Waterfowl Hunting Etiquette

[Kuiper]

Hi Everyone,

I am an adult onset hunter who has focused on big and small game. Hunting waterfowl has always interested me and I am ready to take the plunge. I have done a bunch of research but have a few general questions and no mentors to learn from. I know I can read all day but would prefer some practical experience. I live in and primarily hunt around the Okanagan and have identified a couple of low elevation public access wetlands that I want to scope out to prepare for my first waterfowl hunt. The one main issue I have identified is that the low elevation hunting areas are few and far between, quite small in size and as such I expect them to be quite busy. I know the chances of me showing up and potentially pissing some people off with my ignorance is likely but I would like to try and avoid it where possible. When setting up how much room do you typically give other hunters? In the bush when I see a truck parked I move on to another area but in a small wetland that isn't possible.

Another question I have is how essential is the use of decoys?

Any guidance you can provide is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance for taking me under your wing (pun intended).

Kuiper

[VLD43]

Don't set up on the periphery of someone else's set so that your shooting birds coming into their set. Learn to use a call and when to call. A large set of decoys can be very effective but is not necessary. If you know how to call and are well hidden you can easily get birds within range. Good luck and thanks for being one of those hunters with some consideration for others and practicing etiquette

[Redthies]

Vince? Calvin?

I’d say one good option is talk to some of the other guys hunting those smaller ponds (if you do find there are others there), and maybe someone will be willing to help you out or share a blind with you. I see a ton of different guys hunting Boundary Bay and almost everyone is friendly, and would be willing to work with you.

Goid luck out there!

[labguy]

It’s nice that your asking. There are more and more boneheads out there that have no regard for anyone else.

The main criteria is to never set up where you’ll interfere with another mans hunt. If in doubt, ask the person already there.

I live in and hunt waterfowl in the Okanagan as well. Getting to your spot and setting up early before anyone else will help insure minimal conflict. Make your presence known as soon as anyone else shows up and if possible communicate with them around mutually acceptable buffers between the two groups.

In this day and age your likely to run into a dickhead who thinks it’s their god given right be wherever they want no matter how negatively it impacts another. It’s up to you how you want to deal with that.

Again, never interfere with another mans hunt. Good luck.

[fearnodeer]

I find it best to hunt private property, find the birds then go ask, all they can say is no and just keep on knocking on doors, sure does limit the amount of hunters.

[silveragent]

I would add a few things:
- 100y from other hunters is nice. It may not be possible but like the others said. It's not just the distance between hunters it is respecting who is doing the work. If it isn't possible for you to not hunt off their decoys at least allow them the first shot. If they miss you can do clean up
- if there is a question who shot it, defer to the person who shot first. Be a gentleman
- as you are new, you may not know your distances. 40y is considered a long shot. Don't do it. Decoying is the sweet science of duck hunting. It ensures that ducks get well within that distance and gives even mediocre shots a good opportunity to bring down a bird. Even if you are a good long shooter, a long shot will raise the chances of a duck getting crippled. Even dead ones can sail from momentum for a 100 or more yards making it very hard for the shooter to recover them. Bad long shots is called skybusting.
- don't walk through someone's decoys.
- if you are late pay attention to the lights. When I am early I will always flash my headlamp at the other hunter so they know to keep their distance
- help a brother out. If you see where a bird went down and the hunter doesn't know where it is, stand up and point it out. If you see a cripple and the other hunter is too far to grab it, go get it for him
- don't shoot in their direction. I've been sprayed many times. Even if it is showering from above it could still be unsafe. So make sure your arc is pointing away
- don't shoot across a pond unless you are certain someone isn't on the other side
- If you can't call, at least stay hidden. Don't stand in the open like a gomer
- Bad calling is worse than no calling. Practice in your car or on bluebird days. If you observe real birds you'll notice they're nowhere as frequent callers as humans
- don't bring an untrained dog
- when you're pulling in your decoys or putting out decoys, do it with a minimum of fuss. Every moment you are standing out there you are spoiling it for everyone else.
- burlap, camo sheets are very useful for just throwing over your junk, your boat, yourself.
- don't throw your dead carcasses where the hikers and dogwalkers can see them. Nothing gets areas shut down more than yucking out the non-hunters. They don't know if you properly breasted out a bird; they just see a dead bird

[lorneparker1]

I would add a few things:
- 100y from other hunters is nice. It may not be possible but like the others said. It's not just the distance between hunters it is respecting who is doing the work. If it isn't possible for you to not hunt off their decoys at least allow them the first shot. If they miss you can do clean up
- if there is a question who shot it, defer to the person who shot first. Be a gentleman
- as you are new, you may not know your distances. 40y is considered a long shot. Don't do it. Decoying is the sweet science of duck hunting. It ensures that ducks get well within that distance and gives even mediocre shots a good opportunity to bring down a bird. Even if you are a good long shooter, a long shot will raise the chances of a duck getting crippled. Even dead ones can sail from momentum for a 100 or more yards making it very hard for the shooter to recover them. Bad long shots is called skybusting.
- don't walk through someone's decoys.
- if you are late pay attention to the lights. When I am early I will always flash my headlamp at the other hunter so they know to keep their distance
- help a brother out. If you see where a bird went down and the hunter doesn't know where it is, stand up and point it out. If you see a cripple and the other hunter is too far to grab it, go get it for him
- don't shoot in their direction. I've been sprayed many times. Even if it is showering from above it could still be unsafe. So make sure your arc is pointing away
- don't shoot across a pond unless you are certain someone isn't on the other side
- If you can't call, at least stay hidden. Don't stand in the open like a gomer
- Bad calling is worse than no calling. Practice in your car or on bluebird days. If you observe real birds you'll notice they're nowhere as frequent callers as humans
- don't bring an untrained dog
- when you're pulling in your decoys or putting out decoys, do it with a minimum of fuss. Every moment you are standing out there you are spoiling it for everyone else.
- burlap, camo sheets are very useful for just throwing over your junk, your boat, yourself.
- don't throw your dead carcasses where the hikers and dogwalkers can see them. Nothing gets areas shut down more than yucking out the non-hunters. They don't know if you properly breasted out a bird; they just see a dead bird


IF someone set up to me within a 100 yards or where we aren't sure who shot the bird we would be having some not so friendly words. 400 yards is a much better buffer and if that isnt possible the spot isn't big enough for 2 hunters.

Lorne

[Kuiper]

Thanks for all of the great information. How long do you typically like to be settled in before the sun starts to rise?

[Ron.C]

Thanks for all of the great information. How long do you typically like to be settled in before the sun starts to rise?

Depending on where I'm setting up for ducks, I like to be at my spot at least 90 minutes before sun up. Usually takes me 20-40 minutes to set up. Leaving me time to enjoy a coffee waiting for the day to start.

Nothing worse then seeing some guy paddling across the marsh in front of you looking for a spot when legal light hits and the birds are flying. Like said above, need to be respectful of others who are already set up.

I also have some real good mid day shoots, especially when I can get out mid week. Last year the majority of my hunts were mid week afternoons and it was one of the best seasons I've had.

[Redthies]

IF someone set up to me within a 100 yards or where we aren't sure who shot the bird we would be having some not so friendly words. 400 yards is a much better buffer and if that isnt possible the spot isn't big enough for 2 hunters.

Lorne

Well, then I guess you best stay on the island. There are many spots where I hunt in Delta/Ladner where people hunt within 100 or so yards of one another. We smile, wave and say “you good if I set up here?” I’ve yet to see a hostile moment, but I seldom hunt weekends, so maybe it’s just those of us lucky enough to hunt midweek that are relaxed about it?

[labguy]

Well, then I guess you best stay on the island. There are many spots where I hunt in Delta/Ladner where people hunt within 100 or so yards of one another. We smile, wave and say “you good if I set up here?” I’ve yet to see a hostile moment, but I seldom hunt weekends, so maybe it’s just those of us lucky enough to hunt midweek that are relaxed about it?
It also depends on the area your hunting. The lower mainland is extremely crowded in all public areas.

The OP was about hunting in the Okanagan where there are far fewer people chasing migratory birds. Around here a 400 yard buffer would be bare minimum so as not to interfere with someone else’s set up. Even then you could easily screw up the other persons hunt which would not be ethical. In parts of Alberta you’d better be a mile away or you’d be getting neutered……

[Redthies]

It also depends on the area your hunting. The lower mainland is extremely crowded in all public areas.

The OP was about hunting in the Okanagan where there are far fewer people chasing migratory birds. Around here a 400 yard buffer would be bare minimum so as not to interfere with someone else’s set up. Even then you could easily screw up the other persons hunt which would not be ethical. In parts of Alberta you’d better be a mile away or you’d be getting neutered……

I’m very aware of where the OP was talking about. I grew up in the Okanagan and have fished and hunted there and the west Koots all my life. I’ve also hunted Alberta as recently as Sept of this year. My nutz are intact! I am also very aware of what is ethical or not, and more than that, I know what respectful is.

MY point was that you CAN get along with your fellow hunters, and if circumstances work out, you CAN hunt closer than a mile or even 400 yds. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need to though.

Back on topic, cudos to Kuiper for asking the question in the first place.

[walks with deer]

Lots of times if two guys are at same spot they throw in toghether

[Redthies]

Lots of times if two guys are at same spot they throw in toghether

Exactly. No neutering or fowl language required. This could even work outside the busy LML!

[silveragent]

Yea 400y sounds like a dream. The only time I've ever had 400y everyone else decided to stay home! (Midweek hunting for the win).

[Kuiper]

How import is the first light shoot? I Imagine if the weather is nasty the birds will be moving around more. Is the evening just as good as the morning?

[silveragent]

How import is the first light shoot? I Imagine if the weather is nasty the birds will be moving around more. Is the evening just as good as the morning?

First light, ducks get up and start stirring and try to beat each other to the early feeding spots. But that's not the only time they move. They might move three, four times a day going from spot to spot. Mid-day most birds have found a spot to spend the day in. But anything can stir them from wind, temperature drop, rain, predators, hunters shooting at them.

There are solid reasons to be up before first light which are to claim a spot from other human hunters and to have your decoys and blind set up in the dark so as to not disturb birds who are still roosting.

But I got a limit last week arriving at 9:30 passing hunters on their way out. It was definitely slow for a bit because the birds had been shot at and also because I stirred some setting up. All the birds in the swamp saw me walk in and the other hunters walk out. But after the first group of birds flew off, eventually I was set up and was ready when other birds from other areas came in.

Night flights can be good. You're catching birds who flew away from their roosting areas on the way back. You have the light of the day to set up your spread without the hassle of stumbling around in the dark. But you have less time to hunt and if your spread is no good, that was your chance. Plus finding crippled birds in the dark is no fun.

Both dawn and dusk birds - just like humans - have diminished vision. I would choose either to being there in mid-day which is a nice time for you to have a nap.

[pnbrock]

100 yards are you looking to get peppered?

[lorneparker1]

Exactly. No neutering or fowl language required. This could even work outside the busy LML!


I've hunted in a lot more crowded areas then the LML. I grew up in SW Ontario. Its called being respectful. Being that close you literally could be shooting at the same bird. That's crazy talk. A guy gets up early, sets his decoys out does all the work and some plug waltzes in, sits down a 100 yards and starts shooting at birds swinging into that guys spread and has done zero to bring the ducks in? if you think that's ok, please stay wherever you are hunting.

There is nothing wrong with hunting together. However, if the guy that was there fist doesn't want to hunt with the person that comes late he should be hunting a lot further then 100 yards.

Lorne