I'm new to hunting public ducks, always hunted private until now. So what are the general mannners and actions? I know how to be a good sport, etc.

How do you tell someone, I'm here and set up go find someplace else? A flash with the light?

How close is too close to set up if someone got to your spot before you? Move down the lake 200 yards, 100yds?

I think you get the idea what I'm asking...

Any suggestions? I don't want to be called "Barney" for heaven's sake...

Well for starters I believe your already on the right track by simply asking. So far as yards away from anyone I couldn't really say. To me it is not the distance it is the manners displayed when hunting near another party. I'll explain-If we for whatever reason set up close to each other and you have a group working then I stay off my call and let you do your thing even if birds hit my spread. Next volley of birds you repay the favor. No plan no big thing just respect for each other and all goes well. I do however like to go where most can't get to. I like the solitude.

Now about the dogs. If your dog is a go getter and will go and come back with the bird without the ole "come here you SOB" then by all means take the dog. If you have not done your homework and the dog isn't really good, then leave him home. There is nothing worse than bonehead standing on the bank coaxing a dog into a retrieve while others are hunting. I firmly believe that is why God made the willow tree. He made them so when the Dbag is coaxing his dog and not caring about others hunting we have all rights to cut a green switch about the size of our middle finger-walk over to Dbag and thrash him about the pond until he sees the errors of his ways.

Oh I forgot yes your right. A simple quick shine will turn about most other hunters.

wayne we are going to need GPS cords so that we can watch and learn from you in the field

Also, the further you walk the less people you see.

GPS cords-yeah right - I couldn't beg yall into a blind last year. This year is filling up already. I sure hope you can come meet me at the blast zone.

I am for sure in this year

Alright since you promise to go I will give in and publicly announce GPS cords. Here ya go fellas I am officially a river/lake namer. Throw me under the bus when I am done
31 12 34.60
102 26 30.13

I have cyber scouted and cyber scouted and this is the best I could find.

That's about what I thought. Barney patrol is good idea, except I usually hunt alone, maybe I can get my dog to carry the light to one side or the other, but it takes her two or three tries to push the "on" button, so she might be slow to flash'em.

What's the rule on when you find decoys already deployed at 0230 or 0300 and no one is there, do you get to keep them?

Pink spray paint.

hey doubleb20 i am new to duck huntin and if you want some company on a weekend hunt i would be willing to go and help carry the load,set up decoys and learn. i live in arlington so i am not to far from you.let me know, thanks bruce

Doubleb20;
If you get in late to "your area" and somebody is there, then try to move on if you are mobile (in a boat) or politey go ask the other group if you can still hunt near there. Aplogize profusely and perhaps offer some barley hops type beverage afterwards. While there and you get the OK to hunt near them, go over some ground rules of safety and etiqutte.
Having a dog helps tremendously so you and others in your group are not out of cover and yapping aloud trying to find downed birds. Be patient don't call other groups birds!!!

I got in late last yr. to a spot 10 minutes before shooting time. I had to slowly get my boat through 6-8 inches of water to the spot. Nobody flashed us when I flahed my Q-beam when I first saw a group of birds or deekes in the water near "my area". It was still dark and I even shouted when I was about 30yds. away. I was turning the boat around about 20 yds. from what I finally figured out was a deke spread. I thought that somebody had intentionally left out their deeks. No. The next sound was a shotgun blast followed by $%@!()&&^%# Yes, I yelled back at them for not letting me know something before I almost got to the bank in the shallows. Luckily, I was in a boat and mobile. I got out and pushed the boat about a hundred yards to go to another spot. Then started up the motor so as not to screw up there hunt any further.
I've also witnessed an airboat go over another group's deeks, A fistfight, yelling all throughout a hunt on purpose, boat/trailer damage, and have been hit numerous times from other hunter's shot during public hunts. I've even almost been run over by a GW on the Old and Lost River off I-10. He came from a levee through some cane behind us. Luckily, those airboats are loud and we could tell where he was coming from.
Just have patience and a contingency plan. We all have a bit of "Barney" in us. It's just how much on any given day....

I like this thread so....


...bump

I have a little of that Barney in me; I confess.

Who is this barney?