Welcome to the Toolies!
When I first started this site I would talk about a certain relative who tends to ignore some of the rules and regulations of hunting. I had originally hid him behind a made up name, but once he realized who he was he agreed to be named in public. That relative is my daughter’s son, Mathias. Luckily he’s a good sport because the stories I get out of him are are so great and I would have hated to have removed them.
The reason I mention my son-in-law now is because he is the inspiration for today’s little article. You see, Mathias is one of those guys who thinks rules exist for everyone but him. Heck, I’m conviced that he believes it is his right to fill the limit for everyone hunter he knows that isn’t hunting on a given day because I’ve seen him leave the field with 30-40 birds…happy as a clam because he’s gotten away with it!
So, in honor of my son-in-law I want to talk a little bit about duck hunting etiquette and rules in the field. I know that the rules can be a bit of a pain at times, but they are in place for a reason: to make sure the hunting area and the ducks are still around for next year. And in regards to the etiquette, if everyone followed it then the entire hunting experience would be better for all.
First off, if someone is already hunting an area or a pond, move along and find another spot. They were there first so give them a little respect and a little room to hunt. There’s nothing I hate more than some guy moving in on my area because he’s scared off all the birds in his.
Going along with that, stop your calling when ducks are in another hunter’s spread. If he’s already working them then let him have them…there are enough ducks in the world for everyone, I promise.
Skybusting - don’t do it! Skybusting is a waste of time, it can injure or kill ducks that are never found, more than likely you’ll just scare off any ducks in the area before they get down low enough to actually hit. This actually reminds me of a story. We were out hunting with my my son-in-law and his friends. About halfway through the day - a day where Mathias did much skybusting - one of his buddies remarked to him, “Hey, your father-in-law doesn’t shoot much, does he?” To which Mathias wisely replied, “He only shoots at what he can hit.” A truer statement was never made. Only shoot at what you can realistically hit with your gun and leave the praying for church.
Finally, pick up your damn shells! This is a rule and a law for any hunting area and should always be followed. Of course, Mathias never does it because he thinks “picking up shells is for suckers.” He’s been fined on a number of occassions for his thinking. Don’t forget, you’re on someone else’s farm land and leaving your shells behind can harm his livelihood. If nothing else, it might just piss him off enough to post his land as “no hunting,” and that messes everyone up! Besides, if you pick up your shells, you can always reload them for about half the cost of new shells. I’m not cheap but my reloader does let me shoot for half as much
Just remember to follow the old addage of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Respect the other hunters, respect the land you’re on and respect the ducks you’re hunting. It’s the only way to guarantee they’ll be there for years to come.
Until next time, happy hunting!
- Steven D., the Hunting Sensei
http://www.huntingsensei.com
