Posted Spots - what a ...

[terrym]

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

You "assume" you scouted first but really there is no way to confirm that on public land. That person who built the blind could have beat you to it. Also many don't have the means to buy boats so shore hunting is a necessity.

[Dythbringer]

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.

You know I find it funny that some folks use the term tradition when they talk about blatantly ignoring the law. These guys share the same mentality with guys who think they don't need to take their blinds down after the season closes. They post spots based on the assumption that the golden age of waterfowling is still around; not realizing the world has changed and hunting opportunities on crown land are shrinking and by posting "their" spot for opening morning is nothing more than selfish behaviour.

What you see as the failure of the "me first" generation is actually a symptom of something far worse. Older generations inability to realize the world has changed and sometimes traditions need to fall by the wayside. Waterfowlers do not have the room anymore to have the luxury of reserving your spot. New waterfowlers who have never heard of this "tradition" get lambasted for following the law about crown land (first come, first serve) by older hunters and then we wonder why we don't have any new guys coming into this part of the sport. Older generations fail to realize the less welcoming you are, the new hunters simply will walk away from waterfowling and the opportunities to hunt on crown land will shrink even further because there will be no new voices to join us when we need to be heard on important issues (like a cottage association wanting to stop waterfowling in their area because of some reason).

With that said, I will not hunt opening morning on crown land because of this very reason (tradition vs the law argument) and I certainly will never use someone else's blind (I don't know who constructed the blind and what materials they used to do it and it may be unsafe).

Dyth

[skeeter1]

You know I find it funny that some folks use the term tradition when they talk about blatantly ignoring the law. These guys share the same mentality with guys who think they don't need to take their blinds down after the season closes. They post spots based on the assumption that the golden age of waterfowling is still around; not realizing the world has changed and hunting opportunities on crown land are shrinking and by posting "their" spot for opening morning is nothing more than selfish behaviour.

What you see as the failure of the "me first" generation is actually a symptom of something far worse. Older generations inability to realize the world has changed and sometimes traditions need to fall by the wayside. Waterfowlers do not have the room anymore to have the luxury of reserving your spot. New waterfowlers who have never heard of this "tradition" get lambasted for following the law about crown land (first come, first serve) by older hunters and then we wonder why we don't have any new guys coming into this part of the sport. Older generations fail to realize the less welcoming you are, the new hunters simply will walk away from waterfowling and the opportunities to hunt on crown land will shrink even further because there will be no new voices to join us when we need to be heard on important issues (like a cottage association wanting to stop waterfowling in their area because of some reason).

With that said, I will not hunt opening morning on crown land because of this very reason (tradition vs the law argument) and I certainly will never use someone else's blind (I don't know who constructed the blind and what materials they used to do it and it may be unsafe).

Dyth

Best post of entire thread

[JBen]

Normally agree you Dyth and while what follows isn't disagreement, its more a different perspective.

"not realizing the world has changed and hunting opportunities on crown land are shrinking"

and by disrespecting or griping about the tradition of posting a spot for opening morning and thereby hopefully avoiding confrontation on the water and more, is nothing more than the new generations selfish behaviour.

Basically just trying to show how it cuts both ways and an argument could be made, that because opportunity is shrinking such things become more important. But ultimately in the end, its just as "selfish" in this era of shrinking opportunities.
*****

If people have built blinds, and put effort into maintaining I really don't see any problems with a reservation for opening morning. The season is long, people do have the option of going grouse hunting as we did on openers and avoiding the craziness....Or simply, wait one day for the open season on spots.
Its one morning...........

[fishermccann]

DB,I agree that blinds should be taken down after the season. Name another sport that allows you to leave your personal property on public land year round? If you bring it in,you should bring it out.

[JBen]

Ah you must mean like your dock FMC, I think Ive (could be mistaken) your one of those who don't like guys fishing them, or coming too close. I know the water is yours. So do as I say, not as I do? What right do you have to that water and to leave in near all year. Take it out when you go home.....


Will just say the polar perspectives in this, is classic . And in part what I was referring to above.
The fact is, the "post" system alleviates a lot of the potential conflicts and dangers when fumbling about in the dark. And in this days and age, an argument can be made, that its just as, if not more important.

Look at the horror stories around Moose hunting and people setting up camps weeks in advance, block people off, scaring them away and more..

By contrast, it's one morning.

[fishermccann]

No, fish my dock all you want just don't hit my boat with your lures, ( I have found some inside the boat), but I hate like hell looking from my front deck at duck blinds that are used for a season, then the cedar branches turn brown, the rope rots, the wire rusts, the lawn chair disintegrates, the 6 inch spikes pull from the posts, and the blind slowly sinks into the muck over the next 10 years. Why should others have to look at the garbage duck hunters have left to rot on public waterways?

[Dythbringer]

Normally agree you Dyth and while what follows isn't disagreement, its more a different perspective.

"not realizing the world has changed and hunting opportunities on crown land are shrinking"

and by disrespecting or griping about the tradition of posting a spot for opening morning and thereby hopefully avoiding confrontation on the water and more, is nothing more than the new generations selfish behaviour.

Basically just trying to show how it cuts both ways and an argument could be made, that because opportunity is shrinking such things become more important. But ultimately in the end, its just as "selfish" in this era of shrinking opportunities.
*****

If people have built blinds, and put effort into maintaining I really don't see any problems with a reservation for opening morning. The season is long, people do have the option of going grouse hunting as we did on openers and avoiding the craziness....Or simply, wait one day for the open season on spots.

Jben,

That is fine if you want to have a different perspective. I understand where the tradition of posting a spot comes from. However, in my opinion, this tradition is nothing more than squatting on public land. Would this be acceptable camping in Algonquin Park? You have just paddled for a few days to a picturesque lakeside campsite you know about only to discover a sign saying someone has laid claim to that spot on the same day as you got there. Understanding of course that if you do accept that you now have to go at least 150m away as that is also part of the tradition of waterfowling so you don't mess up their "camping" experience.

Where do the "rights" of this tradition end? What someone posted their spot and anglers decided to fish that exact spot, who gets to use the spot? The problem with "posting" something is people will get possessive over "their" spot. It is human nature.

As for using someone else's blind, I don't do it. If I don't build the blind, I won't use it.

Dyth

[JBen]

No, fish my dock all you want just don't hit my boat with your lures, ( I have found some inside the boat), but I hate like hell looking from my front deck at duck blinds that are used for a season, then the cedar branches turn brown, the rope rots, the wire rusts, the lawn chair disintegrates, the 6 inch spikes pull from the posts, and the blind slowly sinks into the muck over the next 10 years. Why should others have to look at the garbage duck hunters have left to rot on public waterways?

And I hate "cottages" that aren't cottages but are instead eyesores. Also really dislike docks that a person could park a bus beside. Its a fine line G. Basically between the two I'd rather look at a shore/marsh with a couple decrepit old blinds, than some eyesore that isn't a cottage, your two seadoos, bowrider, and jonesing. In fact, Id rather most all lakes be more like those in APP, or at least more like those in the Halliburton forest. Not much more than shacks with outhouses.....But hey its your lake, your view. And are you also saying hunters are the only people that pollute? Lets put your life under a microscope G. A big city polluter who escapes to his cottage/his lake on weekends..........Seen how weedy the Kawarthas are getting? Ever hear of phosphates?

Beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder.

That said.
Agree, theres a couple old decrepit blinds out from me.Would prefer they get pulled or fixed up. Theres one Im eyeing possibly for next year and fixing up if possible. But at the end of the day, people shouldn't throw stones at glass houses, especially people who live in the GTA.

[Sinker]

This is an age old argument that has been going on for centuries.

Its actually helpful to know where others are going to be set up on opening morning. I have no problem with guys posting a spot, and I respect it, but there is not a lot of respect left in the marshes I hunt these days. Nothing but a bunch of idiots most of the time. If everyone who plans to hunt a spot took the time to have a look around before opener it would be a lot safer, and better shooting if you knew where the rest of the hunters are going to be.

I use a boat blind. Best set up IMO. A permanent blind is just an idiot magnet in a marsh. Put up a blind and you get every lazy idiot for miles hunting it and leaving their behind. And I say that literally. People are idiots.

S.