What a waste

  • whiskeyandwater
    ????
    Posts: 2014
    #212943

    Picked up my friend @ 4:00 am Saturday morning. After being able to get about 3 hours of sleep we were off to some public land for a good day of shooting. Or so we thought. Starts out by me missing our turn and having to drive 4 miles further down the road before I could turn around. No big deal right? Well we get back to our exit only to get behind a truck heading the same direction.

    Well we pull up literally 5 seconds behind the truck. We start talking to our fellow hunters. Sure enough the topic of who is heading where comes up. Wouldn’t you know it they want the same spot we want. Well they were there 1st so we don’t even argue the matter besides we have a back up spot. we take the 30 minute trek to our spot. Pick out spots that will cover us and we wait. Talk about enjoying nature. What a show! As we enjoy some coffee, and discuss our decoy plan we get a brilliant meteor show, and coyotes providing a little background music. Well the time comes to start tossing decoys and so we start. Along with that the misery of public land starts.

    For the next hour flash light after flash light appears( 20 hunters in all ), and they all settle down in less than 200 square yards. One group of 8 just happens to set up on a hill directly behind us. In come the 1st flock. I do some light calling, and we get 1 to break off the pack. My buddy let’s a shot fly and we have our 1st duck of the day! Celebration for as as That happens tobe the 1st duck I ever called. ( I guess he waited a bit for me to take the shot but realized I was just watching as this duck came straight at us. ) After some waiting in comes the next flock. This is where everything just start going down hill. The birds are coming from the NW (our left) We have no real shot as they are in that questionable range. Normally no big deal. Let them go and they circle back around. SO we let them go and as soon as they are over our heads We hear an Army unload on these birds. And off they go not one bird was brought down. Then we get rained on. about 15 shells worth of BBB come down on us. So I make a hike back to let the Swell people know that we are over in the direction they are shooting and It would be appreciated if they turned around and looked at their decoys and shot at birds when they were in their range. YEAH They didn’t understand apparently because this repeated about 5 more times. During which everyone realized that it was a free for all and if you thought you had a shot you had to take it because if you waited for them to circle they were going to get shot at about 20 times, and should they not get hit they are not coming back.

    To sum it up the other group who got there the same time we did 1 shot, and missed. My self 1 shot on a nice Mallard drake who had a bit of armor, because I shot he dropped about 5 feet and went back on his way! My buddy got off 2 more shots, guy next to us no shots. The hunter standing on the hill wearing blaze orange ( I’m not kidding) about 10 shots no duck. The army on the other side of the hill had to of let of a good 75 shots and ended WITH 1 HEN AND 1 GOOSE! To them I would like to say thanks for making everyones morning miserable!

    Moral of the story?… This week I’m knocking on doors. Hunting with idiots Sucks!

    cougareye
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 4145
    #30250

    That’s my experience with public hunting areas. You have to experience how bad it is to know not to go back.

    cougareye
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 4145
    #616530

    That’s my experience with public hunting areas. You have to experience how bad it is to know not to go back.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    #29922

    That happens in very popular hunting areas. All you can do is more research and get away from these clowns… no matter how early in the morning you have to get there.

    Quality hunts can happen in these types of areas… but you have to get away from the skybusters. You will never get birds into your decoys when folks are shooting at everything within 300 yards of them.

    If you notice the skybusters actually hitting these high birds and not making effort to retrieve them.. make a call to the local CO because they are usually somewhere close to these areas. Even though they may not be able to ticket the offender, the offenders usually get nervous when the CO’s approach them, and dont make it as regular of practice to come back and make as foolish of shots because they dont know who is watching.

    Sky-busting isnt illegal, but not making effort to retrieve downed game is.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    #616597

    That happens in very popular hunting areas. All you can do is more research and get away from these clowns… no matter how early in the morning you have to get there.

    Quality hunts can happen in these types of areas… but you have to get away from the skybusters. You will never get birds into your decoys when folks are shooting at everything within 300 yards of them.

    If you notice the skybusters actually hitting these high birds and not making effort to retrieve them.. make a call to the local CO because they are usually somewhere close to these areas. Even though they may not be able to ticket the offender, the offenders usually get nervous when the CO’s approach them, and dont make it as regular of practice to come back and make as foolish of shots because they dont know who is watching.

    Sky-busting isnt illegal, but not making effort to retrieve downed game is.

    col._klink
    St Paul
    Posts: 2542
    #29925

    Quote:


    Sky-busting isnt illegal, but not making effort to retrieve downed game is.


    Sure is unethical! To both other hunters and game! It was proved to me again this weekend. sometimes I like to vioce my opinion in the marsh when this sort of thing happens

    col._klink
    St Paul
    Posts: 2542
    #616602

    Quote:


    Sky-busting isnt illegal, but not making effort to retrieve downed game is.


    Sure is unethical! To both other hunters and game! It was proved to me again this weekend. sometimes I like to vioce my opinion in the marsh when this sort of thing happens

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    #29930

    Quote:


    sometimes I like to vioce my opinion in the marsh when this sort of thing happens


    I always voice my opinion if those jokers are shooting in shouting distance.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    #616610

    Quote:


    sometimes I like to vioce my opinion in the marsh when this sort of thing happens


    I always voice my opinion if those jokers are shooting in shouting distance.

    whiskeyandwater
    ????
    Posts: 2014
    #29931

    Oh I voiced my opinion alright walked right up to them and told them that since they decided to sleep in rather than to get the spot they wanted we would appreciate it if the worked thier spread. which had them facing south, and wouldn’t turn 180 degrees to take bad shots. Oddly they either were deaf, or didn’t understand english seeing as how it just repeated again, and again. But that’s just the way the duck folds sometimes I guess! Hope everyone had a better time this weekend.

    whiskeyandwater
    ????
    Posts: 2014
    #616615

    Oh I voiced my opinion alright walked right up to them and told them that since they decided to sleep in rather than to get the spot they wanted we would appreciate it if the worked thier spread. which had them facing south, and wouldn’t turn 180 degrees to take bad shots. Oddly they either were deaf, or didn’t understand english seeing as how it just repeated again, and again. But that’s just the way the duck folds sometimes I guess! Hope everyone had a better time this weekend.

    mallard_militia
    Fulton County, Illinois
    Posts: 1108
    #29953

    Give the season about another week and crowds will start to disappear.

    mallard_militia
    Fulton County, Illinois
    Posts: 1108
    #616689

    Give the season about another week and crowds will start to disappear.

    col._klink
    St Paul
    Posts: 2542
    #29957

    Quote:


    Give the season about another week and crowds will start to disappear.


    What he said

    I REALLY look forward to the 1st week of Nov. Yuppie hunters are afraid of the dark and cold and all that is really duck hunting. Breaking ice hunting, hunting the cold, freezing your Things will change soon!

    Diver time is getting close. Cant wait for those big swinging flocks

    col._klink
    St Paul
    Posts: 2542
    #616694

    Quote:


    Give the season about another week and crowds will start to disappear.


    What he said

    I REALLY look forward to the 1st week of Nov. Yuppie hunters are afraid of the dark and cold and all that is really duck hunting. Breaking ice hunting, hunting the cold, freezing your Things will change soon!

    Diver time is getting close. Cant wait for those big swinging flocks

    drakesdemise
    Residing in St. Paul, MN doing weekly travel throughout the five state Upper Midwest
    Posts: 976
    #29457

    “Diver time is getting close. Cant wait for those big swinging flocks

    Yeah buddy!
    MEA weekend is my majic turning point and that would be October 24-28 this year
    Good luck
    cheers

    drakesdemise
    Residing in St. Paul, MN doing weekly travel throughout the five state Upper Midwest
    Posts: 976
    #616722

    “Diver time is getting close. Cant wait for those big swinging flocks

    Yeah buddy!
    MEA weekend is my majic turning point and that would be October 24-28 this year
    Good luck
    cheers

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    #31986

    Last year I thought people would start to disappear with the cold, pheasant opener, firearms deer opener, ice… and I was disappointed… it never slowed down in some areas, in fact it sometimes got worse when newbies would come out following your broken ice trail that you got out there early to overcome… they make it to your spread and try to continue further and fail, so they turn around and set up 50 yards shy of your decoys.

    I cant blame people for wanting to hunt, and having the ambition to get out there.. I just wish common sense would be more in practice, and good hunting etiquette to give others some space, and cooperate with other hunters.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    #483126

    Last year I thought people would start to disappear with the cold, pheasant opener, firearms deer opener, ice… and I was disappointed… it never slowed down in some areas, in fact it sometimes got worse when newbies would come out following your broken ice trail that you got out there early to overcome… they make it to your spread and try to continue further and fail, so they turn around and set up 50 yards shy of your decoys.

    I cant blame people for wanting to hunt, and having the ambition to get out there.. I just wish common sense would be more in practice, and good hunting etiquette to give others some space, and cooperate with other hunters.

    fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    #29357

    This has always been a tough issue for me. I’ve been there and turely feel the pain. The only thing I can say is put in some work and look for other options. Take a day off from time to time and look for other opprotunities. This needs to be done in the fall so you know how much traffic comes in and out of a specific spot. Over the past 6 to 7 years I’ve put together a laundry list of spots that take more work but get me away from the crowds. Each of them has there specific time and place in the season. But they all produce and I’m VERY protective of them.

    Once you’ve compiled a list the tough part is deciding who to take. I have a number of guys that I won’t hunt with from my spots. They’ve either spilled the beans after we’ve hunted or I know they’ll spill the beans if I take them. Some may take this as being a prick. (Slider will probably confirm this. ) But I guess thats too bad. MN is full of hunters and not always full of ducks. If you put in the work to get away from the sky busters all is well.

    I guess the thought I am attempting to convey is. Get out and scout. You can’t fix stupid and many of the people in a slough have NO concept of etiquet. The easy spots are going to be full all year. If you love to hunt it’s no different than fishing. TIME TIME TIME. And once you have the spot on the spot, only share it with your best buddies. Sorry if this post pisses anyone off.

    fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    #616799

    This has always been a tough issue for me. I’ve been there and turely feel the pain. The only thing I can say is put in some work and look for other options. Take a day off from time to time and look for other opprotunities. This needs to be done in the fall so you know how much traffic comes in and out of a specific spot. Over the past 6 to 7 years I’ve put together a laundry list of spots that take more work but get me away from the crowds. Each of them has there specific time and place in the season. But they all produce and I’m VERY protective of them.

    Once you’ve compiled a list the tough part is deciding who to take. I have a number of guys that I won’t hunt with from my spots. They’ve either spilled the beans after we’ve hunted or I know they’ll spill the beans if I take them. Some may take this as being a prick. (Slider will probably confirm this. ) But I guess thats too bad. MN is full of hunters and not always full of ducks. If you put in the work to get away from the sky busters all is well.

    I guess the thought I am attempting to convey is. Get out and scout. You can’t fix stupid and many of the people in a slough have NO concept of etiquet. The easy spots are going to be full all year. If you love to hunt it’s no different than fishing. TIME TIME TIME. And once you have the spot on the spot, only share it with your best buddies. Sorry if this post pisses anyone off.

    whiskeyandwater
    ????
    Posts: 2014
    #29274

    Quote:


    I cant blame people for wanting to hunt, and having the ambition to get out there.. I just wish common sense would be more in practice, and good hunting etiquette to give others some space, and cooperate with other hunters.


    That was my biggest problem! If we would have pulled up and seen that many cars We NEVER would have even wasted out time, as well as the other guys time. Oh well there is always next week, and the week after, and the week after…. Not the week after that thought I’ll be chasing those other bids! But then the week after.. well I think you get the Idea. Thanks for letting me vent guys! I needed it.

    whiskeyandwater
    ????
    Posts: 2014
    #616800

    Quote:


    I cant blame people for wanting to hunt, and having the ambition to get out there.. I just wish common sense would be more in practice, and good hunting etiquette to give others some space, and cooperate with other hunters.


    That was my biggest problem! If we would have pulled up and seen that many cars We NEVER would have even wasted out time, as well as the other guys time. Oh well there is always next week, and the week after, and the week after…. Not the week after that thought I’ll be chasing those other bids! But then the week after.. well I think you get the Idea. Thanks for letting me vent guys! I needed it.

    yellowdog
    Alma Wi
    Posts: 1303
    #25546

    I hunt public land during the week and seldom have a problem with over crowding. I got a job working weekends just for that reason and have not been sorry.

    yellowdog
    Alma Wi
    Posts: 1303
    #618227

    I hunt public land during the week and seldom have a problem with over crowding. I got a job working weekends just for that reason and have not been sorry.

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