The Politics of Duck hunting

Erik Mion

Member
As the season approaches ive been trying to get a registered spot for hunting. The township i live in claims they own all the bay bottom and you have to be given a spot to hunt on. My dad and i have been on a waiting list for three years, and our position hasn't moved. And it dosen't look like were going to get a spot this year either. Most of the blinds are un used all season and just sit in disrepair, but if you head out without being given a registered spot you are just hassled by bay constables even if your following all the state regulations. It's not what you know its who you know...
 
Im very lucky I live and hunt in western LI, I don't want to be told I cannot hunt somewhere because someone has a blind. The east end has turned into a sportsmans paradise for the select few, it sucks that others are locked out for w whole season because someone only uses the blind spot only a few times per season.
 
Boy, that sucks. Does the Town really have a claim to all the waterbottoms that has been upheld in court or given to it by the legislature???

Here in Alabama, all tidal waterbottoms, with a couple of very small exceptions, are owned and managed by the State Lands Division (which I work for). Outside of normal safety zones, we are free to set up anywhere we want.
We cannot, however, build permanent blinds. But no one cares, we almost all hunt out of boat blinds.
Cane & natural materials stuck in the bottom are not considered permanent, most of us build blinds for our boats out of Phragmites, which is native here. There is understood gentlemans agreement that on opening day you dont hunt a blind that someone else stuck. But after opening days, its first come, first serve.
 
Yea there is plently of space in the great south bay, but im not sure how my boat would be able to handle the great south and its kind of a pain to get up there for me
 
I'm not sure about the legislature actually, i just think its stupid I live 100yards from the bay but have to travel 30 or 40 minutes away to be able to hunt
 
I am so glad I live where I do--relatively few duck hunters, more water than land, and a long tradition of legal access to navigable streams, ponds, and tidewater without a hint of "private duck marsh" anywhere.
 
We're lucky here in NJ. ALL tidal water is owned by the state up to the normal high tide mark. The land under it and any exposed by low tide are state controlled. So as long as you don't have to cross any private property and are more than 450' from a building, you can hunt wherever you want.
 
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Its worth looking into, its got to be written on law somewhere. At least ask the local CO if the Town really has jurisdiction.
 
I also live in Eastern L.I. & have hunted there all my live. I have see the Town of Southampton Hunting rules TOTALLY GO DOWNHILL. Most of the new breed of Duck hunters do not have a clue as to what they are doing and do not know what "Duck Hunting Etiqeutte" is!!!!!!!!!. I spent my Duck Hunting Seasons in Mexico, where you are not affected by politicians who cower to the rich. People that move in from the Cities and because they build by the Town waters think they own the water and all the Waterfoul that they see. These days I spend my Duck Hunting Seasons in Mexico where one can shoot all the Ducks you would like with in reason. Fact is if you factor ALL the Ducks taken in Mexico by hunters in 1 season, do not come close to Ducks harvested by American Hunters in 1 day of Duck Hunting in all 50 of our American States.
 
I spent my Duck Hunting Seasons in Mexico, where you are not affected by politicians who cower to the rich.


Yeah, Mexican politicians are well known for their high ideal and unquestionable ethics. Nothing against you going to Mexico to hunt it just struck me funny. In Mexico the American hunter is the 'rich' who is being catered to. People aren't crossing into the USA because they need a break from all the freedom and prosperity there.



Tim
 
According to this website, http://nyswaterfronts.com/waterfront_public_trust.asp , some towns on LI own the land, but as I'm understanding it they don't control the water.
 
We're lucky here in NJ. ALL tidal water is owned by the state up to the normal high tide mark. The land under it and any exposed by low tide are state controlled. So as long as you don't have to cross any private property and are more than 450' from a building, you can hunt wherever you want.


In Maine, we can cross private property to get to a "great pond" (anything over 10 acres), even if it's posted, so long as we are fishing or fowling. The law is generally interpreted to allow crossing "unimproved" land. You can't walk down someone's driveway and across their yard, but crossing through a woodlot is fine.
 
We're lucky here in NJ. ALL tidal water is owned by the state up to the normal high tide mark. The land under it and any exposed by low tide are state controlled. So as long as you don't have to cross any private property and are more than 450' from a building, you can hunt wherever you want.


Not completely true Kevin. For instance Mannington Meadow here in Salem County, NJ is all tidal and most is private property. Back many years ago a storm overwhelmed a dike system and flooded private farmland. This event changed the course of the Salem River and now Mannington Meadow is tidal (Possibly not completely accurate, just how it was described to me many years ago). They say you can hunt it as long as none of your gear touches bottom. No person, boat, boat anchors or decoy anchors. Besides, even if you hunted it by floating thru, you probably get an ear full from the local land owners/lease holders. There are a few small areas of this meadow that are state owned, but they usually don't hold any birds.
 
Fact is if you factor ALL the Ducks taken in Mexico by hunters in 1 season, do not come close to Ducks harvested by American Hunters in 1 day of Duck Hunting in all 50 of our American States.


OH REALLY?...where would one find the "proof" that vets that statement? Because I call BS on that...

Dani
 
Check the NJDEP website under riparian rights laws. It states, and I confimed it with NJF&W and NJ State Police Marine Division, that the state of NJ owns all riparian rights and controlls all water to the mean (normal) high tide mark and the land under it, with a very limited exceptions. They can sell or give a grants on the rights, normally for the purpose of building a bulkhead, dock, marina or aong those lines. And it also states that these laws came into effect when NJ became a state and there in noone "grand-fathered in".

As race director for a Stock Outboard boat race, I had to get race use permits issued through the State Marine Police. I asked that if the race were held on a private land-locked lake such as an old sand wash would I still need a permit. I was told that the state controls ALL water, that's why the sand companies have to register their boats to use on sand washes. According to them all tidal, non-tidal and even underground is state controlled. If you can get to water without crossing private property, you have the right to be on that water.

A couple years ago, I had a run in with someone that thought they owned halfway across the Maurice River. After talking with a few CO's at Tuckerton about the incident, they had a little talk with this person. The state is starting to push the hunter harassment laws. I looked at those too, if someone tries to interfere with your hunt they can be arrested, fined and have to pay the hunter for any expenses paid..ie liscence, fuel, lodging, guide fees and so on. How much an individual want to push the issue is up to them, but they do have the right to push it if they choose.
 
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I also live in Eastern L.I. & have hunted there all my live. I have see the Town of Southampton Hunting rules TOTALLY GO DOWNHILL. Most of the new breed of Duck hunters do not have a clue as to what they are doing and do not know what "Duck Hunting Etiqeutte" is!!!!!!!!!. I spent my Duck Hunting Seasons in Mexico, where you are not affected by politicians who cower to the rich. People that move in from the Cities and because they build by the Town waters think they own the water and all the Waterfoul that they see. These days I spend my Duck Hunting Seasons in Mexico where one can shoot all the Ducks you would like with in reason. Fact is if you factor ALL the Ducks taken in Mexico by hunters in 1 season, do not come close to Ducks harvested by American Hunters in 1 day of Duck Hunting in all 50 of our American States.

Mexico is for yuppie hunters, and the rich. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
 
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Fact is if you factor ALL the Ducks taken in Mexico by hunters in 1 season, do not come close to Ducks harvested by American Hunters in 1 day of Duck Hunting in all 50 of our American States.


OH REALLY?...where would one find the "proof" that vets that statement? Because I call BS on that...

Dani
+1

Info probably came from the same person that told him that all Mexican politicians are honest, public servants.
 
First: For all those who do not live on L.I., SHUT UP!...because you're making me jealous (kidding).
Seriously though, this is a very important subject to me as well, as I am very disappointed to see the local governments continue to enact control, restrictions, regulations, etc., that adversely affect waterfowlers.
For the record, in NY, local towns can (and do) claim jurisdiction, control, and law over the waters within the towns. Many towns even have their own marine law enforcement, and there's no "right to hunt" clause in our Constitution that prevents local governments from restricting it.....unfortunately. For example, the Town of Huntington has enacted a complete ban on the discharge of a firearm. So, figure out a way to waterfowl hunt without discharging your shotgun, and you're good to go.
I'd have to say that researching all the regulations, restrictions, laws, etc. for WHERE I'm allowed to hunt on L.I., was perhaps the most challenging aspect of this sport.......and it shouldn't be. Luckily, most towns post their code online, and Google Maps/Earth is an awesome tool for research/planning.
I'm a relative newcomer in this sport, but I hope to be able to continue hunting for the remainder of my days............as long as we continue to be "allowed".
 
For example, the Town of Huntington has enacted a complete ban on the discharge of a firearm. So, figure out a way to waterfowl hunt without discharging your shotgun, and you're good to go.


Saw something in another thread about hunting waterfowl with a crossbow. Just saying...............
 
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