Waterfowling going to the birds?

[sakoshooter]

I"ve been waterfowl hunting since I was 12. Let's see - that was 46 yrs ago. Unethical jerks have always been out there but not near in the numbers as today. I have a passion for duck and goose hunting and I prefer a quality hunt over a quantity hunt any day and I'm not about to give it up for any of the reasons listed in previous posts.
As for social media giving the "whiners" more audience - maybe but that really doesn't answer the OP's questions.
Social media has given the average Joe and average jerk a place to find out about all the hot spots for most anything in the area. Duck hunting included.
There are many more waterfowlers today than I've ever seen. I hunt Nisqually, Potholes, Moses, Willapa, Longview and Cathlamet. Everyone of these locations has seen an increase in the number of hunters using them. I'm talking about "boat" hunters, not walk in hunters. I got up early and paddled my canoe long distances for many years to avoid competition and finally this year bought a duck boat/motor setup. The same way high performance boats have taken over the fishing world, the same has happened to duck hunting. It's not unusual to see a dozen large boats with very large motors and flood lights so they can drive 50mph in the dark to get their spot before you at the boat launch on any given weekend morning.
Too many hunters for too little area. Every time a 'no shooting' zone is established, those hunters have to go some place. Some place is getting crowded.
Also, a lack of enforcement agents to handle many of these jerks. Ethics is not enforceable but shooting at ducks with other hunters directly in the line of fire is.
The name of our US Fish & Wildlife Service Enforcement Officer is: Dan Huckel, mobil phone: 360-292-3500, daniel_huckel@fws.gov
Feel free to contact him about your concerns. He seems to be a good guy but is spread darn thin across western WA and part of OR. I've spoken to him a few times and met him at Nisqually. He wants to hear about the problems so he can address them.

[h2ofowlr]

It's like they say if you do good by someone a few might know.  If you piss someone off everyone will know.
Seems those that run into an issue have to vent about it on a forum these days so everyone knows.  I have ran into the same type of d-bags in the field, but move on.

I have had many great hunts this year.  Hunted with a lot of people, I don't post about it.  As you never know, someone will end up with hurt feels, think I'm bragging, hunt to much, etc.  Damned if you do damned if you don't.

If you get that frustrated with waterfowl hunting, than pick a different hobby.  I've realized that it's not for everyone.  The lazy ones that take shortcuts can make it difficult for all. 

[ghosthunter]

I think it is a combination of a bunch of factors but the main ones are:

-lack of scouting/prep work so guys have one predetermined spot they are going to hunt so if there are already people there they have no backup plan and just set up on top of them
-More hunters and less public land which is self explanatory
-Sense of entitlement i.e. "I have been hunting this spot for years so I am going to hunt it even if you are already there"
-Too much emphasis on trying to shoot a limit instead of the emphasis on an enjoyable experience in the duck blind.
-Plain and simple laziness and/or being unprepared. This leads guys to show up at shooting time or later, hold down spots illegally, skybust at birds working other people...

There are plenty more issues but even with everything mentioned above, I will continue to chase waterfowl because I have a passion for it. I have ran into my fair share of DB hunters but just remind myself why I am actually out there and try not to let it ruin my hunt. Life is far to short to let stupid stuff like that get under skin. I pick my battles and unless my immediate safety is compromised I generally just let things roll off my back as best as possible.

Well said.