MotorHome, September 18, 2009
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From National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
LARKSPUR, Colo. — Summer may be ending, but there's plenty of hunting and fishing to do for the next couple of months at campgrounds and RV parks across the country.
Consider Redbeard's Ranch in Lebanon, Mo. The private campground offers quiet campsites on a wooded 295-acre ranch with weekend bow hunting of whitetail deer and wild turkey. The park, which is located along the Niangua River, also offers weekend classes in fly-fishing, along with canoe, raft and kayak rentals and hayrides.
The park also offers three heated Sioux Indian-style teepees, which are popular with families, as well as a fully furnished, luxury "Glamping" tent cabin.
"There are literally hundreds of private parks across the country that offer hunting and fishing opportunities, either onsite or nearby," said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Profaizer added that hunting and fishing enthusiasts can use search functions on the association's Web site, GoCampingAmerica.com, to pinpoint campgrounds close to home that offer hunting or fishing opportunities. Here's a sampling of the types of hunting and fishing opportunities that are available at some of the nation's privately owned campgrounds and RV parks:
Boiling Spring Campground, Dixon, Mo.: This Missouri Ozarks campground offers fishing trips the 21-mile section of the Gasconade River's "Gasconade Special Smallmouth Bass Research Area," where Smallmouth bass caught less than 18 inches must be released immediately unharmed back into the river.
Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park & Marina, Bridgeport, Calif.: This eastern Sierra Nevada park is located along Bridgeport Reservoir and provides excellent opportunities for fly-fishing for trout.
Cantwell RV Park, Cantwell, Alaska: This park is in a pristine area with many fishing creeks and rivers. "It's fly fishing in this area, mostly for a small trout called Grayling, a great eating fish," said co owner Eileen McGurk. "While people fish, they enjoy views of Mount McKinley." The park expects to close for the season Sept. 15th and will reopen May 15th.
Chandler Hills Campground, Boyne Falls, Mich.: This campground, which expects to remain open at least through the end of October, is surrounded by thousands of acres of state land with opportunities to hunt big game, such as deer, bear and bobcat. "We also have the full spread of upland game, Turkey Grouse and Woodcock. We are also within 5 miles of two fantastic freshwater lakes full of fish from trout to perch and one has a new ADA launch ramp," said co-owner Dennis Hass. The park also offers mushroom hunting. "There are the favorites, like Morals, but also the fall mushrooms, like Chanterelles," Hass said, adding, "All of these are either adjacent to our campground or just minutes away."
Carrollwoods RV Campground and Vineyard, Longs, S.C.: This eastern South Carolina park offers both hunting and fishing. "We have hunting clubs, game lands, the Wacamaw River and the Atlantic Ocean all within 16 miles of us," said Bryon Carroll, Carrollwoods' owner. "We have a stocked fishing pond on site with bass and crappie. And several lakes within a 10-minute drive.
Chalk Creek Campground and RV Park, Nathrop, Colo.: "Hunting season starts late August and goes through the end of January, depending on the license," said park owner Joan Skinner. "Deer and elk are the most popular, but there is also antelope, mountain lion and bighorn sheep hunting (nearby)." Nearby rivers offer fishing opportunities for brown trout, with rainbows, mackinaw and cutthroats in the reservoirs and lakes.
Chimeny Park Resort, Mission, Texas: Located along the banks of the Rio Grande River, this park offers fishing for catfish and largemouth bass as well as boating and kayaking opportunities. "Whether you want to fish from its bank or launch your own boat, the fishing is plentiful," said park manager Wallena Haynes.
Cross Creek RV Park, Lake Ozark, Mo.: This park features a 10-acre fishing lake stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The park rents paddleboats and rowboats to reach the best fishing spots. "The campground is located one mile off the highway, so it's peaceful and surrounded by hundreds of acres of woods. There are plenty of hunting opportunities nearby for deer and turkey," said park owner John Peters.
Deer Run RV Resort, Crossville, Tenn.: This campground is adjacent to Catoosa Wildlife Management, an 80,000-acre wildlife management preserve that offers hunting during the fall, winter and spring. Fall hunting includes dove, antlerless deer and turkey hunting.
Kamp Klamath RV Park and Campground, Klamath, Calif.: This park offers excellent salmon fishing, with one-quarter mile of frontage along the Klamath River. "While the taking of salmon has been banned along the Pacific Coast and in most rivers in the Golden State this year, the Klamath River is open and expectations are that the season will be the best in years," said park owner Aaron Funk.
Little Orleans Campground & Park Area, Little Orleans, Md.: This western Maryland park offers both hunting and fishing. "We have a stocked trout stream that runs through the property, where people fish all year," said park owner Donna Wallizer. "We also have hunting available in the 53,000 Green Ridge State Forest, located adjacent to the campground. People do spring and fall turkey hunting, but mostly antler and antlerless deer seasons, bow, rifle and muzzleloader." Bow season runs from September to December, while muzzleloader season is four days in October and four days in December. "People are not allowed to hunt on campground property as we have the state forest next door for our campers' convenience."
Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort, Newport, Ore.: This park sits on 18 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Local activities include crabbing and fishing. The historical Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head lighthouses are also located nearby.
Peppertree Camping, Eastford, Conn.: This park has excellent trout fishing along a state-stocked river, said co-owner Trudy Ziegler.
Port of Siuslaw Campground, Florence, Ore.: "We have the closest boat ramp to the ocean and one of the best salmon fishing rivers in Oregon," said Ken Hill, assistant harbormaster and campground manager, adding that the park is two miles from the sand dunes and five miles from the ocean.
Sandy Pond, Plymouth, Mass.: This park offers some of the best striper and blue fishing in Massachusetts, according to park manager Jane Doonan.
Sweetwater River Ranch, Texas Creek, Colo.: This park has a half-mile of frontage on both sides of the Arkansas River, one of the most rafted rivers in the United States. "We have outstanding trout fishing in spring and autumn, and outstanding rafting and kayaking in the summer," said co-owner Marcia Rowland.
The Vineyards Campground on Grapevine Lake, Texas: This park sits directly on the southeastern shores of Grapevine Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that stores and supplies water to Dallas and Fort Worth. Species of fish in the lake include black and white crappie, several species of bass and catfish. The campground has its own boat ramp for each access to the lake, a large parking area for boat trailers and a covered, freestanding fish cleaning station. Hunters staying at the campground also have access to hunting for feral hog, waterfowl and other small game. Hunters must have a valid Texas hunting license and a Corps of Engineers hunting permit while hunting on project lands.
For more information visit the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds' Web site at gocampingamerica.com.
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