DuckSouth.com

First of all, I am not hammering on all young duck hunters. The ones that are guilty know they are guilty. You other young guys that respect ducks, duck hunting, and other hunters; I am not lumping you all into one category.

This morning I went hunting to a WMA I frequent several times a year for a little waterfowling action. I expected a crowd- got it. Expected some shy birds- oh did I get them. Expected tight quarters- got it(I'm used to it though) Expected high ballin and skybusting- I had no idea how bad it would really be. Myself and another group set up about 200 yards apart on a hole I like to hunt(it does have a scope of trees running down the middle, so it looks like 2 different holes). I really wasn't worried about us being that close because someone else is usually in there half the time. About 6am they started calling. Yep, that early. That got me a little nervous. My dog was even confused. When it did get light and they could actually see some ducks, it sounded like a call off at the world duck calling championships.

It wasn't long after they actually had 3 greenheads wanting to come into their hole, and would have if they quit calling, but back to the story. I was watching those 3 drakes circling them when I spotted 2 woodies coming straight to me about 100 yds out. I decided to pass on the woodies and let them get the mallards. Well the woodies passed about 20 feet high 15 yards away and I didn't even raise my gun. My dog was pissed!

A little later a group of about 6 or 7 woodies came screaming across the trees I didn't shoot because I knew they were out of range. The other bunch let it loose on them at about 60 yards. All I could do was shake my head.

Another group of guys a little farther off and myself never called at one single bird that was close to them. But if a group was over either of us and trying to work, they put everything they had into that call. I had 14 mallards cup and start falling towards my dekes. I thought, Finally! When the group was about 30 yards from killing range, they started high ballin at a group of 50+ migrators about a mile up. My pretty little group of mallards shot straight up.

I started to go over and rake em over the coals or just start shooting up in the air when a duck started to circle them, but I didn't. I sheathed my gun and picked up my blocks and cruised on out. I went right by them on the way out. It was three of them in a tricked out War Eagle, had two brand spanking new twirlies just a spinnin and about 3 dozen decoys shoulder to shoulder in that little hole.(I only use about 8-10 in it when I hunt there)

I was standing at the ramp shootin the crap with some guys I had just met when they came out. They were in a brand new Ford Fx4. They had everything they needed to look like a serious duck hunter. Hell, I even wished for a second that the boys dad would adopt me for a little while and let me get some new toys.

You young guys, what I'm gettin at is that this ain't a status thing. Duck hunting ain't about killing limits, or trying to kill every duck you can pull a gun up at. A guy like me and a whole lot more gentlemen on this board would respect you a lot more for hunting ethically and respecting other hunters regardless of how many ducks you kill or what pretty little(big in this case) toys you have, or how many shells you can shoot up.

I guess if I weren't so dadgum stingy I would have a private hole and not have to worry with this crap. But I would still worry about it though. I have three little hunters at the house that I can guarantee will not act this way. They will know how to respect others,ducks, the sport of waterfowling and know right from wrong.

"Put your kid in time-out"---MY ASS. I'll put belt on that little red butt just like my dad did to me.

That was you over on the other side? Dang.

Wingman

gadwall2 wrote:
"Put your kid in time-out"---MY ASS. I'll put belt on that little red butt just like my dad did to me.

BBBbwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that's what I'm talkin' about. That's the problem with 90% of kids today!!!!!!!

I'm with ya my man!!!!!!!!

Gadwall2, sounds like the bunch we used to have headed your way...hail, our bunch would even shoot up in the air as they were walking out. also, i could have swore that one of em blew a crow-call high ball. it was unbelievable. but, you know what? when the going gets rough,they disappear.

Hell, I ain't even bothered huntin the last few days. Getting to warm and schools out. Buddy of mine went up to the forest to look and said it looked like a day care center. New trucks lined up and down the roads with their correctly opposing duck head stickers. Plenty of new toys daddy bought em for Christmas to try out. Been there, seen that, ain't going back till school is back in.

I'm with ya all the way,bud.But as for time out,I got too many bushes behind the house that needs trimmin and my two hates it when I go to trimmin.

What the heck is wrong witha new truck? Jeeveess heh I wanna brand new ford myself!!! new war eagle would be nice too!!!! but I feel your pain on the public hunting tho......I guess some jest don't know,don't care,don't wanna learn probally all three........Tickles me to see the youngun's snorten them Z-71's f-250's blarin up and down the road passin everyone like retards. It all catches back up to ya someday. I used to be the same way tho but when I started paying the bills it all changed heh

i couldn't agree more. i've only been fowlin' for a couple of years but it is not any different than any other hunting as far as respect goes. we hunt on public land and have experienced everything you described first hand. we have had guys blow right through our dekes (able to see 'em from 100 yards out), shoot at birds fixin' to land in our spread, shoot at cripples 20 ft from our boat, spray us with steel shot 3 times in one morning, highball as birds were workin, and claim we are in there spot 'cause there dekes are "right over there" (150 yards away). however, it would be nice to have a new ford, war eagle and whatever else (i'll pass on the robos). my father-in-law says he can't understand why i am "hooked on quack" and i tell him it's everything about it. from drinkin' coffee at 2:00a.m., putting the boat in, setting up the dekes, watching the birds circle, wathcin the dog work, to havin' family over to eat 'em it's awesome. don't get me wrong, when i set out in the moening my goal is to limit out. if i don't well thats ok too. ahh the joys of public hunting

I really hate that you guys have such a sour attutude. Truth be known, you all were the same way, as was I. We all raised hell and snorted our pipes and everything else. Some people can't remember, or don't want to remember, the things they did when they were young. It is called growing up....living and learning. Quit being such crybabies. When something like this happens, don't get mad and cuss today's kids. Just think back to when you were their age and the fun you had. Then laugh about it and let it be.

Look guys and gals, I hunt public ground in Arkansas, and it's getting to the point that the high ballers and skybusters are making it hard on us die hard hunters. I've never ever set up 50 yards from someone, I've never highballed ducks away from someone who was working ducks in tight, and I've never slipped up and shot at someone's ducks while they were working. Bayou Meto has a 15 shell limit just because of the Pricks, this effects us all and I don't want to give the wardens any more ammo than they already have. Just respect others and hopefully no one will set up on you. Hell I asked two guys to hunt with us the other day even though we had someone on every freaking tree. I felt that it was better to do that than have em 50 to 60 yards away. I hate nothing more than a bunch of skybusters, that is why I carry a slug or two with me, let's just hope that they have an extra pug in the boat that is the size of a 1oz Federal, if not maybe they have enough horse power to lift the boat out of the water.

Thank Heaven these young people are attracted to the outdoors instead of other things(i.e. drugs). Just like any other sport, someone has to teach them. Luckily, my father taught me the ethics of hunting. Luckily, a good friend taught me the ethics of Golf. Not everyone is as lucky as you and I. If you have a bad experience, gently talk to them. It has been my experience when confronted with something they were doing wrong, most will apologize profusely and chances are will not do it again.

If you love the sport, pass it on...to your children, friends, and even some young people who may not know the difference...

Hey Airport, you know, your right to big degree. It would be nice if a few of us could settle down and drop our feathers on our backs, but you still need to take a trip up here. Good intentions are good intentions, but getting shot still hurts like hell. I'm not going to meander over and be nice once I have to pull hot #2 steel out of my ugly thinsalatehat and new Columbia. I will try to refrain......I will try to refrain.....I will try to refrain.......

I CARRIED A YOUNG GUY HUNTING WITH ME AND HE TRIED SOME OF THAT STUFF ON SOME GUYS ABOUT 200 YARDS AWAY. I PUT A STOP TO IT REAL QUICK. DON'T CALL THAT THEIR DUCKS UNLESS THEY SHOW MORE INTEREST IN US. I'LL ONLY CALL TO DUCKS IN THAT SITUATION IF I KNOW THEY CAN HERE A QUACK AND LONESOME HEN CALL, THAT WAY THERE IS NO MISTAKING ABOUT THE COMMON COURTESY. AND NO SKYBLASTING.

FI---------VE GOL-----DEEEEN RIIIIINGS!

4 callin birds.........3 French hens.......2 turtle doves..........and a PAR-------TRIDGE IN A PE-------AR TREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEhehehe!

Anat.... I have heard of sexual frustration..... but is this a 'lack-of-ducks' frustration ????