Duck Hunters VS Fishermen

[rsimms]

I know this issue is coming.... it happens every year. Duck season is open so somewhere out on Chickamauga Lake (and every other TVA lake) duck hunters are hidden on shore beside a spread of decoys, and a fisherman rolls in and starts fishing nearby, ruining their chances for killing any ducks while there.

The duck hunters will complain about fishermen "having the whole lake and they have to camp out beside us." Fishermen will complain that duck hunters "think they own the whole lake."

Bottomline - it is a "multi-use reservoir." And many of those uses conflict with one another. Fishermen and cruisers or jet skis, dock owners and fishermen, fishermen and hunters... sometimes even fishermen and fishermen or hunters and hunters.

If you visit a multi-use reservoir, you should just expect occasional conflicts of interest. It IS going to happen. When you believe that your interest should take precedence or have priority - just remember that the other guy or girl is probably thinking the exact same thing. Suck it up, roll with the punches and be respectful.

Forty years ago I remember duck hunting near Skull Island when a crappie fisherman pulled up right outside our decoys. My buddy began cussing, fuming and threatening to "fire a shot across the bow." But then we watched as said angler sat there and whacked one big crappie right after another.

I told my buddy, "You know how much I love duck hunting, but if I could catch crappie like that I'd anchor right in the middle of your decoys too." emoBigsmile

Now if the guy hadn't been catching fish, I likely would have joined my partner in asking that he "move along." And hopefully in a respectful length of time, he would have.

End of sermon... just remember it is a "multi-use reservoir" and do your best to respect the other users - even if their pastime interferes with your own. It goes with the territory.

Respectfully,
Your Resident Peacekeeper emoGrouphug

 

[Fishindawg25]

I respect the duck hunters as it takes them time to prepare for there hunt and it's seasonal. Fishing is open all year 365 24/7. And the duck hunters have guns. Respect the hunters.

 

[fischnrod]

I have trolled into an area before I even realized the hunters were there when I used to fish in cold weather, I can't speak for the rest of em but when I did it the hair stood up in my neck just like I had walked up on a snake. I was out in the boonies of Watts bar and praying I didn't get shot before I could get out of there . lol

 

[FishingwithRusty]

if i see them(hunters) i just leave

 

[rusty50576]

Only problem is you can't see the hunters. If a duck can't see them I sure as hell cant

 

[churly]

If you see a bunch of ducks laying still in a shallow slough early in the morning, its probably a decoy spread, and probably best to leave it be. I'm not a duck hunter, but I respect their right to hunt the public waters in what little bit of season they get. I've been in the fog and have accidently trolled into a duck hunters area, and as soon as I realized it, I was on high headed out of there.

 

[FishingwithRusty]

rusty50576 - 11/26/2017 9:40 PM

Only problem is you can't see the hunters. If a duck can't see them I sure as hell cant

yeah there have been times when i didnt see them until i was right there with them but when i do see them i just leave. except at kentucky lake a few yrs ago, i was a couple of hundreds yds away coming down the grass line, hunter got in his boat and chopped the mat ahead of me to pieces with his boat. well i fished out in front of their blind for about an hour.

 

[rusty50576]

i don't intend to fish anywhere near them, but sometimes they are up in the woods sometimes they are on ponds that are on an island. It's an accident every single time I've done it but it happens pretty frequently

 

[R-boatless]

As a former Duck hunter, I would like to suggest that 200 yards is not much when ducks are involved. Remember that sometimes we "think" that we are being polite, when actually we are still hurting the hunters success. When I see a decoy spread (and yes, sometimes we don't until on top of them) I leave the area.

 

[silvertalon]

i think the hunters should be glAD WE DONT FISH WITH DEADLY WEAPONS, LOL. I'm glad duck hunting starts after tournament season is over.

 

[catfish170]

Multi use is the key term. Summertime it's jet ski's and wake boarders, wintertime has always been duck and goose hunters till the season closes. Their license fees ensure they have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors just like we do. Enough idiots are on the water already so please don't add your name to that list too and ignore someone else's privilege.

 

[derek81]

The only time I have had an issue is when I did not know they were there and they were and they stood up and started shooting just up in front of my boat. It was barely daylight and they were laying on their backs on the bank, no decoys and no boat in sight and a few ducks flew in from the opposite direction and they stood up and blasted them, scared the crap out of me. Had I known they were there I would have turned back out and went the other way.

 

[davisjeremy1981]

I agree with derek. I try to stay away from the hunters. One I can go anywhere on the lake and two I don't know those hunters and I tend to not want to be around people that I don't know when they're armed

 

[FirstLight]

One morning I pulled into an area before daylight that I like to fish and started fishing. At first light I noticed a big group of birds close (decoys). Then I noticed a boat blind on the bank. I apologized and moved on. Dude was cool. I’m glad there wasn’t any early flyers, if he had fired, it would have surprised me big time.

 

[Innaaa]

rsimms - 11/26/2017 8:30 AM

When you believe that your interest should take precedence or have priority - just remember that the other guy or girl is probably thinking the exact same thing. Suck it up, roll with the punches and be respectful.

Can't agree more. We are sharing the public resource. They belong to everyone not the specific person. You hunt for ducks and I'll do what I'm interested. We respect each other. That's all.

 

[camaro88z]

I try to respect people on the lake. I get that once hunters setup they can't as move from that spot very easy. And also most in likely you can return there in a few hours they will be gone. But I do expect respect in return.