Abuse of Whatcom quality hunt blinds

[Rhino76]

Hi all. First off I am glad to have found this forum. This is my first year of waterfowl hunting. I have always wanted to get into this sport but lacked the know how and hunting locations. I found out this season about the quality hunt blinds that the WDFW has set up and couldn't be happier. This program gave me the resource to pursue a sport I have come to love in the past few months. With out this resource of cooperation between state and landowners I know I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this season as much as I have. I have hunted give or take about 7 locations in Whatcom And the issue I am having is litter and *censored*bagery, I have picked up dozens of cigy butts and redbull cans and worst of all seen a few dead non-game birds around the blinds. I am just worried if this continues we will all lose the patience of landowners an this great program.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ICEMAN]

Rhino, welcome to the site. As you will soon find, we have many articles lately on this issue.

I applaud your thought to post this topic as I agree, a few are wrecking opportunity for the many. Thanks for tidying up after others. Many of us have dedicated our time to doing this and fully expect it each time we head out. I have normalized it in my mind. Just part of the hunt. My kids think this way too.

Again, great topic. Thanks for posting your observations, and welcome again to Hunting-Washington.

[Rhino76]

Thanks Iceman. I agree, I don't mind spending a few minutes picking up after a hunt even if it is someone else's mess. I will do what it takes to ensure others can take advantage of this program too. The lazy ness just drives me nuts. I know there will be a few errant shells in the tall grass that you can't find before you leave but the trash.... Really?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ghosthunter]

Common sense and regard are lacking in hunting today. There are so many hunters who care about nothing but getting their take. Washington hunters have a terrible reputation in other states.

Many are for themselves and the heck with anyone else.

The best we can do is not be that hunter,which means picking up slack for them. It is sad, that they do not care about the damage they do.

Look in any aspect of hunting and you will see  what I call slob traits.

Dumping carcass in public veiw.
Threspassing
Littering
Displaying game un tastefully.
Crowding others.
You name it .
Shooting Turkey's off the roost.
Go afield with un trained dogs.
Shooting birds they cannot recover.
Shooting too high.
Doing whatever they can to disrupt other hunters.
Terrible

Welcome. Try to be better than the guy ahead of you.

[EWUEAGLESHUNTER]

Rhino76,

My family recently placed almost all of our farm into the WDFW Reserve to Hunt program. Our farm does not get much for waterfowl, however 5 bucks and a couple doe were taken off our property this year by some very friendly and respectful hunters. We were extremely happy with who signed up to hunt our property, and even opened up our shop for guys to clean their deer. You are exactly right in saying that if behavior like you described continues landowners will close up their land to any public access. Many farmers around our area for years use to let anyone hunt who stopped and asked permission, however, as the number of rode hunters and those who think they are entitled to hunt any land they want without asking permission has increased they have locked the gates and refuse to let anyone hunt. Hunters, don't rode hunt and please pick up all your garbage, that includes shell casings!

[Rhino76]

Thanks to you and your family EWU. That is great that you open your land up to responsible hunters. I hope to gain permission like that to pass on to my kids this tradition we all have.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WCTaxidermy]

Rhino, welcome to this awesome site.  I agree with you and this year seems worse than previous years.  My early season grouse area was littered up with beer/pop cans, sandwich wrappers, milk cartons etc.  Half my truck was filled up with others waste.   I hunt waterfowl on public land in the Columbia basin, and I walk in to my hunting area about a mile and the litter in the blind and tall grass is horrible.  My decoy bag seems to get filled to the brim when I walk out after picking up others trash!  It gets old!  I sure wish people would just take a minute and haul their trash out with them. 

[RailRob]

Lead by example. That's the best we all can do.

[dreamunelk]

Lead by example. That's the best we all can do.

And spend a lot of time apologizing for the others.

[aaronoto]

Great post!  I've frequented only a couple of the quality hunt sites this year, but the ones I went to were well kept, and it was nice to see for a change!  If you ever want to get out for a hunt shoot me a PM!

[Odell]

Lead by example. That's the best we all can do.

Yep. And pick up after others who will never change.

The quality blind system is a great start, unfortunately the ones I have been to are void of ducks and have the worst attempt at building a layout blind I have ever seen. They not only stick out like a sore thumb, they aren't even functional.

I wish there was a way to help this program grow and improve.

[RailRob]

Lead by example. That's the best we all can do.

Yep. And pick up after others who will never change.

The quality blind system is a great start, unfortunately the ones I have been to are void of ducks and have the worst attempt at building a layout blind I have ever seen. They not only stick out like a sore thumb, they aren't even functional.

I wish there was a way to help this program grow and improve.

I wish they had public blinds on this side of the state. I am thinking about buying a duck boat just so I can get out when I want! Contact your local fish and wildlife officer and talk with him, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt. At worst he might be able to point you in a direction.

[aaronoto]

Yep. And pick up after others who will never change.

The quality blind system is a great start, unfortunately the ones I have been to are void of ducks and have the worst attempt at building a layout blind I have ever seen. They not only stick out like a sore thumb, they aren't even functional.

I wish there was a way to help this program grow and improve.

I wish more properties where "hunt within the boundary" type areas with established safety zones rather than fixed blinds, but I understand why they have to do it at some locations.  I've seen one of those department built layout blinds myself, they're quite the site!

[Odell]

Yep. And pick up after others who will never change.

The quality blind system is a great start, unfortunately the ones I have been to are void of ducks and have the worst attempt at building a layout blind I have ever seen. They not only stick out like a sore thumb, they aren't even functional.

I wish there was a way to help this program grow and improve.

I wish more properties where "hunt within the boundary" type areas with established safety zones rather than fixed blinds, but I understand why they have to do it at some locations.  I've seen one of those department built layout blinds myself, they're quite the site!

Yeah, I appreciate the work and the effort, but they are a complete failure.

[ICEMAN]

Odell, why a "complete" failure. No guys getting birds there?

[aaronoto]

I think he's talking about the layout blinds being a complete failure.

The QH sites are real hit or miss.  Sometimes it's a good shoot and other days you don't see anything flying.  I can't blame the department for that though, it all depends on what the birds are looking for and where they're flying.  I'm just thankful we've got the opportunity to hunt these spots.

[JJD]

Rhino,
Understand your concern and thanks for your help by picking up after others.  I know its a pain, but it will help us maintain the use of some areas.

EWU, understand your concerns.  I too have property, I used to let everyone hunt who asked permission. A couple of draws that held a good quantity of quail, were almost totally wiped out by some guys who pounded it daily, several years ago.  They thought they had permission because a friend of a friend had permission.  The owls and yotes pretty much finished off the few birds that were left.  I worked on the habitat and stopped the hunting (including myself) for the last 2 years.  The birds are beginning to come back.  Hope next year to have some limited hunting.  We will have to see how the birds survive the winter.
The habitat improvements were a lot of work and I hope it pays off.  In the future, there will be rules laid down.  Plus I have a couple of well hidden trail cams to monitor who's coming and going.  I catch the perpetrators in there again, I will prosecute them.  As well, I have told a couple of guys who have called to hunt that I will call them if and when the population rebounds, I have their phone numbers and will keep my word.
I have had fences cut, gates driven over and litter by the drum full.  But I know that it's a few slobs that ruin it for the rest.  I don't believe in punishing everyone for the deeds of a few.

[sakoshooter]

I have had fences cut, gates driven over and litter by the drum full.  But I know that it's a few slobs that ruin it for the rest.  I don't believe in punishing everyone for the deeds of a few.
[/quote]

Thanx for having this attitude. I've tried hard over the years to be the perfect 'guest' on private lands where I've been lucky enough to gain access but it's very hard. I've knocked on many, many doors only to be rejected because of previous bad guests. I hate that answer. If I only had the chance(thinking to myself), I could show the land owner how nice of a guy I am but most are stone solid in their opinions so I respect their answers.

[Odell]

Odell, why a "complete" failure. No guys getting birds there?

The 3ft high plywood layout blinds that are completely unbrushed and impossibly uncomfortable and have a 2x4 that hits you in the chest when you try to get out and shoot are a complete failure.

Some of the properties themselves seem to never have birds but I don't know what conditions they would need.

I have stepped foot in 6 different QH properties with existing blinds and only once have I felt that the blind was worthy. The rest of the time they are a clear liability.  But I have only been in these 6.

[ICEMAN]

Odell, why a "complete" failure. No guys getting birds there?

The 3ft high plywood layout blinds that are completely unbrushed and impossibly uncomfortable and have a 2x4 that hits you in the chest when you try to get out and shoot are a complete failure.

Some of the properties themselves seem to never have birds but I don't know what conditions they would need.

I have stepped foot in 6 different QH properties with existing blinds and only once have I felt that the blind was worthy. The rest of the time they are a clear liability.  But I have only been in these 6.

Are you allowed to spend a bit of time and dress them up a bit?

[Odell]

Odell, why a "complete" failure. No guys getting birds there?

The 3ft high plywood layout blinds that are completely unbrushed and impossibly uncomfortable and have a 2x4 that hits you in the chest when you try to get out and shoot are a complete failure.

Some of the properties themselves seem to never have birds but I don't know what conditions they would need.

I have stepped foot in 6 different QH properties with existing blinds and only once have I felt that the blind was worthy. The rest of the time they are a clear liability.  But I have only been in these 6.

Are you allowed to spend a bit of time and dress them up a bit?

I would assume that you could. It wouldn't do much to help the "layout" blinds but some of the others you can brush up. Thats what I did. But they are usually not in the best spot, or too tall, or too obvious and would need a TON of brush to make them worthwhile and then some joker would pull it all apart the next time.

[Skyhigh]

I would assume that you could. It wouldn't do much to help the "layout" blinds but some of the others you can brush up. Thats what I did. But they are usually not in the best spot, or too tall, or too obvious and would need a TON of brush to make them worthwhile and then some joker would pull it all apart the next time.

The 3ft high plywood layout blinds that are completely unbrushed and impossibly uncomfortable and have a 2x4 that hits you in the chest when you try to get out and shoot are a complete failure.

Some of the properties themselves seem to never have birds but I don't know what conditions they would need.

I have stepped foot in 6 different QH properties with existing blinds and only once have I felt that the blind was worthy. The rest of the time they are a clear liability.  But I have only been in these 6.

Talk about a negative nanny! almost reminds me of that rich spoiled kid in elementary school that would throw a fit when they didnt get their way!

[Odell]

Hey, Its just a fact. As I said earlier, I like the program and wish there was a way to help it improve.

IMO proper concealment is one of the most important factors in being able to decoy and kill ducks. Especially at sites that are hunted often. Its just a bummer that they build non functional or completely obvious blinds.

It would be the same amount of work to do it right, maybe a bit more.

I visited one quality site where the blind was built 5 yards in front of a great cover spot. Literally move the blind site back 5 yards and its invisible. But instead its right out in the open and completely obvious.

[full choke]

My experience with the QH fields is pretty minimal. I know in some fields they have the permanat upright blinds, and they seem ok for the most part. For the fields that require layouts why can't they just put a stake out there and then you have to set up with 50' or whatever of the the stake? In this day, just about everybody has a layout blind. Seems to be a no brainer. I know that myself personally- no way I am climbing into a wooden box that has been laying out in a field for three months...

[mjustice79]

Sounds like a good project for a Boy Scout Troop/Eagle Scout project or some youth hunting organization to take ownership of and fix 'em up.