With the 2014 season coming up....

[FarouT18]

With the season about to open can we all try to remember to keep our wetlands clean of trash and not destroy the waterfowl grounds?
It seems that every year I pick up more and more trash on my way out and back from duck hunting. If you pack it in, pack it out.
Also, when traveling to your particular blind via whatever mode of travel you take, try to minimize the footprint you are leaving in the marsh. It always sucks to see grassy fields with 20 different paths stomped down in them all leading to the same spot or cattails around ponds stomped and dead.
All this land is more than just yours, mine, every bodies hunting grounds, this is where waterfowl come to breed. If we fail and destroy it up here, we are affecting more than just some land that the ducks and geese pass over for a short period of time in the winter.

Well ill that's my two cents.

 

[Duckhunter01]

Thanks for brining this up. We are stewards when it comes to preserving and protecting this fabulous resource.

I would also like to add a little about the harvesting of the birds.
Everyone here that knows me, will attest to my passion and sometimes obsession with waterfowling.. That being said, we are extremely lucky and fortunate to have such a generous limit here in Alaska. I ask that before you pull that trigger this year, you take a few things into consideration to help decrease the wounded waterfowl ratio.
Thousands of birds die to our inability to correctly account for many aspects of the hunt. Or simply, our shooting and gear.. many of us have shot birds only to hear the pellets bounce off or slap those wing feathers and watch in dismay as they continue flight. It was never obvious that they were wounded or crippled. Here are a few things to consider that will not only help you harvest more birds, but hopefully help increase the cripple ratio.
Keep in mind the limit is is the limit, accounting for crippled and unrecovered/lost birds as well. It's the ethical hunter in you that makes this call or not.
1. Distance of bird(sky busting)
2. Your shooting experience in regards to leading the bird. Are you comfortable with that shot or is that a Hail Mary just for the hell of it?
3. Speed of the bird
4. Identifying species prior to shooting. (Cans.. Only 1) if your not sure, don't shoot after harvesting the first.
5. If you cripple a bird, give it 100% of your best effort to recover that bird. If not found, the ethical hunter will count that against his limit. Most don't.
6. Set up so the birds responding are in your face, working and give you the best shot placement wether you are a left or right handed shooter. They deserve to die quickly and as fast as possible.
7. If he hits the water and is still swimming. Immediate dispatch the bird again. If it is retrieved by your 4 legged buddy. Upon returning it should be dispatched immediately.
8. Proper youth introduction to the sport. The kids are watching you and will do what you do. If your skybusting... It must be appropriate and they will follow. Lead and teach by example.

just a few tips and ideas to spread around prior to another great season of waterfowling here in Alaska.

Hope to to see you on the marsh.

H

 

[kwackkillncrew]

If we're hunting over grassy area and a bird gets knocked down if it flicks a feather we out another into to make sure


Sent while partying

Alaska swamp man pro staff

 

[AK Ray]

If we're hunting over grassy area and a bird gets knocked down if it flicks a feather we out another into to make sure

Morning drinking?

 

[kwackkillncrew]

Terrible auto correct. Hardly ever proof read. Basically we double tap them when needed.


Sent while partying

Alaska swamp man pro staff

 

[FarouT18]

DuckHunter01, I couldn't agree more!

One thing that happened to me last year was people started hunting a blind that I set up. Which isn't a big deal, but they left all sorts of trash. Beer cans! C'mon people. You can't legally drink and use firearms and more important than the legality of it it's dangerous.
I'm assuming it was those same people who shot up most of my decoys I left in place and stole the remaining deeks that weren't shot up.
I always strive to be a respectable hunter toward the land, game, and other hunters. With the way I have seen people's respect for the sport, land, and game go down hill in the last few years I think it is all of our responsibilities to step up our game. If you see somebody doing something they shouldn't, call them out.

 

[bkbaker]

Shooting decoys one thing

Stealing decoys is five levels below the BS factor of trash.

That's man law