Duck Hunters Revisited

[Jpull]

This was going to be a fishing report since I finally got out for a few hours yesterday. Went to Soddy Creek - Holly Circle but there was too much ice so went over to Armstrong Road ramp. Backed down the ramp and looked over to the side and saw where someone had thrown 12 - 15 ducks in the ditch! I'm not a duck hunter and don't know my ducks but these were what I've always called Coots. Man I was steamed!

I'm a life long hunter/fisherman and, in my mind, this gives every Tennessee sportsman a black eye. The average Joe driving by the boat ramp may not be able to tell a duck boat from a fishing boat but they can sure see a pile of dead ducks that someone intentionally killed and left to rot. Personally, I don't like being painted in that light.

As coincidence would have it, when I got back to the ramp two gentlemen were loading there boat ahead of me and we got to talking about what kind of jerk would kill wildlife just for the sake of killing. I commented that I was going to call TWRA and report it and they said - and I quote - "No need. We both work for TWRA and we'll let the Hamilton County guys know". They were crappie fishing on their day off. They introduced themselves, we chatted some more and I asked what, if anything could be done. The answer, not much unless they catch them in the act. So I now have another new year's resolution. If I ever see anyone doing something like this you better believe I'll have TWRA on speed dial and will supply them with as much identification information as I can and hope for prosecution.


Whew - soap box mode off but I had to get that one off my chest.

Oh, and the fishing report. Nada, zip, nothing. Threw an A-rig and a lipless on several bars on the main channel and managed one little spot. Surface temps were 38 in the creeks and 41 on the main lake.

jPull
Fish more - Fish more often

 

[rsimms]

Yep, you're right. Coots or not, that's stupid. emoAngry

 

[catfish170]

and people wonder why the rules keep getting tougher. Don't really know of anyone eating coots anyway so why shoot them!!!

 

[Hook1]

They probably got bored and decided to just kill something.

 

[swamp]

Dog training

 

[lmk25]

If They have a valid license to hunt waterfowl and a federal duck stamp and didn't shoot over their limit there is nothing you can do. I think its childish also, its wasteful and uncalled for. It is up to each individual to decide what they do with their fish or game, not the next man at the ramp. Familiarize yourself with Hunter harassment laws in Tennessee before you get yourself a ticket. Good Luck and Be Safe!

 

[lmk25]

Oh, I almost forgot to Welcome you to the Forum!!! emoWelcome

 

[hookset]

If a person wants to kill for the "thrill" of killing something then go chop down a tree. Then you can burn the wood. Sportsman have to be ethical in the field or one bad apple can reflect and will give a majority of people a black eye. If you are not going to eat it, don't harvest the animal, bird, fish, etc. However, if there exists a nuisance animal to pets, farm, etc. then at times you have to control a situation for safety purposes. A very unfortunate and a very bad decision by that so called hunter.

 

[hookset]

If a person wants to kill for the "thrill" of killing something then go chop down a tree. Then you can burn the wood. Sportsman have to be ethical in the field or one bad apple can reflect and will give a majority of people a black eye. If you are not going to eat it, don't harvest the animal, bird, fish, etc. However, if there exists a nuisance animal to pets, farm, etc. then at times you have to control a situation for safety purposes. A very unfortunate and a very bad decision by that so called hunter.

 

[Bor_outdoors]

I have no respect for people that kill ducks like that, but I also have no respect when 5 bass boats fish 80 yards or closer to my decoy spread. Just some stupid people in this world that need to respect wildlife and other outdoorsmen (out of the 8 hours I was their I saw one 8-10 inch bass caught so it's not like they were stacked up.)