Fir Island Boundary Explanation

[h2ofowlr]

I spoke with one of the game wardens that will be working Fir Island this season.  There was questions about where the 24 decoys per person restrictions started.  With out mentioning names, the warden mentioned that the entire dike for the most part has a ditch near its base that runs the entire island.  Inland of this would be where the restrictions start.  If you are on the dike, in front of the dike or on the back side of the dike you would be fine.  Once you cross the ditch line towards the interior of the island you will have to have 24 decoys set up to fall within the guideline restrictions.  It sounds like they will meet again prior to the season to make sure everyone is on the same page, so check your regs and look on-line to verify that no changes have been made.  Remember 24 decoys per individual.  If you have 10 buddies hunting together thats a minimum of 240 decoys. 
The main reason for the changes was to keep those that drive the island until the geese land and then circle and shoot the crap out of them or ground pound them.
The feds have also mentioned that there will be a lot less juvies this year, so it should be a little bit more of a challenge decoying birds.  2-3 offspring per breeding pair due to the late spring.

Skagit County Special Restrictions
It is unlawful to discharge a firearm for the purpose
of hunting waterfowl within 100 feet of any paved
public road on Fir Island or to discharge a firearm for
the purpose of hunting snow geese within 100 feet
of any paved public road in other areas of Skagit County. It is unlawful
to hunt snow geese on Fir Island, Skagit County, inland of surrounding
dikes, unless each hunter sets up a minimum of 24 snow geese decoys.
Additionally, it is unlawful to hunt snow geese over decoys unless the
decoys are set up in a realistic pattern, are under the immediate control of
the hunter, and are not left unattended. For the purposes of this section
a "decoy" is defined as any structure the size of or larger than a mallard
duck decoy. A violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.400.
While hunting snow geese, if a hunter is convicted of 1) trespass,
2) shooting from, across, or along the maintained part of any public highway,
3) discharging a firearm for the purpose of hunting waterfowl within
100 feet of any paved public road on Fir Island or discharging a firearm for
the purpose of hunting snow geese within 100 feet of any paved public
road in other areas of Skagit County, 4) exceeding the daily bag limit for
snow geese, or 5) violating decoy requirements, written authorization will
be invalidated for the remainder of the current snow goose season and an
authorization will not be issued for the subsequent snow goose season.

[vandeman17]

That is pretty interesting. While I don't hunt up there because it is a crap shoot, I actually like where they are going with this. My uncle is a trainer in Conway and he said he has seen some pretty crazy stuff out there. Hopefully this keeps some of the pukes out of there that like to call themselves waterfowlers. 

[Dustin07]

yeah I kind of like the 24 deek rule too. it's not even so much that its a big investment for people, it's more the fact that it takes at least a few minutes of leg work to get out there and setup. you have to put in at least a half effort to 'hunt' whereas before people would just walk out there and pass shoot. very annoying if you had birds decoying.

[SuperDave]

I like the new plan as well, makes it more of a hunt than a shoot!!

[h2ofowlr]

They will be meeting to go over the newly adopted rules on Sept. 30th.  We will see how they clarify everything and if any changes are made as they have created quite a stir on the island.  Most are against the additional "restrictions as a hole".  Not whether it makes sense, just less freedoms and more opportunities for those that haven't crossed all the T's and dotted all the I's to get ticketed.  The ones that work the island all season probably will be reasonable.  The new guys they bring from other areas to work the weekends, will be ticket happy.
I guess the good thing is they are still letting us hunt the snows.  They haven't closed it down.

[Dustin07]

just FYI off craigslist today. I don't live on the island even though I have spent a lot of time there. I don't really have a problem with the new regs. I kinda like them because I'm tired of dike sky busters screwing up decoying snows while they're still 100 yards up. This guy claims snows quit decoying 1 week into the season. I had snows decoying in January.

his contact info is on craigslist. I won't post it here for his privacy because then it would be perm. it will fall of CL in a week.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/spo/1970468607.html

Attn. Fir Island Snow Goose Hunters (Fir Island)

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Date: 2010-09-23, 7:59PM PDT
Reply to: sale-xrsdt-1970468607@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

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Please do not delete post Im only trying to get the word out to help the sportsman.

Fir Island Snow Goose Hunters

On Sept 30th the WDFW will be having a meeting to discuss the recap of the Aug. 6th Commission action regarding snow goose hunting on Fir Island. I will be attending this meeting by invitation from Jan Sabin. I am going because I believe the current rule changes to Fir Island regarding decoy displacement and road setbacks designed to discourage irresponsible hunting on the Island will discourage responsible hunters as well. Its a well known fact that the geese stop decoying up about a week into the season therefore this new rule can only be seen as a rule to justify ticketing hunters perhaps to pay for the thousands of game agents hours on Fir Island during the season. We are creating more regulations to try to solve a problem and again the responsible hunter pays the price. If you are a pass shooter and the geese fly over you on your way to deploy your 24 decoys and you shoot you will be sited. The WDFW have created more regulations to try to discourage a minority of irresponsible hunters. I am very concerned about Snow goose hunting on the Island now and for future generations.
I have hunted and fished the Whatcom- Skagit area for 40 years and every year helped
to support our local businesses and WDFW.

If you would like to have input at this meeting please call or email me your letters and I will forward them, my goal is to present WDFW Region 4, Captain Bill Hebner with a stack of letters from responsible hunters that are concerned about the future of hunting on Fir Island.

[h2ofowlr]

Last year there were a lot of juvies, so that helps on the decoying of birds.  This year it will be mainly matures.  If you are set up close to the refuge are in between the bay and the field they have been using you will have good shooting.  If you are outside of that it is hit and miss.  Those that have caused this the new rules to go into effect, do serve a purpose, if anything they get the birds moving.  If you have hunted you know once they set up they bounce around, the eagles will get them up, but a group of hunters will push the birds and give everyone in there path non stop action until they land again.  The same guys will still figure out ways around the rules as in sticking 24 decoys at the edge of the ditch line or 24 clorox bottle tied to a sting, etc.  Everyone looks as this will solve the issues they have.  The dike busters will continue as the new rules take effect from the ditchline at the bottom of the dike to the interior of the island.  The unfortunate thing more rules bring is more opportunity for people to get tickets.  At some point the hunters need to push back and say enough regulations or next year there will be something new.  Many home owners on the island that hunt have days where the geese are passing over there homes at 15-20 yards.  I have been out there where we step out the door and everyone shoots there geese in 10 minutes as they pass in waves.  Now they will get a ticket if caught doing this.  Instead of more regs pull the cards of the problem makers.  That would make for a quick fix.  No card, illegal to shoot snows.  Problem solved. 

[Dustin07]

OK that's some good points there, thanks. You're definitely right about people getting the birds moving around, and the idea that a farmer on his own land would need 24 decoys to shoot geese on his own property if other saftey laws are followed is a bit much.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys find at the meeting. if there is a compromise of the rules or if they stand as presented.

[GEARHEAD]

My buddy was with his nephew in carnation today, so the kid could hunt. said he spoke with a game warden out there, and the warden stated that anywhere on the island including on the dykes and infront of, must have decoys.  i think he is wrong, and wouldn't be surprised if its just a deliberate attempt by the gamie to spew out some misleading info for fun. there is an older gamie up at the island that does do this, so it keeps me scratchin my head.

[bigtex]

My buddy was with his nephew in carnation today, so the kid could hunt. said he spoke with a game warden out there, and the warden stated that anywhere on the island including on the dykes and infront of, must have decoys.  i think he is wrong, and wouldn't be surprised if its just a deliberate attempt by the gamie to spew out some misleading info for fun. there is an older gamie up at the island that does do this, so it keeps me scratchin my head.

Here is my "issue" with your statement. WDFW Officers are supposed to know their patrol areas like the back of their hands, so a officer who works King County is supposed to know all the regs for hunting and fishing in King County. They are not supposed to know the specific regs about an area two counties away such as this instance. When a WDFW Officer goes to work another area for an emphasis patrol they research the regs just like we do, it's basically impossible for every WDFW Officer to know every regulation for every season in this state. Where would you get your best info about Fir Island, from a WDFW Officer in Skagit County or a WDFW Officer in King County who might never work Fir Island? It is always best to seek the local knowledge.

Also I know the "older gamie" you are talking about. Actually there are two older officers in Skagit County and they actually have both just retired and no longer work for WDFW.

[Dustin07]

what is a realistic pattern for decoys in regards to this rule?

is this just so that a guy can't have a stack of 24 shells sitting next to him, he has to actually deploy them?

[GEARHEAD]

Well, Tex, i did just that last year. and this gentleman, short tubby, with white hair, that you say may be retired, and i hope its true, was giving others wrong info on some signage out there, i spoke with him, and he said i would get a ticket if he saw me at a certain area. i found that this was incorrect, and hunted it anyways with the blessing of dept wildlife on site. i would say more, but i wont, as the misleading info did help me last year, in keeping so many away. There are some new guys out there now, they are young and real good guys, i have no doubt they'd right up their mother, but they are extremely professional and dedicated and play by the rules. they also got some cool toys to determine your shot loads, and capacity. love those guys. hope they clean things up.

[Dustin07]

Well, Tex, i did just that last year. and this gentleman, short tubby, with white hair, that you say may be retired, and i hope its true, was giving others wrong info on some signage out there, i spoke with him, and he said i would get a ticket if he saw me at a certain area. i found that this was incorrect, and hunted it anyways with the blessing of dept wildlife on site. i would say more, but i wont, as the misleading info did help me last year, in keeping so many away. There are some new guys out there now, they are young and real good guys, i have no doubt they'd right up their mother, but they are extremely professional and dedicated and play by the rules. they also got some cool toys to determine your shot loads, and capacity. love those guys. hope they clean things up.

yeah they're hardcore about your shot loads and barrel capacity up there. it's probably for the best. Everytime I've encountered gamies elsewhere in the state they are very pleasant and don't question me on any of that stuff. even the license. they just ask if I have it but don't look. maybe I don't look like a problem. 

[h2ofowlr]

Bring documentation with you.  I have a book with all the documentation that I keep in my rig.  I was checked 8-9 times last year and the ones that didn't work the island usually had no clue.  Some didn't even know which ducks were which.  The new guys will come across hard and if you give them to much of an issue, they will cite you.  They let the judge sort it out for there lack of knowing.  If you have to go to the judge in Skagit county he advises everyone to retain a lawyer if you wish to contest the $150 ticket or pay up.  It's a screwed up deal.  Most would rather pay the ticket then pay what could amount to $2k even if they are not guilty.  I watched this go down several times with different individuals over the past few years.  We had a guy from Snohomish County that said 3 witnesses saw us running and gunning.  The problem was, we never even went out in the bay.  We motored across the river and walked into a unit.  The issue at hand happened over a mile from where we were even at.  He was set on giving us a ticket eventhough we kept telling him we weren't even remotely involved.  We were getting ready to call the state patrol to talk to this guy.

[bigtex]

Bring documentation with you.  I have a book with all the documentation that I keep in my rig.  I was checked 8-9 times last year and the ones that didn't work the island usually had no clue.

Thats the one thing that sucks about Fir Island enforcement. WDFW requires atleast one officer to be on the island anytime goose hunting is going on because of the issues they've had in the past, they made this a requirement in the 2006-7 season. Well there is no way that the group of officers that work Skagit County could provide that type of staffing. So WDFW sends officers from all over the state to work the hunt. And sometimes officers do make mistakes.