The Duck Barge Odyssee.....(pics)

[quack fiend]

the dog ramp is to be added soon, you're right it is high off the water

[JDgator]

Sweet Blind. Post more pics when you get them. BTW: is it on public water?

If it is , then you better chain and lock that thing to a cypress tree. Also, be prepared to do battle when somebody else beats you to it one morning.

I've seen problems with blinds on public water before.

[quack fiend]

yes, public--if someone beats us to it one morning and won't leave when asked politely, well, by god, i'll make SURE they won't kill a big duck, and if they're REALLY ugly about it they're gonna need 4 new truck tires and 2 new trailer tires, a new truck engine, lots of bodywork for the .22 holes etc. etc. most folks, i'm hoping, are like my group and respect others property, in fact i don't really mind if someone borrows the blind when we're not there as long as they don't damage it, shoot decoys, etc. also, since this is still a boat titled in my name and not just a floating platform, wouldn't that make it my private property and i could legally make them get off of it with an officer present if they were being really belligerent?

[duckkiller]

thats why I will never put up a blind on public water, not everyone is as polite as you and me

[crowder critter]

i didn't see any BBQ grill mounted on it, got have a grill on a rig like that

[Grommet]

i didn't see any BBQ grill mounted on it, got have a grill on a rig like that

I agree. The grill is a must for warmth and for breakfast.

[waterbug]

Think about it this way Quack. It is illegal to place blinds on public water. If you put it there and you are not the first person to it, then you have to hunt somewhere else.

I know I would be upset if i spent all the time building it and someone else was hunting in it.

However, someone else may have hunted that spot in the past and now with the illegally placed blind, they either have to hunt out of your blind or not hunt there at all. That is not right either.

That is why you should not put blinds on public land. Just my wooden nickel.

Oh, and be careful about leaving decoys out on public land, heard lots of stories about loosing your blocks or having them spraypainted bright orange. I would never do such a thing (I would just hunt over them), but some folks take the dont put a blind on public property thing pretty serious in some parts of MS.

[quack fiend]

good points, waterbug, and there are many blinds on this lake that are re-used and upkept yearly by the same folks, and not all of them are floating and tied off--many are built up into the cypresses or actually based on land. now i'm getting paranoid, looks like locks and chains are in order

[waterbug]

I would definitely lock it up with some thick chain and bolt cutter proof lock and even potentially anchor it to the bottom to protect it from theives. Too much work put into that to have it stolen.

[crowder critter]

i wouldnt worry about it being stolen, but vandalism is probably going to happen if it is on public land. some fools just cant resist, maybe its jealousy i dont know, but someone will tear it up just for the heck of it.

[rustypjr]

I think it looks great I want leave anything on public land but some people do. One of the guys that hunts with us will leave his boat tiead somewhere by the landing sometimes. I just can't do that. I worry that somebody will do something to it.

[duxRus]

I see someone shooting a hole in one, or both pontoon..that want be pretty...Good luck be safe

[JDgator]

yes, public--if someone beats us to it one morning and won't leave when asked politely, well, by god, i'll make SURE they won't kill a big duck, and if they're REALLY ugly about it they're gonna need 4 new truck tires and 2 new trailer tires, a new truck engine, lots of bodywork for the .22 holes etc. etc.

I have hunted out of a permanant blind on public water in FL for years.

I would just say be careful, and try to size them folks up first. Some guys would like nothing more than to fight you for it. Once I shouted at some hunter out of my permanant blind before I realized he had his children with him. I felt so bad when I saw two nervous little girls climb back in the boat with their father, I offered to share with it them. Now I just about always ask to share it with whoever gets there first, and folks generally oblige. Maybe it would work for you, it is a big blind.

[Uncle Judd]

I swear, some of you fellas must have my phone bugged. Cases in point:

brother has offered a BBQ grill to add to it. I currently have a 3 burner coleman stove for it.

the dog ramp is in the back of my car. I built it on hinges so i can bring it in when no dog is available.

Quack Fiend and me must have close to 20 dozen dekes between us, alot of the old model FLambeau's. So we'll leave a couple dozen out. If there is a problem, I have a a gang rig setup that is easy to put out and take up.

Other things to come:

A working toilet thanks to a bilge pump and a float switch. (this is a necessity since I have 3 lil girls who aren't so little anymore)

BTW I didnt give the dimensions for the blind itself 16'L X 6'2"H X 5"W.

[Uncle Judd]

Oh and as for uninvited guests....I'll say this to them, "Mornin' fellers. I'm left handed so let me scooch by ya, I need to be on that end."

That's my philosphy in the swamp.....Come on over, always happy to meet another duckhunter. Ya meet lots of good folks that way.

THis led to my best hunt ever......

http://www.ducksouth.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=30336