TO shoot or NOT to shoot that is the qaundry....
- Thread starter Ed L.
- Start date
Kevin Weir
Well-known member
Aw Ed,
Why'd ya have to go and ask that. Now I gotta figure it out. Dunno, it's great being able to look out and see them there. Gives inspiration to get out hunting. But once ya shoot they aren't coming back. Is a couple of birds in the freezer worth not seeing that scene again.
Gotta go with just enjoying it and leaving them alone.
Why'd ya have to go and ask that. Now I gotta figure it out. Dunno, it's great being able to look out and see them there. Gives inspiration to get out hunting. But once ya shoot they aren't coming back. Is a couple of birds in the freezer worth not seeing that scene again.
Gotta go with just enjoying it and leaving them alone.
TimJ
Well-known member
If it is legal and safe to shoot there I would have no problem with someone doing so. It would matter to me why they are there and how close is your neighbors house even if it is still legal. If a neighbor a couple hundred yards down feeds them then no I would not shoot. If the next door neighbor is really next door then no I would not shoot. If there is a bit of a buffer and it is not going to cause problems then I might.
It would be a nice decision to have to think about.
Tim
It would be a nice decision to have to think about.
Tim
Dave Shady Larsen
Well-known member
Whack um and stack up ED!
but 1st take the plug out and get some #4 lead!
Then put more corn out and they will be back (insert smiley)
but 1st take the plug out and get some #4 lead!
Then put more corn out and they will be back (insert smiley)
Dave Parks
Well-known member
except for the white stuff (snow) it looks about like my lower pond. The first thing I'd do is drop the front cover of my porta-blind, throw my "Street Sweeper" switch from semi to full auto and shoot! :^)
Dave
Dave
Mr. Morton and I went out to a fresh water spot this AM. In typical fashion arrived with plenty of time to spare. We knew there weren't many ducks in this spot but last week's scouting did produce some goose opps.
David whispered that they are coming and I'm looking up in the air for ducks, but instead, there were 8 geese swimming towards our deeks. We stayed quiet and the gees swam right up to the deeks within 10 feet - and only 15 yards from us. On the count of 3 we stood up ready to fire... they were stunned and started swimming then flying off. We individually decided not to shoot as it wasn't sporting enough for either of us. We wanted committed geese coming in, flaring in. That's the action we wanted.
Interestingly, today is the first day of shotgun season in RI and out of nowhere a deer hunter took a shot at the geese. If we had shot at those low and away flying geese - there was a strong likelihood we might have hit the invisible deer hunter. He was only about 80 yards away.
So, no I wouldn't have shot the birds gathering off your point unless your family needed the meat or they were nuisance birds.
David whispered that they are coming and I'm looking up in the air for ducks, but instead, there were 8 geese swimming towards our deeks. We stayed quiet and the gees swam right up to the deeks within 10 feet - and only 15 yards from us. On the count of 3 we stood up ready to fire... they were stunned and started swimming then flying off. We individually decided not to shoot as it wasn't sporting enough for either of us. We wanted committed geese coming in, flaring in. That's the action we wanted.
Interestingly, today is the first day of shotgun season in RI and out of nowhere a deer hunter took a shot at the geese. If we had shot at those low and away flying geese - there was a strong likelihood we might have hit the invisible deer hunter. He was only about 80 yards away.
So, no I wouldn't have shot the birds gathering off your point unless your family needed the meat or they were nuisance birds.
Rick Kyte
Well-known member
Hey Ed. Next time we see a brace of mallards draped over the bow of your Aquapod we're all gonna wonder: are those marsh ducks or backyard ducks?
Actually I don't have any problem with someone shooting them. Years ago my grandpa lived on a little lake in northern Minnesota with a big oak tree in the back yard. Every fall woodies would gather under the tree to feast on acorns. He would silently slide the bathroom window open and let them have it with both barrels of his 10 gauge muzzleloader. Of course, that was in his declining years when his legs wouldn't let him get out in the field anymore, so it was his chance to keep some bragging rights over his sons. He didn't tell anyone that he did this, but I was out at his house one afternoon when the woodducks came in, and he let me in on his little secret. My dad and uncles always expressed great surprise when the family would come over for a visit and grandma would cook up a table full of roast woodduck. But I suspect they knew all along. Black powder smoke leaves a telltale sign on bathroom ceiling and walls.
So, if you're an old fart with gimpy legs and need to supply a duck feast now and then to prove you're still in the game, go ahead and shoot!
(You asked for a debate
)
By the way, that's a lot more ducks than I saw this morning.
Rick
Actually I don't have any problem with someone shooting them. Years ago my grandpa lived on a little lake in northern Minnesota with a big oak tree in the back yard. Every fall woodies would gather under the tree to feast on acorns. He would silently slide the bathroom window open and let them have it with both barrels of his 10 gauge muzzleloader. Of course, that was in his declining years when his legs wouldn't let him get out in the field anymore, so it was his chance to keep some bragging rights over his sons. He didn't tell anyone that he did this, but I was out at his house one afternoon when the woodducks came in, and he let me in on his little secret. My dad and uncles always expressed great surprise when the family would come over for a visit and grandma would cook up a table full of roast woodduck. But I suspect they knew all along. Black powder smoke leaves a telltale sign on bathroom ceiling and walls.
So, if you're an old fart with gimpy legs and need to supply a duck feast now and then to prove you're still in the game, go ahead and shoot!
(You asked for a debate
) By the way, that's a lot more ducks than I saw this morning.
Rick
guess it would depend on where the neighbors are and how far away they are. I know a few people that, to keep the geese off their lawns, would light and throw M80's at the geese...it took several different trips for the geeese to learn to stay away from that lawn. ok....how bout this one..........would ya take this one down??? Well placed pellet gun maybe??? claim nuisance bird...causing a traffic jam
This was looking out my window a few days back
This was looking out my window a few days back
I’m impressed. All good answers. When I moved to the island 8 years ago my intentions were it’s legal as long as I throw out a dozen decoys as required by Illinois law, I’ll wack’em and stack’em. I have permission from my neighbors that are within the 100 yard requirement when using a shotgun while waterfowling. AND I did shoot a few in the early days but it was a bittersweet feeling in the end. I thought if I was sneaking up on them like as when still hunting deer then I was following the rules of fair chase. After all I sit on my dock and catch catfish in the spring and summer and the occasional Walleye in the fall and winter without a thought about it being in my backyard. Then I found out that one of the elderly neighbors feeds them during the spring and summer. She asked one of the other neighbors to ask me not to shoot her ducks and geese. She must have thought I was a monster since she could not approach me herself. Of course I know that the ducks and geese in the picture are migrators and not the ones she feeds. Now like most of you, if someone shoots the waterfowl sitting in their yard that’s their prerogative and like most of you I would not say a thing if done safely and by the letter of the law. If I had a place like Dave Parks or Rick’s grandpa or like TimJ in his statement referring to seclusion where I didn’t have close neighbors and the pond wasn’t in my front yard I’d probably have a pit blind right there. So I guess I’m like Kevin in thinking I was blessed with the opportunity this morning to have a great scene with the ducks and geese on the new snow sitting off my front yard and having the pictures to show for it.. Now Dani answered my question with a question. Smart girl. Don’t commit. Here’s my answer to your question. It’s illegal to shot over a road. As with Andrew and Mr. Morton, I get a real rush when the birds are working the decoys and reacting to the call. So I’ll be loading up the boat and heading for where the gravel road ends at a boat ramp.
Thanks for expressing your thoughts.
Ed L.
Thanks for expressing your thoughts.
Ed L.
Wispete
Well-known member
Some years back . I was floating down a small wild river in wis. looking for ducks. Had the shotgun at ready. Came around a bend and came across six or seven Mallard's near shore. Waiting for them to take to wing. They don't. Some things wrong. I float right though the ducks and glance to my right. There's two people twenty feet away looking at me by their cottage. They were as surprised as I was. All I could manage was a small wave. Thinking the next half mile down the stream what a public relations night mare if I had ground swatted the ducks when I first saw them. Plus laws broken.
Bill Ferrar
Well-known member
I would not shoot them. I want to hunt on my terms. Open marsh, not my backyard. If I did shoot them I would not have the pleasure of watching them while drinking my coffee and eating my breakfast.
All animals would be safe around the house.
All animals would be safe around the house.
Dwight Harley
Well-known member
Uhh, "arrowhawk", most of use our real names on this forum.
Josh,
In Illinois, it's illegal to "jump shoot". In an effort to stop the practice the state intiated a law requiring all waterfowl hunters to use a minimum of 12 decoys while hunting and you have to be anchored if hunting from a boat. The only time you can have an "uncased" gun while the boat is under way is in an attempt to dispatch a cripple and only within 400 yds of your established hunting blind or boat location. Under NO circumstances can you discharge a firearm while the boat is underway. I remember a day my dad, myself and my uncle were chasing a crip that kept diving. My dad had the little 20hp full thottle while my uncle stood in the bow of the boat giving dad instructions on which way to go. Kike waved to shut her down and dad did right at the moment Kike fired....Damn near blew the bow out of the boat as my uncle went over the bow. I can never remember another time we chased a cripple with the boat.
I've never looked up the history as to when all this was started. I do remember when I was 9 that my dad would remind me when I left the blind to check the back water hole that I was looking for cripples if I was ever questioned. That was 1964.
So there is a little insight into waterfowling in Illinois.
Ed L.
In Illinois, it's illegal to "jump shoot". In an effort to stop the practice the state intiated a law requiring all waterfowl hunters to use a minimum of 12 decoys while hunting and you have to be anchored if hunting from a boat. The only time you can have an "uncased" gun while the boat is under way is in an attempt to dispatch a cripple and only within 400 yds of your established hunting blind or boat location. Under NO circumstances can you discharge a firearm while the boat is underway. I remember a day my dad, myself and my uncle were chasing a crip that kept diving. My dad had the little 20hp full thottle while my uncle stood in the bow of the boat giving dad instructions on which way to go. Kike waved to shut her down and dad did right at the moment Kike fired....Damn near blew the bow out of the boat as my uncle went over the bow. I can never remember another time we chased a cripple with the boat.
I've never looked up the history as to when all this was started. I do remember when I was 9 that my dad would remind me when I left the blind to check the back water hole that I was looking for cripples if I was ever questioned. That was 1964.
So there is a little insight into waterfowling in Illinois.
Ed L.
Shermie
Well-known member
thank gawd i dont live there as my missus wont let me shoot any critters on the property including an awesome 10 or 12 point buck that has been here for a few years nor the rabbits and the pheasants.but i tell ya ifin i was to be on the water edge and legal to shoot ,hell id have feathers plucked out in no time i just wouldnt slew them on the water is all ,
shermie
shermie
Bill VanderLaan
New member
Not too sure about that "12 decoy minimum" Ed. I know that it is a requirement in some state run areas, but even then, you are rarely ever hammered over it. I hunted flooded timber with a guy that used six supermag mallards and was never given any grief. I think the idea is to prevent people from creeping in on other hunter's spreads and shooting swing birds. I will wait to see your citation in the rules and regs that proves me wrong.
You are right about shooting from a boat. However, you cannot even load the gun until the motor is turned off. Once the motor is turned off, you can load the gun and shoot the bird. Pretty silly stuff if you asked me. However, some of the hillbillies I have seen on the river would just as soon shoot a greenhead from their truck window.
Keep warm-
BVL
You are right about shooting from a boat. However, you cannot even load the gun until the motor is turned off. Once the motor is turned off, you can load the gun and shoot the bird. Pretty silly stuff if you asked me. However, some of the hillbillies I have seen on the river would just as soon shoot a greenhead from their truck window.
Keep warm-
BVL