Moose Droppings

Heck We’re all Sportsmen

Oct 12, 2006 @ 08:41 pm by Moose

PA Elk Photo by Moose

The morning of the last day of the duck season was still a ways from breaking but they were hustling to get the decoys set out and get ready for the first flight. They had scouted this spot out earlier so finding it in the dark was easy and the short boat ride despite the sudden change in weather to more seasonable fall weather was tolerable. With the decoy spread complete and the dog and hunters hidden in the brush there was nothing left to do but to wait for the day to break.

Just prior to the legal lights arrival the first of the ducks began to bomb into their setup. The anticipation of the hunt as it begins to unfold is great; the first legal flock escapes with no casualties. About this time the unmistakable sound of a boat is heard and despite the foggy start it is soon in view as it rounds the point. Some fisherman out enjoying this bit of a front that is coming thru and the feeding frenzy it may trigger. The hunters are sure that once the anglers get close enough to see the ducks on the water are actual decoys that they’ll move to another spot. As the boat gets closer and ducks are flaring off the spread the hunters break cover and wade out so the fishermen can see them. The anglers keep drifting towards the hunters and once they are close enough to talk the conversation on both sides of the issue is not pleasant and bordering on hostile.

Well I heard this story recently and although there is no happy outcome I’m sure it’s not a scenario you haven’t faced while in the great outdoors. I’ve had hunters release dogs on the edge of our property and act surprised when they run on to our property, I’ve had other hunters drive into the middle of a goose decoy spread in a freshly cut corn field at first light, I’ve set up to capture a wildlife photograph sat 30 minutes or so for the animal to feed or wander near me to have someone else run up and scare it off. Things like this happen and I believe it’s a lack of courtesy or respect for our fellow sportsmen. I try hard not to ruin another’s outdoor experience but sometimes things are unavoidable. If you’ve hunted public land much you know it’s hard not to walk into someone else’s setup. I guess the only time that it bugs me is when it’s primetime and they see ya a ways off and the walk all the way up to your stand and whisper “See anything?”

Hunting is a pastime that is under a lot of fire lately and there are some that would like to do away with it altogether. We need to try to get along and show each other a bit of courtesy. There are a few issues we disagree on but whether we ambush a deer from a treetop or one with a pack of hounds on it’s heels the bottom line we all enjoy the same thrill of the great outdoors. Hunt safely and Ethically and “Heck no I ain’t seen anything”.