My View on Your Fair Weather Friends Post

[MSDuckmen]

Fair weather friends you call them, Interesting terminology
I have hunted with the same guys for over 20 years and we added one to the group about 5 years ago.
It is funny how over that period of time you set up a relationship that is as close to being like brothers as you can be. We do everything together, Hunt, fish, and just hang around.
I have the highest regard for these guys and would do most anything for them.
Time changes everything eventually and sooner or later you start to head off in different directions.
This year our group split up and started hunting different places, a couple of our members joined a high dollar clubs in North Ms, while a couple more of us stayed in our old camp, even had one to move to Ark. And leave us.
I see things in a much different way than I use to, and the duck killing is way down the list on what makes a hunting camp. It has a lot more to do with the companionship and comradely that comes from the members associated with your group.
The late night spade games, the watching of hunting video’s, The talk of days gone by around the campfire. That my friend is what a hunting camp is all about.
Most members from our club still feel the numbers of ducks killed is the thermometer of the success of the season. I don’t. I am no longer mad at the ducks and although the killing is a part of the whole it is not my focal point. Some of our members have even gone to fishponds to finish their limits in the afternoon when they didn’t get the limit in the mornings just to say they limited out.
I’m not into duck shooting I would gladly take 5 ducks with feet down in my decoys to 100 flybys. If I wanted to shoot flyby’s I would go dove hunting. Not into stalking ducks and bush whacking either, just seems like your missing the whole adventure when you blind-side them like that.
Now don’t get me wrong I’m into shooting the ducks and that is what I’m out there to do. Only I want it my way, and my way is up close and personal. (In your face with paddles down).
It saddens me that my group has given up the closeness that we have shared all these years and ventured off to other places with the full intent of just killing more birds.
I hunted by myself a lot this year and for those of you that talked about how great it was to hunt alone, I say I’m sorry you feel that way. Cause you must not have ever felt what I felt when I was doing what I love the most with people that I care so much for.
Duck hunting is not the same without them and I’m too set in my ways to change just to say I killed XXX number of birds this year.
You come to a point in your life when your set of standards change, you set new goals with a whole new set of values. You stick with this way of life long enough and you will find what I’m talking about. I look forward to the day that the 1:30 hole gang’s values again parallels mine.

[LabLuvR]

Great post!! I agree with you that there comes a time when killing ain't the best thing about huntin. My best buddy died three years ago and huntin ain't been the same since.

[CaptnT]

Duckmen, I have experienced that comradary that you speak of. I took my younger brother for the first time this year, and I really enjoyed it. I have a couple of friends that I still enjoy hunting with, if they've had enough sleep and the birds are flying. Listen to them complain and bitch pretty much ruins my day.

Some of the guys I hunted with would stay all day just to "get a limit", then after shooting two or three boxes of shells, and chasing cripples all morning, exhausting my dog because he will not return without the bird, get mad because I want to get home before twelve, or because we have reached our limit of suzies, and I don't want to risk them shooting another. These are the same guys that insist on giving my dog directions, and telling him to sit still or stop whining, even though they don't know the correct commands, or understand his sheer excitment at doing what he truely loves. They just want thier limit.

I too would rather work the birds in, letting them hover over the decoys before shooting, rather than unloading at ducks at a questionable distance, and that is why a couple of "former" ducking friends will not hunt with me anymore. These guys are people that I showed this great sport, taught them how to string dekes, given extra gear, showed them some of my secret holes, taught them how to clean ducks, break down thier shotgun, these guys I now have to get up early and beat into the holes I showed them, driving the boats I worked on for them!! One of them was fond of saying this year "you don't make 100% of the shots you don't take". He bought three CASES of shells at the first of the season, and had to buy more before the end. I bought three boxes this year, and have about 15 shells left. You made a good analogy of the dove hunt, and to some of the yahoos I used to hunt with, that is exactly what they think it is. They don't care that my dog has to swim 300 yards each way to track down the cripple that they barely hit, and complain if my dog doesn't get the duck, even if the duck had a fifty yard head start. Then I had to pull all the camo in to chase it, scaring off other flocks, and generally ruining the moment for the other hunters in the area, while my "friend" shoots another 4-5 times at a duck he shouldn't have shot at in the first place. I never had to "boat down" a duck when it was just me and my dog this year, I had to more times than I care to remember with some other guys.

This same guy used to get really angry with the ducks too. That I never understood. I can't ever remember being "angry" at the ducks, maybe a little frustrated, but never angry.

I am into companionship as much as the next guy, but I enjoy fishing with others more than hunting. I can't wait until my son is old enough to hunt, I look forward to teaching him the right way to do it.

Duckmen, I am glad you have friends that you enjoyed hunting with so much, some of the best times I have had outdoors has been in the company of others. Next year I will probably hunt 75% solo, and take a limited few friends the other times. I owe that much to my dog.

[MSDuckmen]

Captnt,
Man I know what ya mean, I couldn’t hunt like that either, Fact of the matter by the time I got through chewing them out for sky busting our friendship would have been pretty much void anyway. The Guys I hunt with are somewhat bio-polar in the since that they hunt just the way I like to hunt but are not satisfied if the morning doesn’t produce. At which time they will change mode spend all afternoon seeking revenge on a bad morning. And it’s not always like that, but I see it happening more and more this past couple of years.
Now, it is all about the killing and little to do with the company. We don’t play cards, sit around the camp fire, or talk of old times much cause everyone is in bed before 10:00pm cause they have been busting their butt since 3:00 am.
Even the natives of Africa rejoice, dance, and party the night before a big hunt. You lose so much when you are worried totally on the taking of the game. It is a part but not the whole.
Difference between you and me Capt. Is that I would not hunt with people like that period let alone allow them to say anything to my dog short of telling her to sit if she starts to move around.
If you cripple a bird and it flies down 60+ yards from the blind I suggest you get off your butt and retrieve the bird yourself, wasn’t my dog that made a bad shot and dang if I’m going to push her to save face for you. That is how I would handle those kind of hunters and you know how long that would last… [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

IMO

[judge jb]

MY BEST BUDDY TOOK A DUMP ON A PAPER PLATE.... kinda makes huntin alone even better.....

judge jb

[MSDuckmen]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

MY BEST BUDDY TOOK A DUMP ON A PAPER PLATE....

[img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Yea that might do it.

What ya say to him judge?

[MemphisStockBroker]

Judge, sounds like a crappy friend. I would probably rethink the social facilities you have been visiting, and try a little higher quality establishment. just -- by all means -- stay away from the stockbrokers....

[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: GulfCoast ]

[captain duck]

Duckmen-I think the controversial subjects on this board make it so interesting to read and comment. In 40 years of waterfowling I have been a member of numerous duck clubs. I have experienced many different hunting partners. Some of them are long time friends.We have enjoyed many nights around the f/p and card table. Unlike yourself I differentiate the nightlife comraderee from the duck hunting. When daylight arrives I take the sport of duck hunting as serious as a non-professional golfer trying to win the US amateur. It is my goal on every hunt to harvest 4 drake mallards and 2 non-mallard drakes. Killing the duck is only a means of keeping score. It's not the kill I want. It's to outsmart the wary mallard, feet down over the dekes, make a clean shot and enjoy watching my lab make a successful retreive. Accomplishing this goal sometimes requires cold, wet and tenacity. This success gives me personal satisfaction. Therefore, there are only a few hunters that I enjoy being with in the field that view the sport as do I. A bunch of friends in the blind BS-ing, flaring ducks and having a good ole time is what I leave at the camphouse the night before. Therefore, hunting alone on numerous occassions is sometimes necessary for me to get out of the sport what I desire. I do appreciate however, your views and those of all the other posters on this subject matter.

[00duck]

duckmen you have done this board a great service i wish every one had your views for those that do not please don't take offence its just that duckmen understands its not all about pulling the trigger and number of birds its about a life time of friends and memories ||| [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] judge call your buddies momma and give me a call on the get together [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[MSDuckmen]

Sure don’t disagree with you captain duck, I get pissed when guys flare the birds too. Our group is veteran hunters and that is not an issue with us anymore. I fully understand how some people desire to hunt alone, just don’t feel the same about it.
We don’t cut up in the blind, He11 it has been years since we were joking and cutting farts and talking crap while hunting. What has changed is how older adult in our group are influence by the simple requirement to kill something. Many, many time I have had some of the best conversations while in the duck blind, talking to a close friend about things that are of importance to me and to them. To say you leave companionship at camp because it is more important to take the bird than it is to unite a friendship that is built from years of bonding and openness is absurd.

A life long friend is like a member of your family, hunting is a valued part of my life and I want to remember it all as well as leave memories that will last the lifetime of another.

No one on this site hunts ducks any harder than I do. I know this cause you would have to hunt everyday of the season. I know I have heard some of them say they do but it is always funny how I come back from camp at the end of the season to see the same ones posting everyday of the season.
I take it very seriously, spend all my days off and most of my spare money doing it. This is my twenty third year and I’m knocking on age 50.
I hunted by myself at least a dozen times this year, the very day that I am willing to give up a day to hunt by myself instead of sharing a memory with someone else it is time for me to find something else to do. God I hope it never comes to that.

[CaptnT]

Duckmen, I appreciate your views and share most of them. The truth is that I was once a kinder, gentler CaptnT, and I tried to teach these fellas what I believed to be the proper, ethical way of ducking. Don't shoot on eachothers side of the boat, let the first duck get its feet wet so everybody has a chance to shoot, safety comes first, when we are retrieving a duck or re-setting the decoys, or packing up to go, we are no longer hunting, unload your guns until we are done. You better have your plug in if you are hunting with me, and better have legal shells. No shooting out of my boat before or after legal shooting time. Eat what you kill. These are some of the morals I tried to instill in these "friends". But as many of you know, the alot of first-year hunters become "experts" the next season, and they suddenly believe they can call better than you, tell you how to set the decoys, drive your boat, and how you should have trained your dog. These fellas that I speak of went off and joined a high dollar hunting club last year, and told me all about what a good season they had, and how many ducks they killed. Last year wasn't that good for me (2000-2001), but this year I had a better-than-average season while they did lousy.

The thing is that they seemed to forget all the things I tried to teach them. They shot at birds on my side, one guy came one day without a plug TWO WEEKS into the season and claimed he just forgot to put it in. He said nobody ever checked them at thier club. I know alot of them had been exposed to some undesirable "clubs" where they even have a running tally on who shoots the most ducks with a prize for the winner at the end of the season. After a few hunts they even asked me if I wanted thier ducks, because they couldn't be bothered to clean them. They just wanted to kill.

I'm not trying to preach, and I will again hunt with a few friends whose company I enjoy. Making a good shot isn't quite as fun if there isn't somebody to witness it, right? [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[dos gris]

Everybody has there own way to get satisfaction through this sport, whether it be the comradery, friendships, or just oneness with nature. For some, these are accomplished with hunting buddies, and for others it is done alone. Everbodys got their own way...and it means just as much to each who call themselves true duck hunters. To compare our approaches is absurd. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[captain duck]

Duckmen-I think you are definitely a serious hunter and probably a great sportsman and friend. I didn't say I left companionship at the clubhouse, I said comraderee. Some of the other responses to your post refered to hunting friends telling each other how to command the dog, shooting cases of shells, long shots, crippled birds, exhausted dogs, taking down blinds, cranking moters, etc. If that's companionship count me out. What you described about 2 friends bonding, 2 brothers bonding, a father and son, I couldn't agree more. The killing of a duck has no priority to those issues of importance. I don't like sacrificing the purity of the sport and the success in the field for the sake of comraderee and the lack of success. Again, these are just my opinions and I appreciate yours.

[Unkljohn]

Those problems stated above(skybusting,etc...) are the reasons I prefer to hunt alone most of the time. Especially if there aren't ducks everywhere. Most of the people I hunt with start taking those "passing shots" at 60+ yards by about 9:00 or even earlier if they haven't gotten any by then. Or they get bored and start grumbling or pouring coffee out of their shiny stainless steel thermos. Or just fidgeting around and generally being a thorn in my paw!!! If there aren't very many ducks flying I would much rather be by myself and hunt those few birds that are there than be just standing around BSing in a swamp. If I want to BS and cut up,I'll stay at camp!! [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]

[Lazy Drake]

Good post duckmen. I wish alot more people looked at hunting the way you look at.

[img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Lazydrake [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]