Abracadabra

Dave, is that Australian grass or
Phragmites? I ask because it may not be a good idea to grass either a blind with phrag, since the seeds on that invasive plant will spread like wildfire. The aussie ornamental seems to be reluctant to spread. We use some of that to grass our goose blinds-field stuff. We have had a good source for a number of years. Free is good!!!
Have a good season.
 
george w said:
Dave, is that Australian grass or
Phragmites? I ask because it may not be a good idea to grass either a blind with phrag, since the seeds on that invasive plant will spread like wildfire. The aussie ornamental seems to be reluctant to spread. We use some of that to grass our goose blinds-field stuff. We have had a good source for a number of years. Free is good!!!
Have a good season.
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Yes, free is good and this stuff holds up well and lasts all season. Good, bad or otherwise, it has been pretty prevalent in the yards and ditches around here for many years. I don't see it growing in the marshes or along the river banks. It may occur, but I don't see it in the areas I frequent.

I talked with my local DNR officer about this just the other day. His response was that I was OK using this particular plant. It would not surprise me if other states would have a much different view of what is OK and what is unacceptable.

I hope you have a good season too.
 
Was hopeing that was an ornamental grass but if its Phrags please do remove the seed heads. As George stated we on the east coast no how that stuff will destroy a marsh. And yes 30 years ago lots of folks used it here, because it was free and held up all season. Guilty myself. That's what spread it so bad in our marshes. It will destroy any food value in a wetland once it starts spreading. Every year they burn 1000,s of acres of marsh in Blackwater Wildlife Refuge trying to keep the stuff at bay but its damn near impossible to eradicate without a lengthy period of herbicide application.
 
roy brewington said:
Was hopeing that was an ornamental grass but if its Phrags please do remove the seed heads. As George stated we on the east coast no how that stuff will destroy a marsh. And yes 30 years ago lots of folks used it here, because it was free and held up all season. Guilty myself. That's what spread it so bad in our marshes. It will destroy any food value in a wetland once it starts spreading. Every year they burn 1000,s of acres of marsh in Blackwater Wildlife Refuge trying to keep the stuff at bay but its damn near impossible to eradicate without a lengthy period of herbicide application.
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I'm 100% in agreement, which is exactly why I get my blind materials checked with my local DNR. (see my earlier response to George concerning this) Getting materials checked and OK'ed, is not a requirement yet, but I feel better knowing that I am not adding to the problem with invasive plants. Three of my local rivers, the Shell Rock, the West Fork Cedar and the Cedar River, already contain invasive non-native species. I don't wish to add to this.

We are not quite as backward and isolated as you seem to believe. Yes free is good, free and approved is even better.

The Iowa DNR is well aware of the dangers of invasive plants, and I'm sure would like to have your input.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 E. 9th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-003

I am grateful for your concern and hope you have a great season too.
 
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Well , Dave I never meant to imply you were anything but possably unaware which it seems you are. You would be surprised at the number of waterfowlers that aren,t to this day. Heres hopeing you have a great season also. It deffinately won,t turn sour from birds picking out your boat !
 
Dave, have you asked your dnr guys if it was phrag or the Aussie stuff. If they sis say Phrag, it might be good to put them onto this thread-better yet, ask them to get in touch with dnr's on the coast. The only benefit it seems to have is that it DOES hold man made dykes together. If removed via spray, the dykes are quite vulnerable to tidal erosion. Guess there is a benefit to the #$^%^#$ stuff, after all.[;)]
 
Hey Dave two questions. do you use some sort of backer to keep it from just collapsing over you? how do you hunt / drive the boat with it that high? Just stated grassing my Chuck in and it just all wants to smother me.[crazy]
 
Joe Bruno said:
Hey Dave two questions. do you use some sort of backer to keep it from just collapsing over you? how do you hunt / drive the boat with it that high? Just stated grassing my Chuck in and it just all wants to smother me.[crazy]
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Several factors;
(A) the seed pods get trimmed away. this brings it down to just above the height of the dodger.
(B) I run with the dodger up at all times, which means I am standing to see where I'm going.
(C) the material I use is stiff enough and packed very tight, it does easily fall over.
(D) during use it thins out a bit and wears holes such that it is no longer a sloid wall.

That said, yes it can be a bit restrictive if one is semi-reclining in the cockpit. Ducks that are truly committed and landing in the pocket are the only ones in danger. Sitting on a short swivel seat will allow a fuller range of both sight and gun swing. I swap out positions (semi reclining vs. sitting on a short seat) during the hunt depending on conditions.
 
thanks, this is season two with the boat so Im still trying to figure it out. like the first time out and you find out from a reclined position that you can't follow through to your hard right.
 
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