki]

blue, there is a 2 year (+) waiting list for Ossabaw, Wassaw quota is a roll of the dice. Applications start in August. Ossabaw is State, Wassaw is Federal (two completely different animals).
The primitive weapons hunt on Wassaw is "walk on", I suggest you try it (with the option to leave early as most new commers do) to see if you want to apply for the gun hunt.
Wassaw has an uncaney ability of very quickly adding certain repeat visitors and even quicker breaking others from ever comming back. THIS IS NOT AN EASY HUNT!
If you really want to pursue this for next year, let me know. I probably can't be more complete and direct than in these two threads.

[fishingwithblue]

I need to re-read your first post, thanks

[tsubaki]

Finally getting to post about the gun hunt 12/11-13.
You are allowed to arrive the day before and must leave before 12 noon Sunday.
Ended up dragging the V (with It's old partner) to the ramp.

[tsubaki]

A couple of pictures from the stand of how the islands interior looked after a fire last year.

[tsubaki]

And a lagoon shot with a resident.

[tsubaki]

The amount of crap in the boat for the 5 day event.

[tsubaki]

V nestled snuggle y in her bed.

And a nice moon for the whole event!

[tsubaki]

This hunt was one for the record books (to quote the resident manager).
Out of 100 accepted applicants, only 60 (or so) bothered to pay for the permits. Of them only 30 or so showed up.
There are a certain number of deer that are needed to be removed each year in order to maintain the herds general overall health and the islands holding capability.
This hunt produced 11 deer. For the year, about 70 needed to be harvested.
Well bad weather should have been the major contributing factor. Rain on the first day of arrival and then promised rain the first day of the hunt.
Followed with temperatures from 33 to 70 for the whole hunt, not to mention the wind. 15 to 25 the whole time starting from the SW then finishing from the NE.
The cutest thing was the mini hurricane that came thru Thursday night at 10pm, dropped the barometer to 29.6. I swear the winds were between 50 and 55 mph from 10 to 11:30, but can only confirm 47 mph. Imagine camping in that!!
Well our camp didn't scale, but we survived.

[tsubaki]

Forgot to mention. The V got the pleasure because my neighbors boat ended up with a bad starter (covered under warranty) and is sitting in Bass Pro's yard for that, the busted pump and various repairs.
The islands generator for the managers residence and the cooler went out also Thursday night, so he had to ruff it too.
We had to abandon a trio of hunters in their boat at the dock when leaving Sunday. Their motor failed to start, we tried everything, even gave them my batteries to try to start the engine to no avail. Our boat (as was everyone elses) was so loaded we wouldn't be able to tow them the 15 miles to the nearest ramp.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY HUNT!!