How close is too close?

[CP]

I setup this morning about an hour before legal shooting time, all alone.  About 40 minutes later I could hear a couple of guys and dog setting up to my right, pretty close but out of sight behind a line of trees.  I made a mental note not to shoot to the right but it seemed safe enough with the trees and all.  Turned out to be close enough to rain shot into my set, but shot falling from above doesn't have much energy and didn’t bother me. 

About 9:00am I see two guys setting up about 50 yards beyond my spread.  They are directly in front, across the landing zone that I left in the dekes.  That seemed close enough that the shot would at least sting.  Now I can’t shoot right or straight ahead, I don’t really want to get shot and odds of a duck making it to my spread without getting shot at are pretty slim, so I pack up and leave. 

I’m kind of new to this whole public land duck hunting, what’s the etiquette?   Am I being too picky?  Just how much room do parties normal give each other in these crowded areas?

[chester]

Sounds like they were way too close for comfort. I'd prefer a couple hundred yards minimum. 50 yards is just a 

[bobcat]

I wouldn't want to be closer than about a quarter of a mile from another group of duck hunters. A half mile would be even better. That was extremely rude for somebody to set up 50 yards from you. I probably would have made sure to let them know I was there. Maybe they didn't know you were there? Since you were alone, you could have invited them to hunt with you. That would at least be better than competing with them 50 yards away.

[Tealer]

When people set up that close I usually go and talk to them.

[h2ofowlr]

Sounds like you were hunting up north.  Did a set up on Friday on public land.  Guys would come and walk through our set instead of going around.  Then decided to set up about 50 yards down.  We had a talk with him.

[Shootmoore]

This right here is the reason I gave up waterfowl hunting when I moved over here to the wet side.

My first year over here a guy offered to take me duck hunting.  We went down to the islands on the south fork of the skagit and set up on a pond/flooded field.  Got our deek's set up and blinded up before daylight.  Could hear other hunters moving around in the area.  At shooting light a loan mallard came winging in.  It sounded like WWIII no idea who shot the poor thing.  Looking around in the light there were 6 other deke sets on this water.  Last time I went out, just to dang crowded for me.  Miss the days on the columbia around Brewster and Bridgeport.  You MIGHT see someone else along ways away.

4 dozen duck and 60 goose dekes gatherin dust.
Shootmoore

[D-Rock425]

thanksgiving day was the last day i was duck hunting it was a zoo people setting up on top of other people and people getting pepperd with shot.  I just picked up and headed home.  I didnt stop duck hunting becouse of this I've just been deer hunting the last few weeks.  If i could fill my 2nd deer tag I would be out duck hunting too

[wrangler]

if i was there first (like it sounds like you were) id be pissed and id make sure they knew about it. its no different than huntin the modern rifle season on opening weekend, you gotta kinda expect it if your huntin ducks on the west side, but that doesn't mean you have to be ok with it. on friday mornin i had a couple guys come putzin through in a john boat around 9am up a little back water slough with 3 feet of water, they were pushing mud with there 9.9 runnin full tilt and ran right through my dekes that i set up at 6am after i sloged a half mile through iced over tide flats in 18 degree weather... sure as *censored* they set up 30 feet above me without a god damn care in the world. they defiantly pee sitting down, no doubt. some folks just don't get it. poor sob's, you kinda gotta feel bad for em, being inherently retarded and all...

[1bowhunter1]

I duck hunted 1 time ONLY!!!  The worst time I ever had in the field.  Seen one little ass duck with a limp...

[jordano]

that is absolutely ridiculous!!! I know kind of an unwritten ettiquette thing in certain areas on the eastside where we boat in. We have a big spotlight and people have headlamps and spotlights too. when we are looking for a spot and there are already people there they shine back to give perspective of where people are so you can set up hundreds of yards away. I think that is totally rude and ridiculous those two groups set up so close!!!

[Chesapeake]

When we set up in the dark we do so with headlamps on. If others aproach we shine the lights in thier direction to make sure they know we are there. If they still try and set up close we talk to them about it.

I've never had anyone be confrontational. Some are rude, and some arent, but they tend to move along if asked to do so. Also had a few join us when we offered, but most just move along.

The key I think is letting them know quickly. You dont want to wait till they are set to tell them they are too close.

[buckman]

Unfortunately this is becoming a common accordance up north; some of those guys just don’t get it. When this happens to me I’ll make a quit announcement that there to close and should have gotten up a little earlier if they wanted to hunt this spot. This usually does the trick. At least I haven’t had to shoot anybody yet...

[LarsHunt]

Up north is just stupid!  I took my sons one morning and had two guys walk though the decoy set 30 minutes before shooting hours and this is after flashing them with our lights.  They set up about 50 yards away, but not a good set and only sky busted.  They never dropped one bird.  Another guy set up about 100 yards away after we flashed him with our lights.  That day we only hunted for about one hour and left with 4 birds.  I teach my boys to look before they set up and be respectful of other hunters and that includes sharing our set up with other late comers so that we don't compete.  I really dislike the so called hunters that come and stand about 40 yards away and shoot at the ducks that are circling around our deeks.  If you can not set up at least 150 -200 yards away then don't hunt there.  Please be aware of others hard work before you set up and ruin their day.

[steeleywhopper]

I used to hunt ducks with a vengance,now I like to have 3 to 5 quality trips a year. I live up North and have been on this rodeo ride before. I have had guys try and  set up directly across from us inside of 75yrds. I walked over and had a chat with them and they did not like that. I then asked them if they were going to be upset when I shot and the BB's rip through their blind. They left. If I show up late (usually on purpose) I will glass the layout and try and see where other guys are set. I will then watch how the birds react to their calling, spread, and cover. Do the birds really want in where they are? Are they sky busting birds that are not interested? Are they using a sporting goods store full of decoys with 6 wing ducks?
 After going through the above scenereo last year, I walked in to some popular public land with 6 decoys and set up in the middle of a flooded field. I carried in a handfull of branches and long grass from the parking lot and made a minimal blind. I proceeded to pull in every bird for a hour straight and shoot a limit. Sometimes Less is more. I love to put as much distance between me and everyone else, this is why I will wait until the early birds leave, then I show up and usually have a great afternoon hunt all to myself.