Cowichan Bay Estuary - Hunters

[Tanya]

Attention waterfowlers that use the Cowichan estuary! We need to buck up and tidy up. I was contacted today by a director for the Cowichan Valley Regional District in regard to hunting debris strewn about Cowichan Bay estuary.



The director went walking down there recently and took the attached photo. The director is not an anti hunter, however as some of you may be aware there are pressures to close the area due to noise and this sort of thing. The director very politely asked if I could spread the word to other hunters to take out what they take in. It would be in our best interest as hunters to pass the word to clean up your shells, AND wads, and any other stuff you take in. Simply take out what you take in ( and hopefully with a few birds ). I realize it simply isn't possible to find all the wads, but the more out the better.



Perhaps a post season, well advertised clean-up is in order.



Tanya

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/TRV58/ShellsandgarbageatCowichanesturary_zps81ba5611.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/TRV58/media/ShellsandgarbageatCowichanesturary_zps81ba5611.jpg .html)

[The Hermit]

I agree. Will be heading out to Widgeon Island this weekend I think and will once again take an extra garbage bag... Is that photo along the Dyke?


Thanks Tanya!

[Ron.C]

I'll be happy to participate.

[Spy]

Count me in :-)

[field marshal]

Here's the deal! These arseholes have been getting away with this for years.
They can and need to be charged!
Some signage on the Ministry's estuary notices alluding to this offence might help?
If not lets get some littering charges against them!
I don't go down there enough anymore to see this stuff going on!
Franchi Kid and I will help with the after season clean up.
It would be nice to get some pics of all our efforts to show some of us sportsmen still care!
Thanks for the heads up Tanya.
Cheers---Field Marshal and Franchi Kid.

[Spy]

Here's the deal! These arseholes have been getting away with this for years.
They can and need to be charged!
Some signage on the Ministry's estuary notices alluding to this offence might help?
If not lets get some littering charges against them!
I don't go down there enough anymore to see this stuff going on!
Franchi Kid and I will help with the after season clean up.
It would be nice to get some pics of all our efforts to show some of us sportsmen still care!
Thanks for the heads up Tanya.
Cheers---Field Marshal and Franchi Kid.
X2 lets get on them if you see these Ahole Pigs leaving their crap when they leave get after them! Easier said then done! Im with you Field Marshal this crap pisses me off too! It gives all of us a bad rap. :-(

[Ron.C]

Here's the deal! These arseholes have been getting away with this for years.
They can and need to be charged!


I just started waterfowling a year back and love to hunt the Cow Bay area as its only 5 minutes from home. So I definetly don't want to see it gone.

Last year I reported the to CO the vandilism /removal of the signs posted around the bay indicating the hunting areas. Not hunters doing this but it's obvious there are many that want to put an end to hunting Cow Bay. I have also witnessed "hunters" shooting in what I would consider unacceptable and illegal fashion. Shooting off the backside of widgeon island where its clearly not permitted to do so and like last weekend, shooting before legal light. I was at Widgeon Island last Sunday and whoever was hunting on the other side of the estuatry near the Blackie farm Dyke was shooting Way too early. And when I left, I picked up about 20 empty hulls from a temp blind that was set up in some large wood structure that has at some point drifted onto the island.
I'd hate to see this area lost for hunting. And as you say Tony, these types need to be policed.

[Buzam]

I'll do my part to pack out some extra garbage the next time I'm there. Hate to see crap like this.

[Tanya]

OKay crew, so let us come up with a date post duck season that we can do a clean up. Season ends the 23rd I believe.

Let's keep in mind those that watch NFL - Feb 1 is Superbowl

I am happy to make an after work party meal for those involved...we are 10 minutes from "The Bay". I will need #s

Saturday 24, 25, 31 ??

[Ron.C]

Sunday the 25th best fits my schedule. But I'm sure I can make any of those days.

[Batou]

I would like to help. I have not hunted in the bay (yet...) but I have walked that path. Weekends work best for me.

KM

[BCHoyt]

Is the cleanup day in Jan or Feb? If its in Feb I can come out as my knee should be healed up enough by then..

[Tanya]

Vote on a date friends.

[field marshal]

Any date you guys pick is good for us.------Field Marshal.

[lorneparker1]

I might even come down and help and harass a few folks! pick a date...

[Gr8 white hunter]

Love to be there but a group of us are heading out to Jordan river tomorrow morning to clean up the bush and Burnt bridge next weekend .

[Batou]

My only vote is for a weekend.

KM

[Tanya]

I will check with John when he gets in from the barn and post a date.

[Tanya]

Okay; John says let us do this on January 24th...Meet down there in the parking lot with a few garbage bags each at say 9:30 a.m.. Give me a number of people that want to head back to our pad afterward and I'lll do up some pulled goose on a bun.

[Philcott]

Tanya,

I'm thinking I'd like to come up from Victoria and help with the clean up. I'll know for sure after next weekend. I've never hunted there but am up to helping with the clean up. It'll look good on all of us hunters.

Any others from Victoria interested in an outing?

[kyleklassen]

we'll do the islands south of westcan....boats already in the truck.

[Marsh Hawk]

Tanya. You may want to talk to the fellow from the regional district to see if he can help you out with this. Our club does a cleanup in the Ladner Marsh every year and the Corp of Delta foots the bill for the garbage bin. We supply the labour and they supply the bin and get rid of the garbage. It's a good collaboration between our club and the Corp of Delta. Maybe you can get them to help you out if you can supply the labour. It helps to build a good working relationship and helps our image as hunters. Don't be afraid to post a couple of signs to let the walkers know who's out there doing the dirty work. We have had some fantastic feedback from people that have seen us out there. When people find out that we are hunters they are pleasantly surprised. Good luck
Mark

[Shane]

I should be able to come out for the 24th. Phil, I will be coming from Victoria way if I am available.

I'm hoping to make it down for a shoot this Saturday (the 17th) if anyone is interested in getting together.

Shane

[The Hermit]

I will come up on the 24th. I also hope to get over to Widgeon for one more hunt next week and will take a couple bags to collect crap. Lots of the floatsom there actually comes in on the tides though not stuff from slob hunters.

[shotgunjohn]

I'm sure lots of stuff, including wads, washes up on the shorelines. And yes we will be picking up after other slob hunters. Even though I haven't hunted there myself this year
I'm hoping we can keep the bay as one of the few public duck hunting areas still open on the south Island. I will be there on the 24th at the WestCan gate parking lot.
Tanya wants to invite anyone who participates to come back to our farm for lunch afterwards. Please let us know if you are interested so we have an idea on numbers.

[Ron.C]

I'm sure lots of stuff, including wads, washes up on the shorelines. And yes we will be picking up after other slob hunters. Even though I haven't hunted there myself this year
I'm hoping we can keep the bay as one of the few public duck hunting areas still open on the south Island. I will be there on the 24th at the WestCan gate parking lot.
Tanya wants to invite anyone who participates to come back to our farm for lunch afterwards. Please let us know if you are interested so we have an idea on numbers.

I'll be there for the cleanup, but won't be able to make it for the lunch

Ron

[303Brit]

I might even come down and help and harass a few folks! pick a date...

I'm with him, I'll harass and run the camera ;)

303

[Philcott]

Is the clean up still on for tomorrow?

Can someone pm me a map showing where we should meet and what time?

Thanks,

See you tomorrow. I'll come by for a sandwich after too.

[The Hermit]

Apparently the entire area is now closed to hunting, as per Tanya's other post. Given that I won't be coming up.

[Philcott]

I thought I read that only a part of it was closed. The part falling within North Cowichan district. But what the heck do I know, I can't even find the parking lot.

[The Hermit]

Looking at Google Earth with the BCGov - Administrative Boundaries/Municipalities layer turned on it clearly shows that the Dyke is well within the North Cowichan area. I thought that Ducks Unlimited had secured the Dyke and it was open to hunting - that is what the old signs said anyway. I haven't been to the dyke in at least ten years.

Anyway, the spot Ron C. and I've been going to is not in North Cowichan after all YES:-)

[Batou]

Hi. Just confirming I'll be there.

Tanya - is it too late to add one for lunch? Is there anything I can bring?

Are we meeting at the parking lot near the bridge or the spot along the wescan terminal road?

KM

[Philcott]

I'm confused and guess I'll not drive up since I can't confirm if and where the cleanup is/was to take place. Sorry.

[shotgunjohn]

Starting at West Can and then spreading out from there.

[Ron.C]

I'm on my way now, see you guys there shortly

[Batou]

It was nice to meet everyone who came to the clean up yesterday. Thank you Tanya and John for lunch. I will definitely be after some geese after trying the pulled goose sandwich!

Kyle

[shotgunjohn]

Thanks to everyone that came out to lend a hand in the clean-up. It wasn't near so bad as we've seen it in past years, but good to get 'er done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/TRV58/P1230341_zpsabba02e0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/TRV58/media/P1230341_zpsabba02e0.jpg.html)

[field marshal]

Thanks to Tanya and John for organizing the clean up . I would have liked to have seen more participants?????????
Special thanks to Tanya for the delicious waterfowl lunch she provided for the get together at their home.
Cheers-----Field Marshal.

[835]

Well if i thought You and Klassen wouldnt have kicked my ass i might have shown!
But i took my daughter to her swimming lessons instead

[Philcott]

I only wish I could have been certain the cleanup was on.

[303Brit]

Looks good folks, wish I could have come down but duty constraints wouldn't permit me to be that far from the Valley

303

[shotgunjohn]

Hey! We made the Cowichan Valley Citizen. January 28 edition. I sent the picture to them just to see and they printed it along with
the blurb I wrote.

[Ron.C]

good work John

[HuntNHookSports]

I am working out of town. Good work. Excellent about the news paper.