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.


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[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?


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[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.


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[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?