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Delaware Pratt Farm Lodge

Started by kdc0824, September 27, 2023, 10:44:56 AM

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kdc0824

I'm looking at hunting Delaware this coming spring and the only thing I'm seeing for private is Pratt Farm Lodge.  I've spoken with Mr. Ford Downes a couple of times and he seems legit but I was wondering if anyone has hunted with him.  I'm not looking for a guided hunt but I'm coming up from Texas and wouldn't know where to start on public land either, just looking for input on that operation.
Thanks, Keith
Keith

joey46

Hate to see a post go this long without a reply but you may be the first one to mention Delaware.  Good luck.

BTW - I see you aren't doing any better on that other forum either. 

Tail Feathers

I guess Delaware isn't a big turkey hotspot.  But I know they have some.  Good luck in your search.  Sorry I can't be of more help than bumping it up.
Love to hunt the King of Spring!

derek

I don't have any first hand experience with the farm or the folks running it, but I'm in Delaware often enough and I know there are birds in that vicinity.   I found their website and with a little searching was able to find their 510acre farm the lodge is on with OnX.   I encourage you to check out the property... The entire property is a huge ag field with a very small strip of trees between ag and the tidal creek surrounding it with 1 little ditch running up into the field.. but again, its planted up to a single row of trees.  There's no timber on the property to speak of.  This style of agricultural practice is why we have decimated our upland game bird populations around here.  That's not to say birds wouldn't roost in that strip of trees, but I doubt its ability to consistently hold birds, just based on the property.  Also, fairly confident if there's a guide involved you're going to be camped on the edge of that giant field with a decoy.. maybe that works for you, maybe not. 

I looked through the pictures on the website.. I don't see a single spring turkey picture.  The only turkeys I see are a fall flock video.. which makes me go back to doubting the property's ability to consistently hold birds.   It also borders Rt 1 on one side.. that's a pretty busy highway... calm day... while it won't affect the birds in the least.. doubt you'll enjoy it. 

I also note on the website that they have a hunting club attached to the property and offer both their 30 deer and 30 waterfowl members access to turkey hunting.  Not sure how they manage that with members and non-members paying for a single hunt, but I guarantee you those members are going to know more about the birds and where they need to be.   

There aren't a whole lot of options with outfitters in DE, and draw odds on public aren't very good.  Honestly I wish I had a good recommendation for you and I don't mean to sound pessimistic on this one, but I'd be asking a lot more questions before I shelled out the $ and made the trek to the first state. 
www.youtube.com/thebaysidelegion

www.thebaysidelegion.com

310 gauge

While I've been a part of shooting hundreds of Snow Geese in Delaware, hunting for turkeys was always an afterthought when I tried to talk to my guides about them. We did see a few riding around in Dec./Jan. and saw some really nice Bucks, in fact better than we have here in Eastern N.C. Waterfowl is the King in most of the areas I've hunted there. Good luck in your search!