Duck hunting season is near and surely public hunting land will be full on the first day of the season. I've seen people posted checklists of things for their long awaited season but I have never seen the word "beware" from the checklist. The question is how will you handle other hunters when something unwanted happens (like somebody placed a blind in front of you) and the best way to communicate with them?

This question I guess will be helpful to the newbies and veterans alike so please help us prepare our mindset for this kind of situation and I know it happens all the time.

Thank you.

heres my process when someone moves in:

step 1) shine them with the spot light as they are approaching.
if that doesnt work:

step 2) yell out "YOURE TOO CLOSE!!!"
if that odesnt work:

step 3) be mad the rest of the day and talk crap about them to whomever i am hunting with. laugh when they miss birds and talk about how crappy their call sounds.

Getting too close to someone else when duck hunting is common sense, and most people just dont F'ing care. They have the attitude of "well i went all this way and im too lazy to find my own place or wake up earlier so i will just ruin the hunt for who ever is unlucky ebough to be next to me".

My hat is off to you sir, if someone is too selfish or lazy to find their own place to hunt or get up earlier, then they deserve every bit of punishment you dish out to them! Keep it up!

lol, I agee with all that except the get mad part. You are out to have a good time, don't let someone else mess it up. Hunting public is a spectical, so have that mindset. If you got guys all around you setting up, it should not be a surprise. That's the way public duck hunting goes, scout harder next time.

If i see someone too close to me and i was first, ask if they wanne hunt with you, it will increase your chances for a better result

Yeah spoonie I'm right there with you. "THOSE AREN'T TEAL." Hahahaha.

I've only hunted public a few times, but its first come, first serve. If your set up in your spot and a late waker pushes on up to you before LST, let it be known it be known there too close. Majority of people will back up if you hit em with a light and tell them whats up. If you see a lone person, have them join you. One more gun never hurt anything.

I'll take a little heat for saying this but it is public Hunting,

Wake up earlier, drive farther, get a boat, or scout more. Any one of these will probably lead you to find a spot to hunt that you can't even hear a gunshot from another hunter.

I don't have much trouble with it I don't have to use the boat ramp

good idea and you maybe you make friends too.

not gonna lie, I'll do that on occasion, but if I want another gun, Ill ask another one of my hunting buddies if they wanna go. I rarely say "I wish we had more people in the blind."

hey spoonie you still camping out all night??
On you spot

heck no. im too old for that crap. those were my young college days.

Very true, I met one of my 3 hunting buds this way, we've been hunting together for 7 yrs now. It seems every year for the last 5 or so yrs public hunting has gone down hill more hunters less space it's only gonna get worse I think. Seems like duck hunting's becoming the new extreme sport. It's all about showing off how badarse a duck killer you are. Hell, I watched two groups of hunters on opposite sides of a big tank on public land west of 35 shooting at each other

This

Weekends + Public hunting + ethics = oxymoron

All my duck hunting is done on public land and I've been at it over 40 yrs. My usual approach is ask anybody at the ramp where they're hunting and figure out where I can go away from them. If I'm set up and someone's coming I shine them off.
Do your scouting and give yourself options...haven't had any problems to speak of.

well put ol_Yeller, your setting yourself up for failure if you only go into it wth a plan A. It's always good to have a plan B and C. It helps to get up really early as well!

Being mobile seems to solve alot of problems. If a guy happens to get to a spot before me, I have found that walking another twenty minitues seems to get me to a place where I can't see his light. Of course opening weekend, I plan to leave around 4:00 so that I get to my spot by 5:00 or my second spot by 5:30.

Public brings out the turds in society. And the occasional fisherman that thinks duck decoys brings in fish. I do love it, can't say the same for some of the people it attracts. I hope all those turds fart in their waders all morning. Common courtesy and patience are 2 lost traits in today's society.

Hahaha!!!!

'Round here if u are getting out at 5, you better have a plan W.

I know I will take some heat for this one too.....but, public hunting for ducks in Kansas is way different than in Texas. First, Kansas actually has enough public land for everyone to get a good spot. Second, IMO the people are much more friendly. Lastly, 90% of the time when you come up to a spot you like to hunt and someone is already there, they don't shine you off..they shine you in! Since you are not walking and shooting, duck hunting can be very safe even with large numbers of people.

man I hate that drive