Duck Season???

[Muskiemagnet]

Floater Suits withstand 10gage at 100yards eh, RJ and Markus....

[RJ]

Magnet,

I ain't afraid of no gunshot...

[jbarker]

We run into this problem evry year on muskrat lake with the hawg bass tournamnet. pretty much the whole south shore is lined with duck blinds, so we start the tournament at 8. Being a duck hunter myself I know that 95 percent of us are done hunting by 8-9 am. I would give the hunters in lochaber till 9 then FISH ON!

[Markus]

You are right Marcus and I didn't mean any lack of respect to hunters like yourselfJP

Just got a bad vibe when I looked at the thread and you started it with a smiley icon that was sticking it's tounge out. I see both sides of the fence on this one and I really want to see anglers and duck hunters share the water and respect one another to the fullest.

[Mikey]

Don't know why anyone be getting their knickers in a knot about a guy asking when duck season opens....aren't we getting a bit too sensitive here? The guy doesn't want to accidently run into a hunting area...which is easily done with them hidden in a blind dressed in camo gear...I've accidently done it myself...then left the area once I realized they were there. My fishing permit doesn't state anything about having to avoid certain areas at certain times of the season. It's done out of respect. There are always gonna be morons that run by your fishing spot 20 feet from your boat....and others that will fish a bay when you're trying to hunt...unfortunately life is full of these little speed bumps in our pursuit of Nirvana. Learn to deal with it. Just my opinion here...

[RJ]

It's very simple.....use common sense......share the water.....

and noone gets hurt....

[Jigs]

I know you want to hear this story

Many many many years ago , a buddy and I worked our bums off building a standing hide a good distance from the shore along the Rideau River. It was, unfortunately, just within shotgun range from the shore.

It was a beautiful blind as blinds go, braced, floored, canoe under, fresh cedar, seats.........ah yes.

Opening day we set out the dekes in the dark, secured the canoe, got into the blind and waited for first light.

As soon as it got light enough to see the ducks started coming in, and a friggin barrage opened up from the cattails. A bunch of guys had come out and placed themselves in the cattails, singly, all along "our" shore.

We spent opening morning sittng in the blind with our backs turned, listening to shot bouncing off our hats and coats. Then some dip came out with a tinny, got all the ducks, grabbed the guys, and off they went.

We used the blind later in the season, but the "good" shoot was opening day, and we missed it. Never even took our guns out of the cases.

A few choice words were exchanged , but did no good of course.

Yep, if I was fishin I'd be careful. We ain't all nice guys.

Around here, most fishermen know where guys hunt, and stay away opening day. The hunt is not what it used to be. Fewer ducks, and fewer hunters.............so goes it.

Regards:

[RJ]

Ahhh.....what's a little lead between friends?.... Or is it even lead anymore???...

[Jigs]

PUT THE BISMUTH TO EM LADS ARGHHHHHHH

[Mikey]

Ahhh.....what's a little lead between friends?.... Or is it even lead anymore???...

Actually Rob....I think you guys are bit stricter there than in Quebec, not up to snot on my hunting regs, maybe someone could step in here. But you are definately tougher when it comes to fishing with lead. Wasn't it just last hunting season that some guy in the states who was deer hunting opend up on a bunch of guys walking into his territory or something like that? A few were killed from it. The hunter became the hunted hehehe!!

[RJ]

Ya that was ugly Mikey.....

I don't hunt....but I'll say for my hunting buddies....that was not a hunting incident.....that was an unstable individual that happened to be hunting at the time of the incident.....

I have no problem with hunting......I think it gets a bad rap....because of incidents like that one...I think most hunting trips are times for guys to tip a few pops....and get away from everything else...alot like fishing trips...

RJ

[Scum Frog]

For me, the fall hunting seasons are what I look forward to most. I love fishing, but hunting even more. There is enough room on most bodies of water to share between the waterfowl hunters and anglers. If you see decoys set out, just stay clear of that area. As previously mentioned, most duck hunters are back eating breakfast and sipping coffee by 9 am anyways. In the Ottawa Valley therte are two opening days. Renfrew north os Sept 17, Lanark - south is the following Saturday Sept 24.

[Mikey]

Renfrew north os Sept 17, Lanark - south is the following Saturday Sept 24.

Thx for the info. RRC, much appreciated. LOCHABAR HERE WE COME!!!

[Duck Gunner]

Wasn't it just last hunting season that some guy in the states who was deer hunting opend up on a bunch of guys walking into his territory or something like that? A few were killed from it. The hunter became the hunted hehehe!!

Hmmm...

If I recall that story correctly it went something along the lines that...
It was an New Friend to the United States (Asian origin) who was hunting with an assualt rifle and no licence (not 100% on the rifle). But he walked into an established deer camp's area and was told to get out and things went down hill quickly from there. At least, that's what I seem to recall...

I have been in this situation several times. Sitting in a stand and some moron comes sauntering through trespassing and disrupting my hunt. Generally, these persons tended to be very apologetic and left. But every once in a while there's an a$$hole who refuses to leave.

To get back to the Duck hunting, I was hunting Muskrat one day in one of my blinds (used to keep a couple) and these two guys walk over from the mouth of the Muskrat River. Well I can see them coming but obviously they didn't see me. They sneak over and start peppering my decoys with shot which was passing uncomfortably close to me. So I let fly with a round into the air. They got the point as they went back to the mouth loaded up their gear and left the lake w/o staying for the night shoot. (I watched them trailer their boat at the Cobden dock. Since then I moved off the Lake and back into the swamps. More work to hunt but less idiots and it's safer.

As far as Opening Day goes, I believe north of the Madawaska River opens on the 17th and south the following Saturday.

Please play nicely out there guys. For the most part, the hunters in these parts are good guys who fish the rest of the year as well. But there is always the couple of knobs who are the exceptions. I used to like the tournament on Muskrat because the boats kept the ducks moving around the lake all day.
The only time I didn't was when someone would set themselves 20 feet off the edge of my decoys. But they moved on when a couple of mallards provided a shooting opportunity. There was a strange smell coming from their boat and brown stains on the seats of their pants.

I know the comments about flak jackets and rifles in the boat were made in jest but there are individuals out there who don't realize this or who are too stupid to know any better...


Good luck to Fishermen and Hunters!!!
I'll be banging away on the 17th!!!


DG.

[nighttroller]

Like RRC said, pay attention to where the blinds are and give them a very wide berth. The hunters are not just in Lochaber but the whole Quebec shoreline around Rockland. I fish it every year at this time and the shot gun blasts can be unnerving but just stay clear of the hunters. There is lots of room for everybody!