Active Pursuits

Hunting Season

Maryland's Eastern Shore has long been considered the finest duck- and goose-hunting region on the Atlantic Flyway, with hundreds of thousands of migratory game birds passing through. More than 20 local organizations conduct guided waterfowl hunts for Canada geese (2 weeks in Nov and mid-Dec to late Jan), ducks (late Nov to mid-Jan), and sea ducks (early Oct to mid-Jan). Some quail and pheasant hunting are also available. White-tailed and sika deer may be hunted September through December.

The Department of Natural Resources (tel. 877/620-8DNR; www.dnr.maryland.gov) publishes an annual guide with all hunting regulations, including bag limits, season dates, and licensing. Albright's Gun Shop, 36 E. Dover St., Easton (tel. 800/474-5502 or 410/820-8811; www.albrightsgunshop.com), can help plan any sort of hunting or fishing trip you have in mind, with or without guides.

Golfing the Eastern Shore

Lots of flat land, terrific water views, and beautiful weather make the Mid-Shore an up-and-coming golf destination.

The Hog Neck Golf Course, 10142 Old Cordova Rd., Easton (tel. 410/822-6079; www.hogneck.com), has been rated among the top 25 U.S. public courses by Golf Digest. This par-72, 18-hole course and par-32, 9-hole executive course is north of town, off Route 50. Rates are $55 Monday through Thursday, $60 Friday through Sunday, carts included.

The Easton Club, 28449 Clubhouse Dr., Easton (tel. 800/277-9800; www.eastonclub.com), has a par-72 course on Route 333 that's open to the public. Greens fees, including cart, are $64 on weekends and $54 on weekdays.

Harbourtowne Golf Resort, in St. Michaels (tel. 800/446-9066; www.harbourtowne.com), is a par-70 course designed by Pete Dye. Greens fees are $60 for Harbourtowne hotel guests and $80 for nonguests, including cart. Harbourtowne offers 1- and 2-night golf packages, too.

The Upland Golf Club, 23780 Thawley Rd., Denton (tel. 866/288-6400; www.uplandgolfclub.com), a par-71 Joel Weiman-designed course, is open to the public. For 18 holes, fees are $60 on weekdays and $85 on weekends.

St. Michaels

Biking -- Rent a bike at Wheel Doctor, 10113 S. Talbot St., in St. Michaels Village, just before you get into town (tel. 410/745-6676).

Boat Rides -- All this water, and you don't have your own boat. Not to worry: There are all kinds of ways to get on the water here. Take a ride on the H.M. Krentz (tel. 410/745-6080; www.oystercatcher.com), a skipjack that dredges oysters in winter and earns its keep with sailboat rides from April to October. It's docked by the Crab Claw. Or perhaps you'd like a more modern sailboat? The 41-foot 1926 gaff-rigged Selina II (tel. 410/726-9400; www.sailselina.com), captained by Iris Clarke; with room for just six passengers, offers 2-hour sails that are quite intimate.

Go in air-conditioned comfort with Patriot Cruises, by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (tel. 410/745-3100; www.patriotcruises.com), which offers 1-hour narrated cruises on a 65-foot tourist boat. Motorized-boat tours are also run by Dockside Express (tel. 888/312-7847; www.cruisinthebay.com), with options such as 1-hour harbor tours, crabbing cruises, and eco-tours.

St. Michaels Harbor Tours & Water Taxi (tel. 410/924-2198) offers daily 25-minute tours from the town dock in season, as well as a water taxi service.

Tilghman Island

Rent a bike and take a long ride on flat, fairly quiet roads. Hop aboard a skipjack for a ride into history, or see what's biting from a fishing boat. Rent a kayak and poke around the many coves. Whatever you do, slow down.

Biking -- Get a bike or a motor scooter (no motorcycle license required) from Tilghman Island Marina (tel. 410/886-2500; www.tilghmanmarina.com). Rent for an hour or a full day. (St. Michaels is a half-hour scooter ride away.)

Boat Rentals -- Tilghman Island Marina (tel. 410/886-2500; www.tilghmanmarina.com) offers kayaks, pontoon boats, skiffs with outboard motors, sailboats, and personal watercraft, as well as fishing and crabbing gear, by the hour, half-day, day, or week. Or sign up for the Poplar Island excursion: They'll tow your kayak to this small group of islands for a 3- to 4-hour expedition, box lunch included. Reservations are required for the Poplar Island excursion, and suggested for others.

Chesapeake Outdoor Adventures (tel. 410/886-2083; www.chesapeakewatersports.com) rents kayaks, small sailboats, and paddleboats and offers kayaking tours.

Look for the Tilghman Island Water Trail map, available at the Talbot County visitor center in Easton (tel. 410/770-8000; www.tourtalbot.org).

Cruising -- Captain Murphy will take you on a 2-hour tour on his skipjack, the Rebecca T. Ruark (tel. 410/886-2176; www.skipjack.org), docked at Dogwood Harbor. As he sails the oldest working sailboat in the country, the captain talks about the history of his boat and tells tales about crabs and oysters.

The Lady Patty (tel. 877/699-8837 or 410/745-8077; www.sailladypatty.com), a 45-foot ketch, is docked at Knapps Narrows Marina. In her early days, she sailed the Pacific, the Galapagos Islands, and regularly from St. Petersburg to Havana. Now she sails the Choptank on 2-hour, half-day, or full-day trips.

Tour the Chesapeake Lights aboard the MV Sharp's Island, a former U.S. Navy special operations vessel. Take a 3-hour cruise and see three lighthouses up close, or spend the whole day and see 10 lights (tel. 800/690-5080 or 410/886-2215).

Fishing & Crabbing -- If you want to catch some really fresh seafood, try Harrison's Sport Fishing Center (tel. 410/886-2121; www.chesapeakehouse.com), the best known of the charters here. Captain Buddy Harrison has 20 charter boats and room for 1 or 100. Half-day charters are available April through December, as well as packages that include breakfast and lunch or even overnight lodging. The Miss Kim (tel. 410/886-2176; www.skipjack.org), a Chesapeake Bay workboat, offers half-day crabbing for six-person groups. Knapp's Narrows Marina (tel. 410/886-2720; www.knappsnarrowsmarina.com) can also hook you up with a fishing charter. Five boats offer half- and full-day fishing trips from the dock here.