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I am just ready to go hunting so whatever they give us we are going to live with it and there is not a damn thang we can do about the days or the ducks so I will just hunt every day that I can.

I just need to know the season dates so my boss will have SOME idea about when I'll return to work. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

In actuality, I can only 'hold-up' for about 18 days straight (when we're having to really 'hunt' for 'em)......and realistically, about 45 days is 'enough' (even though my partner made a 68-day run, last year....you GO, girl!). But I wouldn't object to a 51-day season so I can 'pick' which 45 I want to hunt. Too bad only about 15 of those will likely be of the kind of weather that puts birds on the move (...and that's typically in a 'normal' year!) The rest of the time, you end-up chasing the same group of birds up and down the river, day after day. Heck, too much of THAT and the birds get to where they 'pattern' YOU, instead! Believe me, that's when it becomes 'WORK'! [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]

Therefore (echoeing the point of 'Red_Head's' original post), I wouldn't advocate selling ourselves short on hunting opportunity (in wishing for a 30-day season), particularly if the reason is to enhance anything other than the duck population.

I agree with 'Hambone' and others that object to an 'exclusionary' attitude toward the 'relatively unskilled'. A lot of folks want to 'trim the fat' by culling all the hunters that happen to be (God forbid) less-skilled than THEY are. Look, if everybody that had a DU 'duckhead' on the back glass of their pickup truck hunted 15 days out of the year......the ducks would still be in good shape, cause even the self-professed 'hard-cores' (whatever THAT means) don't kill a limit evertime THEY go, either. Besides, they say that hunting mortality isn't a significant factor.....so whut's so 'noble' about advocating a 30-day season?

What folks don't seem to take into account is that, even though we'd all like to be able to hunt 30 days or more, very few folks actually DO SO. But when only a relatively FEW days in 'our' Winter are conducive to producing good concentrations of birds anywhere, chances are that MOST folks will only pick THOSE days to hunt ducks, doing something else the rest of the time. I wouldn't think that's likely to adversely affect the population.......just maybe the quality of the hunting (on those days). [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

I agree with D-Yankee on his points 'cause setting season dates and limits is all a big 'crap-shoot', anyway. Last year was a prime example.....same number o' ducks died whether they got shot in Kalamazoo or Gueydan. I'm truly happy SOMEONE got to witness the migration....isn't that the spectacle 'waterfowlers' everywhere, anticipate? What makes any of us more deserving than the next guy? [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Why do some INSIST on making this a North/South issue?

Predictions and hearsay have made FOOLS....I say, FOOLS out of a lot of folks. Sure, I'm anxious to know the 'numbers', too and appreciate having folks on this board that are willing to offer credible information (albeit still speculative).....but we'll know, soon enough......and like 'Dukman77' just said....we'll abide by whatever is implemented, for the PRIVILEGE of hunting.

"I predict,"..... [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img](watch-it, fool!) [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]..."whatever the dates and limits end-up being, they won't likely please everybody." [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[ June 23, 2002: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

'Nawteek'......I understand your concern. A lot of us sat in an expensive 'hole in the ground', staring into empty skies for hours and days on end, last year.....just praying to SEE a damn duck. [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img] When we did, it was usually 'spoonies'. [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

What you're paying for is the privilege of hunting on someone else's land that's been developed for what the mass majority will jump through their nose for, and what has widely become regarded as 'duck hunting'. It's an expensive gamble and the payoff is dictated by the weather and water. You can minimize SOME risks, but as a lease hunter, you rely TOTALLY on the birds coming TO YOU.......that's a mighty helpless feeling when there's nothing you can do to make the ducks come. [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]

Folks make the mistake of trying to make 'leases' a 'ducks per dollars' proposition, and usually end-up very disappointed. You just pay your money and take your chances.....like all gambles. [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Try hunting public land exclusively, this year..... you won't complain about the $1500 after the first 2 weeks, I guarantee! Either way, ain't nothing free.....you either pay for the convenience of field hunting or work your butt off on public ground.

I wish you LUCK, buddy.....many of us have been 'there'. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

"We are talking about people paying say 1500 or more a membership and only getting 8 days to hunt. Alot of people doesnt matter how much money they have will think twice about getting into leases that cost a little more and can't hunt them only 8 days. Let me say that I'm not upset about them lowering the limit just the days. I also hope they make a decision pretty soon because this is gonna determine whether people get into a lease or not."
I was gonna say it also, hunt public and your problems are over...or just begun, however you look at it [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31

Ant. and wingman I totally agree with you up until just 2 years ago me and Red_Head did hunt public exclusively and nothing else. So I know all about hunting public. We hardly ever hunted on the weekdays and only got to hunt on the weekends. I was just saying that if they do cut the days for people in leases if they plan their season around work like me and Red_Head do then most instead of paying the money would probaly hunt public for free. I will get the same enjoyment out of hunting on public land as I do on our lease. BUt I agree with yall something will have to give. Either pay for the lease and not worry about getting up at midnight and try to beat the other guy to hole OR loose alot of sleep for about a month and hunt the hell out of 'em for free. Either way your gonna loose something either sleep or money.

I smell what yer steppin' in, man. Cutting back on the days would definitely hurt the guys who only get to hunt the weekends.

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31