Cow Bay Etiquette

[Slugman]

Everyone just loves questions from newbs right? In looking to extend the hunting season I've been doing my homework on waterfowlin' and seeing as I love dem tasty ducks its a natural progression. Seems on Vancouver island you are limited where you can go, I guess what I need to know that if I plan on trying out Cow Bay whats acceptable and whats not. Is it first come first serve as far as set up? Is there general rules as to how close in proximity you can be to other hunters? Does a packed field full of hunters all trying to call in ducks/geese mess up a successful hunt? I just don't want to head out there only to ruin a fellow hunters day by not knowing these things!
Last question can you hunt the bay successfully without a boat or dog? Thanks for your input!

[Marc]

OK I'll bite since I hunt the bay a fair amount.

Personally I like to have a minimum of at least some means of retrieving downed birds especially when hunting over water. Chest waders are good, a small boat is great, and having a trained retriever is even better. Having a boat and a dog is about as good as it gets for the ones that sail way out there before they drop out of the sky 200-300 yards away.

You'd be amazed how fast a wounded duck can move and hide in the marsh grass let alone on water, a trained dog is definitely a nice to have. Since I started hunting over dogs 12 years ago I just don’t feel the same hunting without one. To me it’s part of my waterfowling gear right next to my shotgun.

Cow bay is a large area. If someone is set closer than 200 yards from me and is sky busting at birds (higher or further than 40 yards, any further then this without a dog is looking for trouble) that have their wings cupped and headed straight for my decoys then yes I'd be a bit pissed off. There is nothing more frustrating them arriving before sunrise, placing out the decoys, getting yourself concealed and having someone show up at daylight with only a shotgun and a box of shells in hand and is leaching off your rig 50-100 yards away.

Last fall we witnessed a guy walking up the terminal road in jeans and sneakers shooting from the side of the road. He shot a nice drake bufflehead on the water and had no means of retrieving it. This doesn’t look good no matter who’s watching. Slob hunting at its finest.

The majority of the bay is public land (some of it is Indian Reserve and Private) and it's first come first serve. So if you walk in and find a brush blind on the side of the water then it's yours to use. Be respectful and pick up your garbage/hulls before you leave and don't wreck the cover around the blind.

[Johnnybear]

and don't wreck the cover around the blind.

Great advice Marc.

I've seen some homemade blinds with chicken wire out at the Nanaimo Estuary and I always left more cover on them when I left for the next guy.

[The 'Hummer']

Side issue Marc, but have you ever hunted in the Chemainus River estuary? It's been a few years since I have but while I was shovelling the 'white stuff' today I could hear 'them' pounding pretty good in that area.

[The Hermit]

I've ambushed Canadas along the dyke taking them as they come off the water, up and over the dyke and bam... they land beside you on the road or in the bushes/field behind you. Its a Ducks Unlimited area too. Everyone that uses the dyke will have different feelings about more people going there but its public and good to get more guys out. I'd stay a good 100m from anyone along the dyke.

[Marc]

Side issue Marc, but have you ever hunted in the Chemainus River estuary? It's been a few years since I have but while I was shovelling the 'white stuff' today I could hear 'them' pounding pretty good in that area.

Nope not me, I haven't ventured far from Cowichan Bay this fall with the recent knee surgery this summer.

[Slugman]

Thanks Marc, I figured you were the go to guy for advice on hunting the bay. I couldn't agree with you more about the huge benefits of having a good dog to help you out. Good thing is I do have a decent quality inflatable I can use, however it does sound that with the proper set up in the area and keeping the shots close I'd have a chance of at least keeping them close to land. Alot of the good manners you mentioned really are just common sense but I'm glad I asked just the same, I will definatley be checking it out soon!!

[kyleklassen]

was down on the dike this mornin and shot nearly a box of shells and brought home 2 1/2 boxes of empties. must've been some kind of miracle. Nearly every year i have to write a rebuttal letter to the editor in the local newspaper defending our hunting in the bay after somebody that lives down there tries to use misinformation about hunters and hunting to further there cause of stopping the hunting due to the noise factor. lets not give them any "ammunition" by leaving our empty ones around.When i was younger i used to be a hardass down there, shooting where i was allowed, even if it wasn't that neighbour friendly. or setting up facing the houses. for the 1/2 hour before sunrise wake up call. but i now realize its easier to co-habitat than fight at every turn.

[Ron.C]

its easier to co-habitat than fight at every turn.

Very good point

[longshot]

Side issue Marc, but have you ever hunted in the Chemainus River estuary? It's been a few years since I have but while I was shovelling the 'white stuff' today I could hear 'them' pounding pretty good in that area.

I heard that in order to access that area you need to cross through a native reserve and they don't allow non-natives to drive through. Is there any bypass?

Longshot jr.