Anyone Know How The 5:00a.m. Rule Worked Out?

[booger]

Did anyone hunt the WMA's with the 5:00a.m gravel road blast off time?

I never hunted them this year but was curious as to the stratedgy involved, whether it "worked" and if you thing it'll be with us next year.

Do you work out who's going where freindly style, or lie like hell then run for it. Do you need a supercharger on your four-wheeler? I would imagine everyone was shuffling their feet saying "I dunno where we're going". Were people coming in from different angles for the same spot?

Did I miss all the fun?

[MSDuckmen]

Yeah Booger it worked out well, We just dropped one person off at 2:00am and they walked out there with a flashlight and waited till 5:15am to turn it on. You hear all kind of stuff like MAN THOSE GUYS ARE FAST. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

just messing with ya didn't hunt a WMA with that rule. BUT if I did.. hehehe

[RobertM]

I hunted at one of the areas with the 5 am rule. This particular WMA isn't really crowded to start with, but it allowed us to sleep a little later and still feel confident that we'll get a spot.

[Swamp Rat]

Swamp Rat hunted the St. Catherine Creek refudge with the 5:00 rule and the line was long at 4:30 We were about 10th. They checked each hunter on the way in and this spaced out the mad dash to the boat landing, and we could launch 2 at a time. They checked shells guns limits and boat regs at the landing after the hunt; and that gun better be cased. The hunting was very poor on that day; 46 hunters harvested 31 ducks
and hundreds of rounds were fired. (Skybusting) By the way this place is not very user friendly, in MHO

[Swamp Rat]

Swamp Rat hunted the St. Catherine Creek refudge with the 5:00 rule and the line was long at 4:30 We were about 10th. They checked each hunter on the way in and this spaced out the mad dash to the boat landing, and we could launch 2 at a time. They checked shells guns limits and boat regs at the landing after the hunt; and that gun better be cased. The hunting was very poor on that day; 46 hunters harvested 31 ducks
and hundreds of rounds were fired. (Skybusting) By the way this place is not very user friendly, in MHO

[SB]

It worked out well on State WMAs. No citations were issued. People did work out hunt strategies with each other prior to takeoff on the busier days. On opening morning on one of those WMAs it was funny seeing everybody there so early even though they couldn't leave till 5:00. Those that got there 15 min before takeoff still got to their hunting spot at the same time as those that had been there for 2 hours.

[booger]

Thanks for the info guys and by the way SB, how much is the ticket and do I get to keep my spot while I'm being written up?

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

[Meeka]

That place SB is probly referring to did have one problem, and other areas may have had the same problem: What if the person didn't leave from the road? i.e- what if the person accesed the public land from private land.

In one particular instance, they could be in the hole at 5:00 a.m. (or earlier) and no one would know until they arrived by ATV at 5:30. Talk about pissed. You make that 30 minute ride and see no one else in the area or going that way and get to the spot to be shined! To top it all off, the guys are not effective callers and can not get the many ducks that work the hole to get in range. I wondered if I should have gone in there and said "let me show yall a few tricks".

Anyway, it is probably legal if they do not get on the public ground before 5. Who knows what time they actually arrived, but with the reverse curfew, they had absolutely no reason to rush out there before 5 cause us commoners couldn't get there before 5:30. Is that Fair? The only way this conduct could be illegal, probably, was if they DID NOT COMPLETE A CARD AND HAVE IT ON THE DASH, THEN TURN IT IN! What do you think the chances of that were!

If you have acces to private land, you ought to have to hunt it, not use that privilege to to come onto the public land TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT PLAY BY THE RULES BY LEAVING FROM THE ROAD AT 5. I suspect this problem was not foreseen by the rules makers.

I think there ought to be a rule that you can only access public ground in designated spots - at a check station or road. IMHO.

[WNE Driver]

I have heard alot about ya being able to use ATV's on WMA's Are they State, Federal or both? Around here, I don't know of any area (State or Fed) that we can use an ATV on for duck season. Everything is by boat, on foot or a combination thereof.

[booger]

WNE Driver, it's both but not all and an awful lot of differing rules, necessary ATV "permits" etc. Staying on the specified trail is about the only consistent regulation.

[WNE Driver]

Thanks for the info booger...

I think I like the way it is here. If we could use 'em it would be too easy for the jagoffs that are afraid a little walk or work to get to a good hole. Sounds like you run ito that some now.

[SB]

People will always try to beat the system no matter what it is. The rule did work out well this year overall, but I did hear a few reports of people trying to beat the system. There was no hard evidence of the rule being violated or there would have been citations written. If there are laws being broken and you know of it, then report it to a CO. Be part of the solution instead allowing the problem to persist. Greet the violator in a friendly matter, shoot the breeze with him while finding out his name, where he is from, who he hunts with, etc? You ever noticed how meeting somedody with an out reached hand and a smile on your face will set a positive tone to the meeting? You then can pass the information along to a CO without anybody being the wiser. We can't be everywhere we need to be all the time. Sportsman that care about the resource make the MDWFP's job easier by passing information along to COs that will follow up on the reported problem. Instead of making new and stricter laws I'm in favor of inforcing the one already on the books. There are already enough rules and regs now to keep up with. If those people from private lands are violating the laws on a State WMA by he entering area too early that can be taken care of by laws already on the books. I'll be glad to see to it myself. I just need the information. It is satifying for an officer to catch those persons purposely violating the laws that all the other sportsman are adhering to. It is not fair for those who play by the rules.

[SB]

Booger,
I know you are probably just kidding, but I'll give you the information anyway. One will not get off any less than $100.00 and mostly likely cost several dollars more. You will be told to leave the WMA and could be banned from the WMA for at least year. The person's attitude will the tone. Depending on the infraction, one might only receive a warning. On State WMAs people have a hard time of following the simplest rules and regs, like filling out the permit card Completely and dropping it back in the box and keeping their four-wheelers on designated ATV trails. I often wonder if hunters can read. If they can, they must choose not too.

FYI and just for your reading intertainment.
A situation that happened this past year: Two COs were checking duck hunters on a State WMA with a early morning rule. Officer A and Officer B were in seperate trucks checking the hunters (hunting license, permit cards, etc.) as they went down the road in leap frog fashion. They got close to the end of the line, Officer A checked the next to last group while Officer B checked the last group. Officer B checked the last group and was wondering what was taking officer A so long, so he went back to check on him. When Officer B pulled up to the vehicle location and opened his truck he heard 1 of the 4 hunters cursing. Officer B just listened to the conversation to see what and how the conversation was going. The cursing hunter had a brad new boat with a brand new go-devil on it. Officer A asked to see their life jackets and the hunter could not produce any. Officer A told them they couldn't use the boat because they didn't have any life jackets, but they could still hunt (a boat wasn't necessary to hunt where they were going). When the hunter was told this he started cursing Officer A and this is the point where Officer B pulls up. Officer B walks around checking the area out while staying within hearing range. Officer A was trying to be as helpful as possible, but the that hunter could do was curse. I'll try to shorten the story now, but he was told to load his boat up and remove himself from the WMA or get a citation for public profanity. He did as instructed. His hunting buddies were really embarred by the spoke person's actions. They shook the COs hands and appoligized for their friends action. Several things could have happened, citations could have issued but I think the finally out come was the best. Who knows? Only time will tell.

[Meeka]

SB. Thanks for the info. It is right on point, as always. That is good advice for everyone to remember.

We got off the atv's that morning and discussed what to do. The hole is right next to the trail. Suffice it to say, our discussion did include the friendly hand approach but other unhospitable alternatives were spoken. Being somewhat mad, it didn't dawn on us that they can get away with that if they just complete a card. (the ATV was parked on the line and had no card on it) We decided against the friendly hand cause we didn't want to hunt with them. We will know better next time.

SB, you might recognize the spot on another current topic.

I mentioned it to Lee, but what can he do if I do not get names and they have already left? As soon as we left and went past, they skidaddled. Of course it was obvious the route they travel. Did they get there before 5? Who knows. Did they partake in the card game? I suspect not.

I would say that you are right: Overall the rule worked well and I am in favor of keeping it.

Ask LH about the morning he was checking pre 5am and saw the "FULL MOON"! as he rounded the corner! That probably woke him up!

[booger]

Oh yea, thanks SB, I was just kidding, stirring the pot a little. I think we are fortunate to have you participate on our forum.

It's gets harder and harder to stay current on the details that keep you legal and this group here is the bunch that trys to stay that-a-way.