Destination Magnum Fields

By C.C. McCotter

With the bulk of the waterfowl seasons approaching fast (Nov. 17), I have been out and about looking for somewhere close to continue my adventure quest of getting the full value of my hunting license.

On a hot day in early October I found myself in Charles County, Maryland, about 10 miles from the Route 301 or Harry Nice Memorial Bridge that crosses the lower Potomac River. This flat, coastal plain country was once known for tobacco and is now known mostly for the Budds Creek racetrack, however a few hunters might recognize it as one of the region's top goose and duck hunting destinations. I say "few" because many more waterfowlers travel much farther distances to the eastern shore of Maryland or Virginia. My host for the day, however, assured me his neck of the woods was one of the best in the east for shooting honkers and quackers.

Rick Bolton is a goateed, lanky 45-year-old with intense blue eyes and a passion for the outdoors. His nickname is "Mr. Outdoors". Bolton is part of clan that has been in Charles County since it was first settled. While many of the Boltons began as farmers, they are now builders, engineers and entrepreneurs. Rick is considered the latter.

During the three hours I spent with Bolton touring the area around Allen's Fresh Run and the Wicomico River, he was a bubbling fountain of enthusiasm and promotion. He should be with all he's got going.

Our first stop of the day was to Old Sycamore Farm where Bolton operates Magnum Fields Outfitters, a full service goose and duck hunting operation on 700 acres within a mile of the Wicomico. Here, Bolton showed me the two bean fields he leases. These goose landing zones bordered mature hardwood forests and had two ponds that are kept ice free during the season. Two old tobacco barns on the property revealed some interesting characteristics of my host.

Sure he considers himself an old school hunter, but Bolton has embraced the new gear, too. When you hunt with this outfitter you are going to be treated to a technologically cutting edge event. The barns held mobile goose hunting trailers that in turn carried about $3,000 worth of Big Foot decoys each. Bolton is a mobile outfitter, telling me he often drives his box trailer to client's farms and runs hunts for them.

Mr. Outdoors also employs Dynamic Power Flapper electronic decoys. These are remotely controlled and fool birds with mechanical movements that look darn close to real goose behavior. Other innovative techniques of Bolton's I noted include lightweight, portable hunting blinds he builds that fit in the back of full size pick-up. You just add four folding chairs and some brush and you are ready to shoot. He and I could pick one up with just one hand.

Now I'm going to share with you one of Bolton's most productive goose and duck hunting tactics that has never before been revealed. While inside a barn, I saw a bucket of yellow, plastic.... well, ah, a kind of specialized decoying material, on one of his trailers. Bolton noticed my gaze and his eyes lit up when he ran his hands through the stuff.

"This is what I'm working on now. I've got a patent on it," he told me.

I must have been in tune with him because a half second later I realized what he was using the yellow stuff for - fake corn. You see, goose and ducks like corn. They can see it from 100 yards up, spilling into a field with corn right next to you while never getting within range of your own bare field. It's worth noting here that it's highly illegal to use any kind of bait when waterfowling, so for years hunters have tried to figure out how to come up with an affordable way to simulate corn. Bolton thinks he's done it.

He showed me how he takes a foot-long length of the yellow "stuff" and piles it up in front of a feeding goose decoy. He then covered it up with some grass and set back to admire his ingenuity. I admitted it looked pretty good. He says it's deadly.

Did I mention Bolton prickled the hair on my neck when I asked him to blow some goose music on his Fat Boy, Zinc Money Maker and John Taylor Shore Thing calls? It truly sounded like a flock of Canadians was in the cab of the Chevy. The guy is truly a goose seeking missile.

From the goose fields we drove over to the other operation Bolton oversees; an ATV park. His Southern Maryland ATV Park is one of only three in a 200-mile region and fast becoming a hugely popular place for families to ride their four wheelers.

There's 22 miles of marked, wooded trails, a kid's track and an adult track. When you want a cold drink and some eats, Bolton has an onsite snack bar. There's picnic tables with umbrellas, camping and plenty of parking. It really looked to be a fine place for some family fun.

I like ATVs. I had a grand time riding them in West Virginia and on friends' farms, however the problem is finding enough legal places to ride them. Bolton's ATV Park is becoming the solution for many riders.

My visit ended up back in LaPlata where Bolton and I bid each other farewell after lunch. I was impressed with Mr. Outdoors. To say I am ready to hunt and ride ATVs with him when ever I can break free again would be an understatement. His enthusiasm is infectious.

Trip Check

To book your hunting trip with Bolton's Magnum Fields Outfitters visit www.magnumfields.com or call 301.399.7532. He is now accepting reservations for the fall and winter duck/goose season. To find out more on the ATV park visit www.atvwannaride.com or call 301.705.8933.