Polite Request

[BigKav]

To the gentlemen boating the south of the north fork of the Skagit River,

Please consider the other hunters who would like to shoot Snow Geese. When thousands are sitting on the coast, 20 minutes before shooting time, it would be best to NOT buzz by them and force them to the middle of the bay. This has happened 3 times this year. Every year we plan on coming to shoot low flying geese that come off the bay. Every time we have came to our spot, a boat has managed to flare our potential targets, minutes before shooting time and destroying any chance we had at them.

I understand you have a right to the same areas we do, but hunting the other thousands of acres available in the bay, that aren't directly in front of public land, would be a solid consideration. Even if you aren't hunting in this area, traveling farther out from the coast would really help your fellow hunters.

Yours truly,
This guy

[Huntbear]

You sure they are not anti hunters?

[BOWHUNTER45]

Maybe you should head to Samish Island ...seems to be a sheet load out there this year .....and alot of wardens to go with them 

[BigKav]

I'm starting to wonder. 2 out of the 3 times, these gents stuck around to hunt waterfowl. It actually blew my mind they did it. Today, very well could have been a vegetarian because they didn't stick around.

[GEARHEAD]

i was out there last Sunday, and a guy did the same damn thing, motored out from the north fork at around 8am and headed straight south thru the snow and duck rafts, blew it for everybody. Snows were  finally right out front, was going to be a good shoot and some freaking inconsiderate RETARD, bLows it for everybody. to make matters worse, a few geese came back and set down, when they began the flyout, this idiot retard, motored right under them, and the whole flock left. friggin  IDIOT!!!!! he was out less than an hour and went back up river. and yes....he was a hunter.

[BigKav]

There was an old-timer that beat us our there today and his day was ruined because if this guy. I really hope they wise up and stop ruining other people's hunting experiences. It's really a shame.

[ICEMAN]

Maddening to hear about BigKav.

[Stilly bay]

he probably thought he was doing everyone a favor. few hunters can compete with a raft of content ducks or geese. they will suck in every bird from miles around.

did you have decoys set up or were you hoping the snow geese were going to fly low over an area even though they know its crawling with hunters?

[BigKav]

They have done it for years. Why would they stop this year? I would at least like a fair shot at them continuing past habit.

[BigKav]

If he thinks he is doing us a favor BEFORE shooting time, he probably thinks not flushing a public toilet is considerate as well.

[Skagit_Hunter]

Were you hunting a field with decoys? . If you had decoys out, I feel sorry for you. .... Good.
 

Skagit, Ice here editing your post. Go back and read the posting rules again. You do not want to insult members like this. Keep it up and you will be banned.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Skagit Hunter... fill old bowhunter in on what your saying exactely  Because someone sits on the dike he is a slob  I think thats how alot of snows get shot ...is from the dike 

[BigKav]

Skagit, I love getting called names by a middle-aged man. That's nice. Next time, keep your opinion to yourself. I'm far from a slob, sir.

[ellensburgpo]

Don't take it personal, he acts like that on a few forums. More a reflection on him than you.

[ICEMAN]

Skagit, I love getting called names by a middle-aged man. That's nice. Next time, keep your opinion to yourself. I'm far from a slob, sir.

FYI, we are watching this.

[Skagit_Hunter]

People that stand on the dikes shooting birds as they fly over are less than ethical. Unlike some of us that set out 100's of decoys. To shoot birds in true range.

[KopperBuck]

Really? Pass shooting can be and is effective. Just because you're throwing dekes doesn't make you anymore ethical. It's not the method, rather the hunter. I've seen PLENTY of sky busting over dekes.

[Widgeondeke]

So you are saying that if I am using a 10ga goose gun shooting snows at 50 yards I am less than ethical? You are broadcasting a wide net to say ALL dike hunters are unethical.
You must never cripple birds.

[duckmen1]

Somehow I ended up crippling a bird at 20 yards and finished it on a second shot. Does that make me ethical or not for shooting the bird on the water to finish it or shooting it to far for my effective range. I guess I should have waited till it was 15 yards.
I just thought that's funny
Don't take this serious.

[GEARHEAD]

this particular spot, is a couple hundred yards out from the dikes. the only guys on the dike, are over sixty, wear blue jeans with a cammo coat and dont have a dog. 

[BigKav]

I don't shoot from the dike. It wasn't even legal until this year. It's called pass-shooting. I don't even attempt the shot if they are outside of 40 yards, which solidifies the importance of not spooking the birds when they are that close to the shore, those opportunities are rare.

You are the same gentleman who claimed you would take me on your "private" land that is so great, then disappeared. You sure do have a lot of opinions for not coming through with your words.

Move to a different message and put your 2 cents back in your piggy bank. Don't judge me until you know how I hunt. My style of hunting is 100% ethical and I would never do anything intentionally to inconvenience a fellow hunter.

[upwind]

I know i hate when i get to a field at 400 am make at least three trips out in the field with decoys  . Just to have some guys shoot at geese flying over the dike that are not even close to being in range and ruin it for everyone .

[BigKav]

I wouldn't blame you. That's not what happen. At all?

[Special T]

I want to say thank you to the hunter/boater that was LATE to the hunting grounds on the bay on Friday morning. You kicked up the snows on an otherwise slow day so we could drop a a couple "pass shooting" even tho we had some decoys out. I hope you are interested in hunting late every time i go hunting... there is some Beer in it for ya! 

[JLS]

Really? Pass shooting can be and is effective. Just because you're throwing dekes doesn't make you anymore ethical. It's not the method, rather the hunter. I've seen PLENTY of sky busting over dekes.

As have I.  Using decoys doesn't necessarily indicate good judgement and/or ethics.

[upwind]

I don't mind people shooting off the dike as long as they don't shoot at everything that comes over NO matter how high they are . They are not pass shooting they are sky busting . And yes i have seen sky busters in the fields .

[Special T]

I have got a limit of birds before from people in yellow helli hanson rain gear with no dekes or dogs.... I only fired 2 shots!  I didn't even knock them out of the air either.... 

[h2ofowlr]

I know i hate when i get to a field at 400 am make at least three trips out in the field with decoys  . Just to have some guys shoot at geese flying over the dike that are not even close to being in range and ruin it for everyone .

You learn not to set up in fields next to the dikes.  It has been that way for as long as I can remember.  For about one season they made it that you couldn't shoot from the dike.  The guys just stood in front of the dike then.  Same year they made the rule that each person had to have 24 decoys.  That lasted one season.  Guys used to pass shoot or decoys birds very well.  When the QH fields went into effect is when things started to really change.  The permit requests went from about 300 to over 1,000.  Every field would have decoys set up vs. a few fields by local guys.  Then the dikes started getting lined with folks.  As the snows start getting broke up into smaller groups and dispersed more, the crowed will die down.  You will still have the local group and some retirees that hunt the snows almost daily that will not change their ways.  They are fine with shooting 2-3 boxes to get a limit of snows.  It's not how most would do it.  Not even recommended as many birds get wounded, but the eagles eat well.  The only way to change it, is to pull the sky busters snow goose card.  That would be the quickest way to fix the issue at hand.  Keep an eye on the known problem individuals and groups and pull their cards when you start seeing them break the rules.

[Skagit_Hunter]

I know i hate when i get to a field at 400 am make at least three trips out in the field with decoys  . Just to have some guys shoot at geese flying over the dike that are not even close to being in range and ruin it for everyone .

You learn not to set up in fields next to the dikes.  It has been that way for as long as I can remember.  For about one season they made it that you couldn't shoot from the dike.  The guys just stood in front of the dike then.  Same year they made the rule that each person had to have 24 decoys.  That lasted one season.  Guys used to pass shoot or decoys birds very well.  When the QH fields went into effect is when things started to really change.  The permit requests went from about 300 to over 1,000.  Every field would have decoys set up vs. a few fields by local guys.  Then the dikes started getting lined with folks.  As the snows start getting broke up into smaller groups and dispersed more, the crowed will die down.  You will still have the local group and some retirees that hunt the snows almost daily that will not change their ways.  They are fine with shooting 2-3 boxes to get a limit of snows.  It's not how most would do it.  Not even recommended as many birds get wounded, but the eagles eat well.  The only way to change it, is to pull the sky busters snow goose card.  That would be the quickest way to fix the issue at hand.  Keep an eye on the known problem individuals and groups and pull their cards when you start seeing them break the rules.

You and I both know they can't stop skybusting. and it is getting worse. Not just on Fir Island.
With all the after market choke tube makers that push "long range" "ext range" Dead yote loads. Its only getting worse.
It is hard to judge range from a distance away. We have all said.... Did they really shoot at those. And see them drop some.
Not talking dike hunters. When you have to shoot a box/+ to kill 4 birds you might have issues. Poor shot, Or out of range. Either way a few trips to the range may correct the problem.
Taking cards for other reasons besides skybusting is a great idea. But the State doesn't have babysitting monies.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Dont most skybusters use a range finder so they know the birds are within there effective range?

[Skyhigh]

I know i hate when i get to a field at 400 am make at least three trips out in the field with decoys  . Just to have some guys shoot at geese flying over the dike that are not even close to being in range and ruin it for everyone .

You learn not to set up in fields next to the dikes.  It has been that way for as long as I can remember.  For about one season they made it that you couldn't shoot from the dike.  The guys just stood in front of the dike then.  Same year they made the rule that each person had to have 24 decoys.  That lasted one season.  Guys used to pass shoot or decoys birds very well.  When the QH fields went into effect is when things started to really change.  The permit requests went from about 300 to over 1,000.  Every field would have decoys set up vs. a few fields by local guys.  Then the dikes started getting lined with folks.  As the snows start getting broke up into smaller groups and dispersed more, the crowed will die down.  You will still have the local group and some retirees that hunt the snows almost daily that will not change their ways.  They are fine with shooting 2-3 boxes to get a limit of snows.  It's not how most would do it.  Not even recommended as many birds get wounded, but the eagles eat well.  The only way to change it, is to pull the sky busters snow goose card.  That would be the quickest way to fix the issue at hand.  Keep an eye on the known problem individuals and groups and pull their cards when you start seeing them break the rules.

Dont forget the different cover crops that are being planted the last two years or lack of cover crops being planted at all or late cover crop..Those three factors have really sent the birds further and further away.

[Skagit_Hunter]

Dont most skybusters use a range finder so they know the birds are within there effective range?

Rangefinder

I have gone to these places this is all about with a arc rangefinder. Stood close to the action. and shot ranges. WOW is all I can say
A good way to figure distance is. walk around with a rangefinder. Make a guess at a distance. then confirm it with the rangefinder.
With a shotgun 5 yrds isn't a big deal until your at the end of the killing range. And because a shotgun will shoot xxxxx distance. Doesn't mean that is the killing range. Ya ok you hit one in the eye you might kill it.