Duck Hunter cheaters

[winslow]

There are hunting units near me that are private property designated as "feel free to hunt."

There are 5 quality waterfowl units and it's a pleasure to hunt there.

Access is allowed starting two hours before hunting hours begin. Parking at the spot for a given unit claims that unit.

Two days running now I've arrived within 5 minutes of access time to parked cars with cold engines at all 5 units.

Parking overnight to reserve a spot is specifically disallowed.

What to do? Kind of unimpressed with this apparent lack of integrity. Is that how it's done here in Washington?

[CP]

What to do?

Take pictures of the rigs; post them on this site for public humiliation.  Report them to the WDFW.

Is that how it's done here in Washington?

Sometimes, I expect it is the same elsewhere.

[seth30]

In the past another forum member did this and it created excellent  results

[winslow]

Thanks for the input, guys. Didn't know if I should just get over it.

There was a guy parked, not even at a parking spot, getting ready to hunt, and I stopped to talk to him a minute.

He started ranting about the "*censored* 15 shell limit" and how he didn't give a crap what they think, he'll park where he wants, there's lots of room and so on.

I was getting worried that this behavior was normal and accepted.

More than anything, I don't want those private lands to get closed because of the bad behavior of a few.

[birddogdad]

cell phone, timestamp pic of all offenders, fwd to WDFW. Follow up with calls. interesting rule though, don't you think? lends itself to this action every time to get a spot with all the hunters out there... in the old days, the "best" spots were covered and slept on by those die hards who really wanted them, which was just as messed up.

This could be a great future topic for seasonal rule changes based on excess hunters. Like, Western Pheasant odd/even days or a call to obtain auth to park day prior to hunt? would make more sense if you had several hours drive. the emotion of being "full up" after that midnight drive would go way down...

[CP]

Yes, the type of abuse that you describe is what leads to these private landowners pulling out of the program.  I’ve seen many good feel-free-to-hunt hunts closed because of slob hunters violating the rules and pissing off the landowners and/or the WDFW.

The areas that you are referring to are also high visibility to the non-hunting bird watchers; when they starting complaining the WDFW usually reacts by closing the unit.

Nip this in the bud if you can.

[sakoshooter]

Definitely contact WDFW Enforcement.

[ghosthunter]

cell phone, timestamp pic of all offenders, fwd to WDFW. Follow up with calls. interesting rule though, don't you think? lends itself to this action every time to get a spot with all the hunters out there... in the old days, the "best" spots were covered and slept on by those die hards who really wanted them, which was just as messed up.

This could be a great future topic for seasonal rule changes based on excess hunters. Like, Western Pheasant odd/even days or a call to obtain auth to park day prior to hunt? would make more sense if you had several hours drive. the emotion of being "full up" after that midnight drive would go way down...

So I understand not being there all night. But most the signs on the sites have a map to the blind and say No Access before 4 am. So is it access out to the blind or access at the parking?
Four trucks show up five minutes to four, Who gets it? It really is a vague rule.
I have been up at sites 30 minutes before and no one else ever showed up. I have been to a site 30 minutes early and have two more guys show up five minutes later and be mad because I beat them by five minutes.
The fact is if you show up at those sites at 4 am you will never hunt them. Ever.

Washington has the smallest access to the number of hunters. Washington has one of the fastest growing populations in the US.
This problem is not going away with a regulation. Because there is no enforcement.

The time access of 4 am is a state thing. I doubt most land owners who are farmers care when you park there unless their house is right there.
Everyone can't get there at 4 am. Someone has to be first and late.
If it was a reserve on line spot. Same thing there would always be somebody there.

Not enough good public access.
Not saying I like any of this. So in late season I just take my boat out . Shoot less ducks but more relaxing.
 

[ghosthunter]

Here answered my own question .

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/wqhp/