So just how does a duck hunter develop such a sense of entitlement that they think it's fine to park their truck and trailer on a one-lane-wide public ramp, blocking everyone else, while they leave for hours? Does the thought of vandalism not enter their mind nor deter them, in the absence of decency? Reprobate!


Here in North Alabama this is starting to happen a lot. Seen it two weekends in a row. Are we dealing with some local inbreds or is this common in other states too?


Eric

I'm shocked no one cut the trailer loose and rolled it into the lake...yet. Being a jerk rarely pays off in the long run because there's always a bigger one out there somewhere.

I don't recall seeing that level of selfishness or idiocy. Plenty of jerks taking up multiple parking spots, and littering is also common. I wouldn't think the rig would last long if it totally blocks access. The appropriate action is to park a big trailer in front of them so they're trapped when they come back. Let them sleep at "their" ramp.

Eric,
This is not the first time you have experienced idiots and beyond at your ramps. At first I wrote it off as no different than the rest of us. But the accumulation of experiences you have had is starting to make we wonder about the character of the boys in Alabama.

Besides you and yours of course!!

Larry

Unfortunately I used to see it around here some especially on narrow public paved backroads near the rivers which when flooded made for some easy launching and would cut way down on boat travel time to some of the best spots.

There is a guy that does it here at one spot. I don't use that access but i pass it. I used to be associated with guy that had no tolerance for such actions. One time he saw a boat he didn't like hunting a private spot of his. He stopped and pulled the plug while they were ashore.

Sounds like they were trespassing since it was his private spot. Here in Alabama trespassing fees are steeper than a pulled boat plug, assuming he didn't sink their boat.

Eric

Larry

I can't specifically remember the things I've mentioned in the past, but yes, there are some very rude and inconsiderate hunters on local public waters. Not sure how typical the behavior is in other areas, but I figure it exists to some extent everywhere. But thankfully we have good citizens too.

Eric

I have seen a truck and trailer that were blocking the ramp get hooked onto and towed out of the way. I have not witnessed it in person but I have heard of hitch pins getting pulled and tossed into the weeds.

How the hell could someone have a fun duck hunt thinking they were blocking the ramp or others? Beyond feeling bad for limiting others ability to enjoy the ramp, I'd be afraid of what I'd come back to. Unbelievable.

Eric,
Coincidental timing? Just today this was parked at the ramp when I got back from hunting. Yes, there is room for others to launch but still, why?





Seems entitlement was the theme of the day.

Shortly after sunup, a trapper came into the immediate area in which I was set up hunting. No way he could miss seeing the decoys. Not to be deterred, he spent the next 45 minutes making his sets. (making NEW sets, NOT checking previous ones)

Then a canoe paddler appeared, looked over my direction with binoculars, then proceeded to paddle within shotgun range, as he traveled to the far end of the back bay I was in. This is a dead end bay so it was only a matter of time before he retraced his course past me a second time.

I generally don't see this much activity on a weekday.

---

Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA. ,,,,,, "As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats." Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

 I can not say that I have had that experience ,but I have had plenty of situations when a guy pulls in to launch and proceeds right to the ramp then takes 20 minutes to a half hour to get ready. I always pull off to the side get everything ready before I proceed to launch.

There was a posting on a Minnesota site not long ago about a guy getting all 6 tires on his dually slashed and both trailer tires as well. This guy wasn't even parked near the ramp. It takes all kinds. Maybe if this fella had to replace some tires......I didn't say that!

Take care,

Ed L.
East Moline,
Illinois
_________________________________________
If I'd had asked what they wanted they would have said faster horses" - Henry Ford

Dave

He just cut the throughput by a third. That would be problematic on busy weekend mornings. Hopefully your weekday hunts will resume to less interruption.

Eric

Kind of wondering if the person was in such a hurry to get to a good hunting spot that her or she absentmindedly forgot to park the truck and trailer, and just headed out. I could especally see this happening if they were late. Keep in mind that many people have accidentally left children in the back of their car when rushing to work or someplace

Not sure there are words to describe that level of rudeness and lack of civility.
Did you call the cops or game warden?

---

Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998

"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "

 
HMMMmmmmmm

Back in the day, very bad and damaging things "could happen" to the vehicle & trailer, if not stolen outright.


Even though I would always park correctly to consider others. Once ya leave the ramp ya never knew. Being a considerate waterfowler includes a leap of faith.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Steve, I kind of doubt it. Seems as though someone started doing it and now it has become a common practice. There is another ramp next to it but during low water, like we have been having, there are large boulders as the end of the ramp and a steep drop-off. You risk damaging your rig if you use it. I think some rationalize their choice of parking by saying "they can still use the concrete ramp" when that really isn't the case.

Eric

Carl

It is at a well-known TVA public improved ramp, but I don't think it is a police matter because I don't think the guy is breaking any laws. There is a homeless guy living next to the ramp and has been for two years. If he can get away with that, I doubt the authorities will take action against someone leaving their vehicle parked where people frequently launch.

Like I mentioned above there is a concrete ramp that isn't/can't be used under low water (exposed boulders and steep drop off) or flood conditions (ramp 90 degrees to strong current). Next to it is a gravel ramp that enters the water at an easy angle and is usable in all water conditions. I think some rationalize their choice by saying "Well, the real ramp is right there so folks can use it while I park here because I'm not blocking the "official" concrete ramp." Well the problem with that school of thought is the concrete ramp isn't useable and when some jerk isn't on the gravel ramp everyone uses it. Anyone who has been down there knows this, and I guarantee you the losers blocking the gravel ramp know it but don't care.

Oh, I just learned the guy blocking the ramp Saturday afternoon is the same guy that left a BUNCH of trash where we actually hunt. My partners cleaned it up and wasn't a small job.

Eric

 

It sounds as if some sort of intervention is needed by the local hunters. Its bad enough that he blocks the ramp but trashing blind sites and other stuff is bad for the whole community of users.

If the hunter doesn't reform he is ways then I suspect that the other hunters will take action if he keeps doing stupid things.

Here in the UP of Michigan there is a phenomena titled "Finnish Lightning" that is correlated with this type of behavior.

 


That made me chuckle....

Where there's smoke there's fire. Have seen the aftermath more than once in several waterfowling places, and states.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

 
Ya gotta also wonder, is such rudeness at the ramp bait?

Cuz the tab for the toys can't be paid.

There's a whole lotta Strange goin' on these days.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Eric

Something I have been looking forward to this year is the fact that the State Troopers are patrolling the lake in a big Jon boat with a cabin on it (they will stay warm all winter) and dual 150s on the back. They were all over the place earlier this fall and I hope they stay out through hunting season. I got checked by them for boat safety equipment and licenses (fishing and boating) 2 times while fishing. There are not enough game wardens in our area to control the idiots so maybe the Troopers being out there will help. If I see them in the next few weeks, I'm going to ask if they plan on patrolling all season and thank them if they say yes.

So, different but the same;

There is a new thing in the surfing world where Costco is selling "surfboards" for $100. They are flat and have a fin, but they are far from a refined surfboard. So as people grab their board, a bag of tube socks and a gallon of ketchup, they didn't stop and think that there may actually be rules to this game. They arrive in packs and all paddle out and think, like golf, that the 4, 6, 10 of them are now "here" and ignorantly, and often arrogantly think that they are just going to go into their own rotation of taking waves. They think it's fun to "join you" on your wave. They like to crash and bump into each other (my board is epoxy and $1100.) The level of straight up stupidity and disrespect is so bad, that it's hard to believe that it's not intentional. As for your truck buddies there.........maybe too much Duck Dynasty? If it's intentional, then the hell with the Karma Police, get the tow strap......

cordless drill and some deck screws, edge of tire near sidewall, can't be plugged....

And if someone sees you or a camera is in use, you would be the one on the short end of the stick.

---

Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA. ,,,,,, "As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats." Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

Ramp behavior has really never been an issue in my "neck of the woods". And our ramps are HEAVILY used.

Now for a little history on the introduction of a world class fishery. Back in the 60's is when the Pacific coho salmon fishery exploded with the introduction of plants in northwest Michigan's Platte Bay. It was known as coho fever! There was an abundance of the invasive Atlantic alewife which migrated up the Welland Canal. With not enough natural predators, (ie: lake trout) they died by the TONS on our Lake Michigan pristine beaches. That brought the introduction of Pacific coho salmon. Their successful introduction in the 60's changed the fishing landscape for the next 50+ years. Just imagine the excitement of a bass fisherman trolling in a 12 foot boat catching a 20# fish! Some here will say 20# coho? There was so much forage base available they grew to astonishing weights.

Picture a small boat ramp near the mouth of the Platte River with hundreds of car trailers parked along the roadway. As a youngster I fished with my dad with the hundreds of boats longline trolling for a chance to hook into a fish this big. Talk about trolling chaos! Word spread very quickly. Unfortunately many were unfamiliar with the power of the Great Lakes! And there was no advanced warning systems in those days. After close to month of calm seas and great fishing, a fast building wind and storm on Saturday September of '67 caught many by surprise, 7 fisherman drowned when their small boats capsized. My dad was out fishing with friends that day. They raced back 2-3 miles to Empire to our village's single boat ramp from Platte Bay and wisely ran their 18' boat up on shore. My dad watched 2 older fisherman afraid to run their boat up on shore capsize when they turned their boat sideways in the waves, sadly drowning before they could be rescued. It taught many novices to respect the power of the Great Lakes.

Now the frenzy is for 30# Chinook salmon. Early morning launching can be crazy. My daughter, (a 1st mate on a charter boat out of Glen Arbor for 5 summer years while in HS and college), and I always tried to teach ramp etiquette. Nothing more frustrating than a boat blocking the ramp while they take way too long to get ready to launch. And if they had trouble backing up a trailer, my very impatient daughter would volunteer to back up their boat trailer down the elevated single ramp. Part of her job every summer was to back up a 25' trailer w. boat while the captain was aboard the boat.

We often ask to help our fellow hunters or fisherman launching and loading. Anything to speed up our ramp time either coming or going. I understand certain regions of the country may not be as friendly. Too many selfish, inconsiderate or down right A..holes.
Luckily in northern Michigan or in da U.P. this would not go over well with the locals. If the sign says "No Parking in launching area" you will get a ticket or worse actions by the other parties offended, as Rick noted.

These ramp stories just brought back memories. I won't get into the territorial blind issues many face. I guess dealing with inconsiderate people is just a part of life these days. Being retired, I try and avoid the "weekend warriors". I let the game settle down after the weekend and get out later during the week. I remember when I was in my working 30's jealous the the old guys hunting for a week or more on the U.P,'s Munuscong Bay. Now Ligman and I are those old guys.

Steve

People just lack common politeness. I'm not a chatty cathy by any means, but when I get to a ramp and there are boats there launching for duck hunting I say hi and good morning (and have in the past offered help to people if there was an obvious easy need). The frosty response that just saying "hi" generates is pretty disappointing. Sure I've had plenty of good interactions, but the number of guys that pretend you aren't there is pretty bad. What do they think, we aren't both leaving to try to do the exact same thing?

I'd do something about it. Maybe call the warden, the sheriff, or even a tow truck and get it out of there. If I knew his routine, maybe beat him there and block it first to make a point. Maybe buy a junker car and tow it down there and put it in front of his. Beat him in to the spot he hunts and tell him you'll be there every day until he quits blocking the ramp. Or find another way in a fish very near where he hunts and don't be quiet. Lots of things to do that are legal. He does it because he's an azz and nobody makes him stop. Tell him he will get respect when he gives it.

EXACTLY, and well written.


When the hell did waterfowling become such a competitive sport?

Is it the times we live in, plus BS that is fed on shows, and "social media"?

When there were much greater numbers of waterfowl hunters than in these times. I recall hunters being more civil to each other. Sure there were rude folks, but it sure seemed not as many.


I dunno... Could be I'm just a Geezer outdoorsman rooted in the past, and glad of it. Trying my best to endure the present.

Example, when shopping and I walk in front of another person - "Excuse me." Older folks respond, and say the same thing, other folks it's like WTF. The "other folks" far out number the more civil folks, and that is a shame.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

YUP!!!! Really gotta think about doing things these days because of cameras everywhere.

After thinking about it, I guess the best thing to do might be to leave the guy a note. A nice note, asking him kindly not to block the ramp for his fellow hunters. The high road is then taken. If he persists, proceed to the low road. I'm still inclined to block him in to make the point.

I,ll have to agree that the note under wiper is a good first approach, maybe with a phone # so matter can be discussed, explaining why you need use of that particular area to launch. There's a lot of people using our waterways & accesses that don,t have a clue until someone wises them up. After explaing circumstance's if he just wants to be an idiot time to reboot. The trashing the area you 2 are hunting might be discussed also during that phone call.

These types of activities are nothing new.

A small percentage of the population will do unethical things to their advantage. Odds are it?s intentional. Maybe a nice note on the windshield would enlighten the person but for the most part I think it?s just a person pushing the envelope because no one has pushed back.

As mentioned? retaliation may result in the retaliator getting in trouble. For all you know he could have a trail camera in position or something.
____________________________________________


For bluebills the Honorable President will keep me company.

For Mergansers, he will go and light a fire.

Some ?hunters? give other hunters a bad name. It never amazes me what some people think is acceptable. Today I noticed a pickup truck go by my house about 5 times in 10 minutes so when I heard it stop just down the road I decided to step out on the porch to see what was going on. I watch him get out of his truck and grab his bow and start walking out on to my property. He started to stalk a herd of elk that were in my hay field about 100 yards from my house. He hadn?t bothered to stop at the house despite driving by and turning around in my driveway. Landowner permission is required in my state to enter private property. I can?t comprehend what he was thinking. If he had successfully killed an elk he would have to either drag or carry the animal thru a 5 foot deep drainage ditch that is full of water or drive thru my front yard. I told him he was trespassing but just can?t believe someone would so blatantly trespass and be so clueless.

Brad

Do you think he got the message, or are you concerned he will be back? Here in Alabama you must have written permission to hunt private land or be accompanied by the landowner. Landowners still have to put of No Trespassing signs because a segment of the population ignores the law.

Several years ago while working at the hunting property I had two four-wheelers, each with two riders, come up on me while I was installing a control structure. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were just out riding around. I told them they were on private property and I was an agent of the landowner and could have them arrested for trespassing. They told me they were "lost." A bullshit story so I told them to follow me and I would escort them off the property. I got in my truck and they followed me for about two minutes and then took off. Next time I'm calling the authorities on the spot.

You mentioned blatant, absolutely, the behavior is just that. Clueless? Nope, they know exactly what they are doing but think the rules do not apply to them or figure nobody will catch them. I'll admit I'm fed up with their ilk and next opportunity the law will be called and I'll push hard for justice.

Eric

I could see anti hunters blocking a ramp.

I keep a 4 way lug wrench in my truck....it'd come in handy for your situation. ;)

Its our rifle deer season in my area now . Beautiful weather past few days approaching 60 degrees. Decided to take a trk. ride yesterday to an area of river shallow and narrow enough that really a kayak or canoe is or was best means of transportation. Was thinking about taking a canoe trip down today to see if any concentrations of ducks could be found prior to season coming back in in a little over a week. Canoeists & kayakers will normally park rigs on shoulder here allowing access to edge of bank for loading /off loading their rigs right at waters edge as its barely accessible behind a guardrail. Well I get there about 2 pm and guess what. A mudmotor rig had backed down into access spot leaving trailer hanging in water hooked to pickup. Blocking put in /take out area access. I,ve used this spot occasionally for 30 years and first time i,ve ever encountered this. Maybe its the new norm with current generation.

Eric,I did stop him and let him know he did not have permission. The county passed a no rifle shooting ordinance for the valley floor because of road hunters shooting at deer and elk without regard to farms, houses and people. If he had kept going or had given me grief then I would have called the sheriff. I?m confident he knew he was trespassing but don?t think a sign would have stopped him. The clueless was how he expected to retrieve an animal if he got one. His choices were limited to wade the ditch or drive up my driveway past my house and barn. Guess I should have let him shoot one and then prohibited him from retrieving it without going thru the ditch.

No plan, Brad, just the desire to "tak.e a shot" and maybe hit the animal. Stupidity is an acquired skill made more accepted by our social media dominated "interactive skills"

When I lived in the eastern UP I used to take a handful of days of vacation and trap my way around Neebish Island, sleeping along the shore in a backpacking tent. The money I made paid for my hunting for the fall. I ran traps in the morning and then skinned fur for the remainder of the day, packing hides skin out in a couple of coolers on ice. There was a clan of four brothers who lived in the area, three of them serial poachers, drug dealers and general pond scum. I always kept a loaded MOSSBERG .22 laying in the open on the front seat of the canoe when I ran into t"heir" sets (Most of their traps were stolen from other guy's lines.) along the mainland streams. We only had one direct confrontation and the conversation quickly got pretty "intense" right up to the point where they got close enough to be able to see the gun. I marked my sets on the bank opposite, with a corresponding U or D and the number of yards up or downstream where they were located. Randy, the oldest eventually became a very good taxidermist after he found Jesus. Rod and his younger brother eventually ended-up in prison at Kinross after repeated trips to jail for breaking and entering and poaching cases... every deer gun season he would be out cruising the roads at first light and again in the evening, glassing for a shot. The eastern UP is mostly flat hay fields until you get west a couple of dozen miles from the river; flat clay dominate soils that grow hay that is shipped as far as Kentucky to the thoroughbred farms. He shot a .223, a worthless deer round. i often wondered how many deer died versus the number he recovered.

We've all dealt with inconsiderate people in our hunting and fishing activities at some point. They are nothing new, unfortunately. But in the context of what's going on in some parts of the country in terms of criminal activity and the laws that deal with it, I think, contribute to the problems we see and deal with on things like this. I doubt the people involved with the situations described here are first timers. I am sure that many of them don't see any negative consequences of what they are doing, or have any fear of getting caught and facing any retribution. That varies by the area that you live in, but everyone is seeing criminals not even being confronted when caught in the act, if not locally, then on tv or news sources. When lawlessness is tolerated, expect to see more of it.

I think the tide has turned, but there has been a lot of damage done and it won't be undone overnight.

Just my 2 cents but since social media is the equivalent of the public stocks posting a picture of the offending party may get the needed attention. I am sure there are social media sites for posting photos of offenders.

The pendulum will swing back to law and order. The pendulum swings to far left and right and the pendulum swings back in response. Expect more law and order candidates to get elected.

Rick

My 2 cents

He could not give a rats A$$ about retrieving the Elk.

Killing it no matter what, was his goal. A Poacher, and a Slob Poacher at that. What the media in such situations, when they are apprehended, deems "hunters".

Road hunting/shooting = No Scruples, not clueless. The new kinda "clever".

As for No Trespassing signs. The same folks use them as a invite, cuz it is so damn hard to prosecute in many places. In many places ya better have deep pockets, to have yer land surveyed again. That will cost ya more $$$ than the fine levied, if they loose. My neighbor went through that on his property.


PA sets up taxidermy robo deer, and the road hunters come to it like bees to honey. Then the hammer falls, in the first state to ever issue hunting licenses in the USA.

You pass laws, ya better sure as hell be able to enforce them, or else just a waste of time.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Here is the other side of the coin. It was unbelievably refreshing that there are young folks that grew up right. I showed up at the ramp last Thursday for a second half of deer firearm season. There was one other truck there. The young guy....I have to laugh. The guy was probably late twenties, early thirties. Anyway, he comes around his truck and introduces himself. We talked for awhie about being the only ones on the river while we load oour boats. Then told one another what area we were hunting in so not to screw up anyone's hunt. Then he says we should exchange numbers in case of needing help. Then we said good luck and parted ways. Now about 10:00am I hear a shot. About 20 minutes later I get a text that he has a doe down and wanted to know if I wanted him to see if he could push something my way. I told him it was kind of him to offer but not necessary, Then I told him congrats on the deer and asked if he needed help dragging the deer to his boat. He said it was already done and as soon as he loaded up his deer stand, he'd take a walk my way. Well, I figured he'd walk about a bit and I'd hear his boat. About an hour later I get a text "deer headed your way" and he tells me where he's at. Damn, the kid has walked almost a mile from where he was hunting. Of course, I never see the deer but texted him there was a ditch coming up where he won't get across and I'd come get him. So I find him on shore on the island we were hunting, and I take him back to his boat. I didn't get a deer, but I gained a new friend and there are young folks out there that were taught how to be a good hunter and a good person.

Take care,

Ed L.
East Moline,
Illinois
_________________________________________
If I'd had asked what they wanted they would have said faster horses" - Henry Ford

That is a great story, and the kind that make you take a breath and hope.

Good stuff.

Eric,

You know it happens here...the difference is, people usually address it themselves. Trailers get unhooked and rolled into the water, trucks get pulled out of the way, etc. So I don't think it happens quite as much as it used to.

We usually get more of the people who want to get halfway down the ramp and then load gear, put on waders, etc., while everyone else in line has already done that, because they know the routine. Or, some guy doesn't know how to back his boat and angles it across, taking up two spaces or more on a three-wide launch ramp.

He knows, but like you said, he's hiding behind the, "well, I'm not actually using the ramp...so..." b.s. excuse, and nobody has pulled his valve cores or dragged his truck out of the way. He thinks it will keep people from "His" spot, which is laughable on public ground, but it happens a lot.

And I will tell you from my personal experience, the locals are usually worse than the out of state hunters.

Call a tow truck. Public right away being blocked and anyone can call the towing company.

Mark

Maybe I am just lucky, or maybe I just live in a big state with sparse population and good water access, but while I've seen plenty of ineptness that causes delay at crowded boat launches, I have not seen this kind of rude behavior.

I do see a lot of pure stupidity. Like the 4 guys plus dog and decoys IN A 17' CANOE breaking ice to get to an island on a local lake not long ago.

"At first blush I am tempted to conclude that a satisfactory hobby must be in large degree useless, inefficient, laborious, or irrelevant."
— Aldo Leopold

Anyone calling a tow truck better be willing to pay the bill.

Unless of course you are authorized by the governing entity, to enforce the regulations for that specific public area and you are doing so within the scope of your job.

---

Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA. ,,,,,, "As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats." Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

I can't imagine doing that in the places we used to hunt on the Columbia river. It would be instant Karma.

Pretty thoughtless to do something like that unless your vehicle flat out dies right there at the ramp and there is nobody to help you get unstuck.





Don't just do something, Stand there!

My wording was incorrect. CAll the cops to get it towed. They will and they will bill the guy blocking the ramp