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If someone has taken the time to build a blind then I completely agree that they have rights to the area opening day. My issue is with signs posted to reserve an area on a public lake. While scouting before opener, I have seen the same name on 3 or 4 signs up in different areas.
Total BSQuote:
Originally Posted by Jtiede
What is worse is the guys who's signs aren't taken down (nailed to a tree in a swamp) that is unreadable except for an L and they come slogging through the swamp 10 mins before legal light expecting to have their spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jtiede
Something the "me first" generation doesn't get taught .......... tradition ! Now mind you if some schmuck puts out five signs with his name on them I would do something about it ! That's being greedy not a gentleman. Honouring some guys spot for Opening morning is part of our waterfowl heritage. There was a time when if you saw a guy hit a bird and it came down near you and you finished it off , you would return the bird and the hunter would repay the shot(s) spent in doing so and maybe a dram of throat cleaner.
I turn sixty next year and have been hunting for over 45 years. I plan on retiring and hopefully will have time to carry on our great waterfowling tradition. Hell.....maybe teach a newbie about them.
What BBD just said.
Now that I live in an area with a lot of WFing, and have spoken with a few people who put time, sweat and some $ into maintaining blinds for "all to use"..........
by all means, spend a month building or maintaining one, then see how you feel if someone doesn't respect a "reservation" for openers doesn't bother you. One blind I've been using has had a lot of work done it. Inside there's a sign. Use it, don't abuse it. Happened to bump into the two guys who built it. I was hunting early goose, they came out with a boat full of materials to ready it for duck. Between litter, vandals.....and just, well. Suffice to say they are happy to have someone who lives 300 yards away, willing to keep it clean during the week...Suppose if I don't like it, I could use one of the old decrepit blinds, if I could trust the floor or stilts wouldn't give under my weight. Told one neighbor who had built a few of the blinds. If you have a friend coming to join you anytime, just let me know which your hoping to use. I won't be there.
shore spots are a little different, but if it's that important. Build a blind, maintain it, post it. Not a big deal.
The days of the traditional permanent blinds are rapidly coming to an end,regrettably. It's virtually impossible to find a place to build a blind on shore that doesn't have a cottage or a home nearby.I found,long ago,that a portable boat blind was the only way to go. They don't need to be very elaborate,either. Milsurp camo netting works well. Hip waders or a small 10-12' canoe to retrieve ducks and dekes pulled behind the big boat works like a charm. We can hunt various lakes and rivers on a whim and we don't need to think about interfering with others or having them interfere with us.
Agree Trimmer. A lot depends on water body. Further down the Lake, and it's all homes/cottages. Very very few blinds. Up where I am, one shore is the same ( geese hug this shore like stink), they fly right over my deck at 30 yards when they leave the fields like they are teasing me, then as soon as they hit the shore, they stay close to the houses. the far shore there's tons of bay/marsh and lots of blinds. Problem here is over the years the bay's have filled in, and with low water levels. Some are now useless.
Was out hunting one of those blinds across from me with BBD a couple weeks ago. A goose landed on shore in the cat tails behind us. When I stepped out of the boat, 2 inches of water turned to feet and almost came over my chest waders. Good thing I kept a grip on the boat, had all my weight been on my feet, I don't want to think about how far is have sunk in silt. A lot of the area is floating "land". So blinds here if not by boat are almost a must.
Have be been thinking about next year and a boat blind. Can go almost anywhere, and no worries about heading out in the dark and finding your first 3 options occupied.
I am a firm believer in first come first serve on public land, you want the spot then get there before anyone else. Don't believe in this posting crap on public land period.Quote:
Originally Posted by oxotnik
If someone takes the time and effort to build a blind for opening day then that should be respected. After that if its on Crown land and they aren't using it then it should be fair game to whoever wants to use it. A little civility and common sense goes a long way.
Sorry, totally disagree I hunt with layouts, A frames and I have a blind on my duck boat. No need to build a blind so I may have been there scouting long before someone decides to build a blind. I do see your point but respectfully disagree :)Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym