Since my partner and I wore out three very good labs down on Pelee I would say we know a bit about the place.
www.pelee.org is the best place for information. It list's alot of accomadations, but not all. There is always someone that knows someone. Since my good dogs passed on several years back my recent experiences are limited except for last year when we were invited down to join some other fella's. We went dog dogless, dependant on our host's dogs. I said years earlier that if a hunter doesn't have a good dog he would see very few birds and actually shoot at fewer still. My prediction was correct. We got very few opportunities at birds last year because we were not hunting over well trained dogs. Despite what anybody tells you Pelee is a tough place to hunt and even tougher on the dogs.
When we first started going to Pelee in the early 80's, life in general on Pelee was alot more relaxed, we hunted every year some years doing two hunts for about 15-20 yrs. To tell you the truth we lost count. But I know I ran three generations of labs down there, the last one spent his whole hunting carreer on Pelee and Scugogg, I retired him after 10 seasons due to a heart issue.
One place we stayed, the Pelee Island Hotel has not been open for business in years. The last place we consecutively stayed the people sold out. You would be real wise to get your accomodations booked and confirmed ASAP as the good places are booked from one year to the next. You should be able to get a package price on Wed, Thurs, accomodations with meals plus extra nights and meals if required to suit ferry times. Don't let them BS you much on the ferry not running. Yes it gets very windy there, yes at times the ferry will not run, but it is not a weekly occurance. In all my years of going there we had very few delays. But be prepared with extra scotch and dog food.
The big change I noticed last year after being absent for many was the tension on the island in general, it is not laid back and friendly anymore. The farmers are very uptight and strict about hunting there standing crops, and the police and game wardens are there in mass to enforce all the rules. From what I could find out from a few of the locals I still know. Many hunters were simply not paying any regard to the rules and reglations of the hunt. It even came to light many were not even buying liciences and or abiding by the bird limits. So, and rightfully so the township has invited law enforcement in to enforce the rules, to the letter.!! Last year for example I personally was checked 3 times by the CO's in one day. In all my previous years combined, once. So gentlemen be warned, if your going to Pelee have all your documentation in order. Be aware of, and obey all the rules, as you are a captive audience for the CO's and police on a small island, with only one way off. And they also do spot checks when you get off the ferry at Kingsville of Leamington..!!
You are very wise to make the upmost attempt in getting the majority of your birds the first morning. As after that time the birds have been chased, shot at, and in general pushed in every little possible hidy hole that Pelee has to offer. So finding a good ditch row on Wednesday afternoon eve, that is long, loaded with pheasants and that can not be easily interrupted upon by other hunters for at least the first 45 min to 1 hr is your goal. Your next goal is being there the next moring with your truck by 5am to secure your spot. Unfortunately most hunters I find at Pelee are loosing there manners, and general morals. They have absolutely no repsect for there fellow hunters or dogs. So when you find folks walking right in front of you in an area your obviously hunting, and generally being inconsiderate a$$holes, welcome to the new Pelee. It was never this bad years back. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, but remember it is frowned upon by the police to actually shoot these clowns. Speaking of shot, wear your protective shooting glasses as last year wearing mine paid off when I got sprayed with shot across the face while standing in the open wearing an orange jacket and hat. Some fella decided even though the pheasant was directly in line with me he would shoot at it anyways. This is the type of behaviour and attitude that has changed/spoiled this hunt and forced the need to have the law enforcement folks there 24/7. Other than well stung and Pi$$ed I wasn't hurt. The other fella gave me the finger when I said something to him.
I can not stress this next point enough, you must have decent to well trained dog/dogs. Most fella's are not successfull in getting there birds because of poor dog performance. The dog must have a good nose, know how to use it and trust it. The dog should not be ranging to far out and popping birds way out of range for you.
Try to hunt the third hunt. Two main reasons. 1. most of the crops are harvested by the third hunt which gives you alot more hunting territory. 2. there are alot more birds around as nowhere near all the birds get shot on the first two hunts. Take the second hunt only if you can't get into or make it to the third. The first hunt is by far the most difficult in terms of alot of standing crops (which you or the dog are not allowed to be in) which greatly reduces your hunting territory, and no residual birds as your the first up to bat. Remember what I said times have changed on Pelee. At one time if you took a little walk in some standing crops not much was said, now if caught you will be charged, period. And those standing crops can hold hundreds and hundreds of birds which are now off limits. The township puts out a map for each hunt showing where birds were released. This is very nice however the birds do not stay where released, or read the map or play by the rules.
Did I mention it is imperative that you have a good dog, not much sense in evening going down there if you taking your brother-in-laws short haired pointer which he purchased at the 400 flea market, spends most of it's days playing ball with the kids and pointing at the chickadees in the bird feeder. You must have a decent dog that has alot of natural talent and experience in upland hunting and or has had some formal training in the upland hunting game. If not, I say again you are wasting your time and money even going down.
And you will be more successfull if you hunt in pairs. Each team should have it's own truck and dog. Reason being it is far, far easier on Pelee to find smaller areas where two fella's can hunt, than bigger groups of 4 or more. We have tried both. Two man groups are by far in our experience more successfull, and far less trouble some to set up. There are alot of big party groups that hunt Pelee, most of whom you will encounter in the bush areas. Great places to stay out of as you can not see each other 90% of the time, birds are popping up all over at times, dogs are going in all directions, fella's are shooting in all directions, fella's are getting sprayed by shot coming from all directions. Your safer in down town Bagdad with and American flag in your hand. Stay out of the bush unless you know it's vacant of hunters especially along "Browns Line".
The Pelee Island hunt can be alot of fun and enjoyment, the action if you get in the right places at the time can be fast a furious. It has been described as the Indianapolis 500 of Pheasant Hunting, and I would not disagree with that statement. For many, many, many years the two of us would have all our birds (20) before noon the first day. Our fastest time, two men, one dog, one ditch row, 20 birds in 56 min. truck to truck. Many more years the show was all over in under two hrs. We then would have lunch, and then clean birds and drink scotch all afternoon. I hope you may experience the same. PM me if I can be of further assistance.
