Steve Steffy
Well-known member
Yeah, I would pretty much say that sums it up. I'm referring to those ignorant slobs that hunt Presque Isle; though, I'm quite certain this occurs elsewhere too. That's why I'm posting this here.
Is it really that difficult to pick up your empty casings when your done hunting? Or even as you shoot? Is it too much to ask to take the garbage...potato chip bags, candy wrappers, coffee cups, empty propane bottles, etc. with you when you're finished hunting? You brought them in with you after all, ever hear of "Leave No Trace"?
Quite frankly, I'm embarrassed to be associated with the duck hunters of today. Not all of them mind you, I know a lot of stand up duck hunters / waterfowlers and I'm absolutely certain they won't take offense to this post, those that take any offense are likely included in the ignorant slob category.
I was going to hunt Presque Isle today and decided against it due to a cold my son passed around our household during the holidays. Instead, I loaded up the wife, my son and two labs and figured we could just go check out the blinds on beach 11 to see if there was any open water / action to speak of. We did manage to see a couple flights of birds which made it tempting to come back later in the afternoon for a hunt. But I gotta say, I'm ashamed for what my wife witnessed in the blinds we walked by and in.
She has never come along on a duck hunt with me before and she was curious as we approached the first blind and wanted to see inside. Shotgun shells were everywhere and trash littered all about...inside and outside the blind. We continued down the beach to the next blind...same thing only on a grander scale. Not only was there trash everywhere, but it looked as if every duck that was harvested from that blind was beaten against the blind over and over again....inside and out. Blood splattered everywhere, it looked like a freakin' crime scene! Next blind? Same thing! Am I missing something here? Or are we supposed to bloodlet our ducks as we harvest them? If so, are we supposed to make it a point to get the blood all over everything in sight? I'm thinking this is not the case. My guess is that it can be directly attributed to the kill 'em all, no respect mentality that's portrayed in the magazines and TV shows presented today. You guys really need to grow up and get a clue and quit idolizing slobs that give waterfowlers (as well as other hunters) a bad name. Here's an idea...do your own thing!
I don't get it! I clearly recall the President of the Northwest PA Duck Hunters Association, Mr. Pat Tarasovitch, including in the club newsletter to try and police your empties and garbage after each hunt. Not that a true sportsman that actually cares for the game he seeks and the environment needed to sustain the game, should need to be told. It's just done automatically by those individuals. Anybody that hunts these blinds should be well aware that this is the organization that manages these blinds with the grace of the DCNR. It's a STATE PARK people...they can manage (i.e. close) duck hunts on the park if they choose to do so. There are a LOT of so called "hunters" that need a swift kick, not in the behind, but in the mid frontal region, before they lose this hunting grounds for everybody. It's a privilege to hunt on this piece of land, not a right. And a there is a lot of work done behind the scenes to make this hunt happen every year. This work is done by a handful of dedicated volunteers that apparently receive very little in the way of respect from the people that benefit from their efforts. Pat Tarasovitch and Shawn Feiock, my hat is off to the both of you.
Lastly, these blinds are wide open to the public and most are very easily accessible. How do you slobs think the public will react to what they see? This is a great place to breed anti-hunting sentiment if you ask me. It's no wonder blinds get tagged with spray paint each year. And yes, that includes this year. I saw at least three blinds spray painted by an anti-hunter today. Not that I condone this behavior, but what do you expect, really?
I guess I'm done venting, thanks for listening.
Steve
Is it really that difficult to pick up your empty casings when your done hunting? Or even as you shoot? Is it too much to ask to take the garbage...potato chip bags, candy wrappers, coffee cups, empty propane bottles, etc. with you when you're finished hunting? You brought them in with you after all, ever hear of "Leave No Trace"?
Quite frankly, I'm embarrassed to be associated with the duck hunters of today. Not all of them mind you, I know a lot of stand up duck hunters / waterfowlers and I'm absolutely certain they won't take offense to this post, those that take any offense are likely included in the ignorant slob category.
I was going to hunt Presque Isle today and decided against it due to a cold my son passed around our household during the holidays. Instead, I loaded up the wife, my son and two labs and figured we could just go check out the blinds on beach 11 to see if there was any open water / action to speak of. We did manage to see a couple flights of birds which made it tempting to come back later in the afternoon for a hunt. But I gotta say, I'm ashamed for what my wife witnessed in the blinds we walked by and in.
She has never come along on a duck hunt with me before and she was curious as we approached the first blind and wanted to see inside. Shotgun shells were everywhere and trash littered all about...inside and outside the blind. We continued down the beach to the next blind...same thing only on a grander scale. Not only was there trash everywhere, but it looked as if every duck that was harvested from that blind was beaten against the blind over and over again....inside and out. Blood splattered everywhere, it looked like a freakin' crime scene! Next blind? Same thing! Am I missing something here? Or are we supposed to bloodlet our ducks as we harvest them? If so, are we supposed to make it a point to get the blood all over everything in sight? I'm thinking this is not the case. My guess is that it can be directly attributed to the kill 'em all, no respect mentality that's portrayed in the magazines and TV shows presented today. You guys really need to grow up and get a clue and quit idolizing slobs that give waterfowlers (as well as other hunters) a bad name. Here's an idea...do your own thing!
I don't get it! I clearly recall the President of the Northwest PA Duck Hunters Association, Mr. Pat Tarasovitch, including in the club newsletter to try and police your empties and garbage after each hunt. Not that a true sportsman that actually cares for the game he seeks and the environment needed to sustain the game, should need to be told. It's just done automatically by those individuals. Anybody that hunts these blinds should be well aware that this is the organization that manages these blinds with the grace of the DCNR. It's a STATE PARK people...they can manage (i.e. close) duck hunts on the park if they choose to do so. There are a LOT of so called "hunters" that need a swift kick, not in the behind, but in the mid frontal region, before they lose this hunting grounds for everybody. It's a privilege to hunt on this piece of land, not a right. And a there is a lot of work done behind the scenes to make this hunt happen every year. This work is done by a handful of dedicated volunteers that apparently receive very little in the way of respect from the people that benefit from their efforts. Pat Tarasovitch and Shawn Feiock, my hat is off to the both of you.
Lastly, these blinds are wide open to the public and most are very easily accessible. How do you slobs think the public will react to what they see? This is a great place to breed anti-hunting sentiment if you ask me. It's no wonder blinds get tagged with spray paint each year. And yes, that includes this year. I saw at least three blinds spray painted by an anti-hunter today. Not that I condone this behavior, but what do you expect, really?
I guess I'm done venting, thanks for listening.
Steve
