a win for some local duck hunters

I had to read that several times. I THINK I know what went down. I think I'd find a better spot, frankly. Sounds like you won.....this time. They sound a bit looney.

I was thinking the same thing. I read it 4 times, and I'm still not sure what actually happened.

Well did you limit out?

"theres a retired couple where i grew up that have been baiting ducks in their back yard"

Did they shoot them?

Or were they just feeding them?

It is against, Migratory Game Bird Act to hunt over bait. You can feed them all you want. The retired couple probablly enjoyed watching the birds from their deck. maybe even photographers. I would give them their space and hunt in a more peaceful area.

I don't mind people feeding ducks. I like fat ducks. I also don't like hunting near houses, so that wouldn't be a problem for me, I'd just move around a bend or across the way for some privacy.

I guess I just don't see what the issue is. What was the ticket for? If feeding is legal and they weren't hunting... I just don't understand.

Is it against the law to overfeed ducks?

That couple would have a problem around Port O'Connor, Texas.... Of course, the hunting is well away from houses, but the "boom, boom, boom" out on the bay every morning, while music to MY ears, would probably drive them nuts. What DOES drive me nuts is all the air boats. All the guides run air boats to get back in the shallow flats. I was trying to watch TV the other day (we have our trailer down there for the hunting season) and couldn't over the noise of 2 air boats out in the intracoastal.

But, heck, at least I've found something louder than your average Harley.

Sounds a bit risky. Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations are impossible to follow 100% since many are subjective. For example you are prohibited form hunting migratory birds over bait or in the zone of influence of bait. The "influence" can extend for days after the bait has been removed and can extend for miles. These extremes are ridiculous to me, but one could easily find themselves in some hot water in the situation described by the OP. Glad the hunters seem to have one this one.

If we as hunters want respect, we must respect those that don't hunt. Don't know how they would get a ticket for feeding birds nor why a Game warden would suggest harassing an "old retired couple" that just enjoys wildlife. Hard to believe some would enjoy shooting ducks under this scenario, much less brag about it.

I grew up on lakefront property there were 2 duck blinds within 500 yards or thereabout from the house. One was directly across the lake. During the waterfowl season you could be sure to be awakened by BOOM BOOM BOOM right at daybreak every morning. Though I was never a duck hunter it never bothered me. Just thought that was part of the experience of living in a remote lakefront setting. There was something about it that I really liked and found comforting.

Personally, I would have given the old folks their space and hunted somewhere else. The kill is far less important to me these days than the experience.

Yeh, I don't think I would have gone out thumbing their eyes and blowing ducks right out of the sky in front of them.. Just more negative press for hunters and gun owners.

I have never seen any hunter succeed in open and friendly discourse with an anti-hunter. It just doesn't seem to be possible, since the antis are operating from emotion.

About all a hunter can do is make sure he's legal and go on about his business. The anti-hunter is as mad from just knowing a hunter is "out there" as he is about any noise from any shooting.

And it's against the law in many states to knowingly disturb a hunting situation--particularly if trespassing is involved.

Ticketing for feeding might be a federal thing, as to baiting for migratory waterfowl--but I don't pretend to know those rules.

Yes, federal law prohibits baiting migratory birds....which includes dove, BTW. However, you can plant wild rice in your tank and sunflowers in your dove hunting fields. But, milo or corn spread on the ground is a no, no.

I just couldn't take any pride in this as a "victory". Someone got to kill some ducks, and some people basically got to watch the ducks they enjoyed watching die. While certainly legal, my personal ethics would come into play, and I'd find a better place to hunt. Killing a few ducks...to me...isn't as important as being respectful, even to those whose opinions I may not share.

Trouble is, Dave, that the opening post said nothing about the distance between complainers and hunters. And, hunting over decoys, how do you know that the ducks "belonged" to the complainers?

Face it: There are anti-hunters who get infuriated at the sound of shots, even though the hunters are at long distances. Would you have the "polite zone" include everything within hearing?

No, I don't and I wouldn't. Just the same, if my neighbor had a "pet" deer, I would make a point of not shooting it if it crossed the fence one day .....just because I technically "could".....doesn't necessarily mean I "should". To me, its not a matter of law, or of even "universal" ethics. I said my PERSONAL ethics were against it, and who is anyone to judge another's personal ethics, especially if they happen to be more restrictive, not less restrictive, then the law? I'm not saying ANYONE should agree with me or follow my example. I just don't see the "victory" in this example. If someone takes pride in what happened in the OP, so be it, but I couldn't.

Yes, federal law prohibits baiting migratory birds....which includes dove, BTW.

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Can you post a source for this, please?
Thanks.

Art Eatman said:

I have never seen any hunter succeed in open and friendly discourse with an anti-hunter. It just doesn't seem to be possible, since the antis are operating from emotion.

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The thing is, it ain't the antis we have to worry about, they're in the minority. Problem is, in 49 states, we as hunters are a minority also. The reason we can still hunt is because the majority of folks in this country are neutral towards hunting. Most understand there is a tradition of hunting in this country and that in many cases, hunting is a necessary evil.........i.e., crop damage, car/deer collisions and destruction of habitat because of excessive numbers. They don't hunt themselves but don't mind others hunting because they generally have a positive image of those they know that do hunt. If this positive image is continuously dirtied by thoughtless and irresponsible hunters, how long do you think they will continue to be neutral? Going out and shooting game in front of folk that have been enjoying watching and feeding them, and then giving them a followed by a post bragging about the same is not a positive image, nor is it the image I or many other legitimate hunters want to portray. I have no time for folks that wanna act like a "Bubba" and portray hunters as folks that feel the need to kill everything, especially if it's easy and it pisses someone off at the same time. To demand that antis give us the space and respect we want/deserve without reciprocating is ridiculous.

Davek1977 sums it up very well in his post.......

Davek1977 said:

Just the same, if my neighbor had a "pet" deer, I would make a point of not shooting it if it crossed the fence one day .....just because I technically "could".....doesn't necessarily mean I "should". To me, its not a matter of law, or of even "universal" ethics. I said my PERSONAL ethics were against it, and who is anyone to judge another's personal ethics, especially if they happen to be more restrictive, not less restrictive, then the law? I'm not saying ANYONE should agree with me or follow my example. I just don't see the "victory" in this example. If someone takes pride in what happened in the OP, so be it, but I couldn't.

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Duck and Goose hunting isn't subject to just federal rules. Each state is able to adopt rules and regulations. They just have to be in line with federal and they cant be less strict. They can certainly have harsher or more restrictive rules.

And since no one said just how far they were from the house I am siding with the hunters for now.

In our state it is against the law to interrupt the legal harvesting or hunting of game animals