YouTube and Public Duck Hunting

[Mikey The Cat]

I'm curious. Have any of you had a public spot "revealed" via YouTube? A segment with obvious landmarks in the footage that has (or has not) lead to increased pressure there? Personally, I've had three such spots should up in YouTube segments, with a corresponding rise, albeit in one case slight, in popularity...something I can only attribute to YouTube and "Internet Scouting."

And to you YouTubers among the crowd - Do you take any care NOT to show revealing landmarks when you're hunting public ground? Is it unavoidable? Are "views and subscribers" more important than hot-spotting a piece of public?

I don't (really) have an axe to grind here, but I'm just wondering if anyone else is seeing something like this?

[JimmyHoffa]

I can see how it would, like anything else posted online. Steelhead fishing ended up getting flooded in the honey holes after videos and message boards.

[hunter399]

Not duck hunting.
Deer hunting yes.
A spot I hunt almost every year for the past ten years just showed up on a YouTube channel.
Most likely there truck was there in the mourning at the gate.
And I went to a different spot.
I won't make that mistake again.
The video showed them shooting at a decent buck.
But they missed. Not sure if it was past there abilities,but if they would of got closer,they would of got a nice one.

[duckmen1]

I have seen this on many occasions. I have seen many hunting and fishing areas I have been to on youtube. And seen increase pressure afterwards. Some people just want to feel like they are the center of attention no matter the conciquence to the area for hunting and fishing.

Such as one thing that upset me more than anything was when I brought a "friend" out to an area for geese and ducks. I told him the area got minimal pressure and to say nothing to anyone about the spot. It was my one reliable spot for geese if you put in the work. He then turned around and took a bunch of other people to the area and then they all started hunting it. The spot went downhill quick. But I can say if anyone would find success in the area it would be me with close to 20 years studying those birds and habits in the spot. But that guy would tell all the other spots I brought him to including a good elk spot. We were together at the sportsmans show and it seemed every elk hunter or booth we approached he would get in conversation and bring up the exact spot for elk to people down to the opening I would set up in. It was very frustrating. And I no longer speak to that individual. I put a lot of work into the areas I hunt. Public sure, ethically respecting your hunting partner I did not see in that case. We had discussions many times and did not make a difference. He always wanted to be center of attention to make people think he was the one that put the work in. In all reality that wasn't the case.

As time went on I am very cautious of who I include in my hunting party and such. Continue to put forth the most effort I can on all hunts and continue to see very good success. But every year takes more effort to keep that success. I am at the point I enjoy talking hunting and fishing, but I don't care if anyone sees my success or not. I hunt for my passion of the outdoors in all aspects. But not to impress others.

[Alan K]

I haven't paid much attention to WA stuff, but have found it pretty easy to find spots out of state, decipher what tags folks had, and seen the country during the hunt's time of year thanks to youtube. It's great knowledge when applying for places you've never set foot.

I do think it's crazy folks post them online for a little notoriety. Filming hunts is awesome, I've video'd all that I could of mine and my family's hunts since 2010 but it's just to share with family and friends, and rewatching years later and reminiscing. I'm not looking to blow up my favorite spots by broadcasting to the world... The most curious ones are non-resident guys in WY publishing their 'DIY' hunts from wilderness areas.  Maybe they have resident guides with them that never appear on camera, but it sure doesn't seem like it since they're never mentioned or shown in the video.

[Stein]

I found a spot by doing a bunch of YouTube research, I don't post videos.

[KP-Skagit]

Personally, the most disruptive thing I have seen is the "buddy" who decides it's also his spot.

Duck hunting I have not seen a ton of impacts, maybe this is because the public land around here is pretty well understood and gets pressured heavily. You can have some great shoots but conditions are everything.

[hdshot]

I attribute a lot more pressure due to many public areas lost due to development or other reasons.  Probable have lost over 100k acers of good public land since starting in the mid 80's.  Yes, some is still public but too much pressure to even waste gas or turns into target shooting areas that looks like a dump.  Also, the pandemic caused outdoor activities to explode and now can't even find the basics when needing something unexpected.  Answering the main question, I have lost areas due to just my shooting finding those hidden gems that others then find and pressure the game out.  One time someone else got permission of my newly found spot because they heard and then found me and they made the landowner upset causing me to lose the spot as well.  Not fun showing up to ask getting a quick lecture about picking up my beer cans and the door being shut before I had time to explain not me.

[JimmyHoffa]

It is interesting that in that timeframe from the 70s/80s most of the official hunter numbers were twice what they are now.

[hdshot]

It is interesting that in that timeframe from the 70s/80s most of the official hunter numbers were twice what they are now.

Was amazing how much land and game there was back then to keep that many hunters successful. Today’s generation don’t even care if they get a driver’s license.

[metlhead]

I scout YouTube constantly looking to figure out the spots, both fowl and fish. I don't utilize these places, rather try to recognize my own areas. I think most folks that chase these vids don't put in the time to be consistently successful and just move on.

[h2ofowlr]

Yes, seen many public places on YouTube posted along with Instagram.  Probably the same folks that complain about all the hunting pressure, unethical hunters, skybusting and other crap that they help create.  It’s very unfortunate as I met a group from Olympia in a public spot, they found via posts on social media.  They complained for 15 minutes on how bad it was with skybusting, people setting up to close, people shooting to many shells, other groups shooting their birds on the swing, etc.  Unfortunate that people feel the need to post all this stuff on-line for the armchair scouters.