Space courtesy question

[ballstothewaal]

Today I was hunting one of the local lakes with one of my friends. We were in our spot with our spread out about 2 hours before shooting light because we knew there were going to be plenty of people wanting to hunt today. About 45 minutes before shooting light, a boat edged across our spread and I watched them boat about 50 yards to our right. They put out their spread and as shooting light arrived birds were flying. We had a couple flocks begin to work our spread and on their way to commit when the guys next to us began blasting shots. This happened 2 or 3 times. Long story short, they ended up shooting 4 or 5 birds and we shot 0. My question is how would you guys handle it? Should we have gone before light and told them they were too close or is it something we just have to deal with. It seemed extremely disrespectful considering we got there 4 hours early so we could claim the spot we wanted. Plus, I think there is a rule about needing to be 200 yards away right? Should we have called a warden? There was plenty of space on the lake. I could be just bitter but I think it was pretty messed up. 

[vandeman17]

It's a bit of a jerk move on their part but it's part of hunting public land. Ethics aren't in everyone's vocabulary. Only suggestion would be to possibly approach them and see if you guys could have hunted together. Never know, might make a new hunting friend

[Tealer]

I start sinking their decoys.


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[EWUeagles]

Was it really 50 yards? That would put them pretty much right on top of you. When I see a boat approaching me I start flashing my spot light at them to let them know I am there. If they still come in then I would go have a conversation with them. If nothing else works Tealer's suggestion might be the best bet. Opening day is the only time I have ever had a problem, it seems like once the first chilly morning hits all those A-holes stop getting up. Sorry about the ruined hunt man.

[CAMPMEAT]

Maybe it was their spot too..........just sayin', you got there first and it pissed them off too for you being in their spot. 

[vandeman17]

We had ppl come in and hunt less than 40 yards from us Saturday. They had set their dekes the night before but we didn't see them as we came in from the other end of the pond. Not much you can do. Gotta love the opener

[MC37493]

Maybe it was their spot too..........just sayin', you got there first and it pissed them off too for you being in their spot. 

. Maybe they should have gotten up early to claim there spot like the op did? If they are experienced duck hunters at all which I'm assuming they are they should know your not going to always get your spot if you want to get there 45 mins before light on public land.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

We had ppl come in and hunt less than 40 yards from us Saturday. They had set their dekes the night before but we didn't see them as we came in from the other end of the pond. Not much you can do. Gotta love the opener

Unless you were both hunting private property, dekes shouldn't be out before 4am...
Decoy Restrictions IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Place waterfowl decoys prior to 4:00 a.m

[Netminder01]

First come first serve.  50 yards is a bunk move no matter what and probably made the hunting less enjoyable for both parties.

I would've encouraged them not to set up there from the moment they motored through my spread.

[Skillet]

I have had something similar happen before at Potholes Reservoir on opening morning.  It sucks, since nobody has the experience they were hoping for.  I don't duck hunt any more, and this is one of the primary reasons for it.

[vandeman17]

We had ppl come in and hunt less than 40 yards from us Saturday. They had set their dekes the night before but we didn't see them as we came in from the other end of the pond. Not much you can do. Gotta love the opener

Unless you were both hunting private property, dekes shouldn't be out before 4am...
Decoy Restrictions IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Place waterfowl decoys prior to 4:00 a.m

Yes we know that and so did they and fully admitted it. They said they didn't expect anyone to be out there since its a long hike.

[pianoman9701]

We had ppl come in and hunt less than 40 yards from us Saturday. They had set their dekes the night before but we didn't see them as we came in from the other end of the pond. Not much you can do. Gotta love the opener

Actually, you're not allowed to set your dekes the night before. Those would be abandoned. You can't leave them for more than an hour and you can't set them up before 400AM

From page 18:

"Decoy Restrictions
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
• Place waterfowl decoys prior to
4:00 a.m.; allow or permit waterfowl
decoys to be unattended or not in
your immediate control for a period
greater than one hour; or fail to remove
waterfowl decoys within two hours after
the close of established daily hunting
hours on days open to waterfowl
hunting on department owned or
controlled lands, waters, or access areas."

[pianoman9701]

I'd have first attempted to get them to move by talking with them and next, called a game warden to come out. That's BS and it's too close for safety, as well. Someone going out to move decoys or fetch a bird is at risk.

[Special T]

It doesnt really matter where your at it seems some one is going to "cork" you. I had some jackwagon set up 40 yards (no BS) from me at lake Vancouver unit despite me shine ing my flashlight at him... when he started splashing his decoys i told him "your a little close arnt you! so he moved down another 40 yards. 

Ive had guys shooting over the top of me off the dike on the skagit bay while wearing yellow helly hanson rain gear! 

my buddies have been set up less than 100 yards when out in a boat on skagit bay.

I think what these mental midgets fail to realize is that no one will have a good time.

I set up on the skagit rive during a freeze up and had some steele headers (im guessing) plant thier boat right in front of my decoys!

[sakoshooter]

With my easy going attitude and reserved opinions, LOL, I'd have had words w/them the very second it started to look like they were setting up that close. If that didn't work, paddle over and sit with them. I did that once. When I told the guy I was going to hunt in his blind since he was hunting over my decoys, he decided to find a different spot. I don't get to play near as much as I'd like so when I get up early to get a decent spot on the duck marsh, I'm certainly not going to let any unethical jerk ruin it.