First Day Duck Season

Wispete

Wispete

Well-known member
A beautiful day. I was the mView attachment _IGP7107e.jpgost organized I have been for a few years. Didn't forget the usual things gun, shells ,coffee, license, etc. Went out early for the 9:00 opening. My partner Mark was to come to the blind after 12:00 He had to coach football. Set out the decoys and waited until 9:00 No ducks flying. Heard shots in the distance. I put a shell in my gun and fired a tribute to one of our past site members. It was a time of remembering. Forty years plus I have sat in this blind with various people. The first was the Hizzoner (MR President) I dared not call him that for he was short on pretense. He was my mentor. He was wise in the ways of ducks.
View attachment _IGP7116e.jpg
After 12:00 Mark and his young son Jason came to the blind. Not much was flying before then, that was in range. I did see a Pintale up in the statophere which is a rare event where I hunt. Shortly after they arrived four Mallards sat down in the rice just out of range. I though this was a good omen. Jason because of his age has to have a mentor. The mentor can not have a gun. So I became his mentor and put my gun away, then Mark could shoot. I provided a twenty gauge youth shot gun. The twelve gauge he used during the youth hunt was to much gun. After showing the in's and out's of the shot gun. We continued to wait for ducks.

To the South of us is a natural refuge for ducks and geese for some unexplained reason about four hundred geese were up in the air. What a site on opening day. Groups of ten, twenty, some times more were in the air. Call as we did none responded. Twenty minutes later another hundred took off. We repeated are best calling efforts. Still no response. Fifteen minutes later a lone goose, no response. Then a few minutes later a pair. I hit the call bango! After three passes down they came. Mark said take um. Jason and Mark both fired at the same goose. I know Jason hit him probably Mark did too.Goose down. Jason then swung on the second goose, bang goose down. Jason said I got them both. Mark said no you didn't I got the first one. Well only the goose gods know for sure. Well in Marks defense he is probably a little sensitive because what I did last year. We were both sitting in the blind my gun wasn't loaded and a greenhead came in and both of us got up pointed our guns and Mark shot. I immediately said I got him. Mark said no I got em. I said I was right on em. Well Mark then said maybe both of us got em. He then put a shell in his gun and noticed I put in three. I can't put in print what was said next. Of course this year I had to back up Jason. I'm bad...

The picture of Marks Chesssie bring in the first goose.
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Jason and Mark with their geese
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Hi Pete -

Nice story. Wish we could see pintails up here - not often do we get that chance.

I was reading the regs in the blind on Sunday regarding the new rules of kids hunting. I think, not sure but think, you would have been considered illegal with the way you hunted with the boy. I believe the new law states that a kid 10 and over, but under 12, can hunt with a mentor but they have to share a gun, not put away a gun. Might want to check on that. Here is the new rule:

"A new law which creates a hunting mentorship program for novice hunters has been passed and will take effect September 1, 2009. Under
the new law, a novice hunter must be at least 10 years old, possess the appropriate hunting license, permits and tags, and must hunt with a​
mentor who is 18 years of age or older. The novice hunter need not​
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​
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first complete hunter education to obtain a hunting license or hunt,​
but may only hunt within arms reach of a mentor. Only one firearm​
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may be possessed between the hunter and mentor. The mentor must​
have a current valid hunting approval, and must have completed a​
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hunter education course if born on or after January 1, 1973. The fee​
for hunting approvals issued to youth ages 10 and 11 will be reduced.​
​
​
​
"​
​
Did you see that Wisconsin has now futher defined their open water hunting regs as well? They have clarified what constitutes "partially concealed" verses leaving it open to interpretation.​


Mark W
 
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Mark we were legal. I didn't go into all the details. That law is new so I was informed on the in and outs by my hunting partner. Besides as you know I am over 18....( : )

The new rules on partially concealed have changed to get rid of interpretation by wardens on what was partially concealed. It is clearer now but not as well thought out as could be. It discriminates against people who have larger high sided boats with boat blinds. Very few places they would be legal. In wild rice beds you would be legal with a john boat. If it had a blind on it, you would not be legal. I agree with the spirit of the law but the law as written determines the size of the boats that can be used. It is as if it was written by a non duck hunter or one with limited experience.
 
Maybe you can explain to me, in plain English, what the new open water law really says. I read it a couple of times and thought the same thing as you mention above.

Mark W
 
This is the part of the 2009 regs that was clear to me:
p. 3 "The 2009 spring hearing rule proposals (including an update of the​
open water definition) will not be in effect until 2010."



 
Wis Pete,

glad you had a good hunt.

I thought the same thing Mark did as well on the Mentor deal. My interp on this is you have 3 guns in the blind, but one of them is cased. My understanding (as well as the local CO here) is that you can NOT have 2 guns in possession during the hunt, even if one is cased. No back up, no excuses.

Not saying that is what you did, just what I read. Maybe it was just the internet thing.

That said, Jason getting is first goose is a big deal. Tell him congrats.

As far as you and Mark's discussion on open water, well that is a joke. Basically there are 3 contradictions/issues of ambiguity in that rule that will cause issues. Basically, be in the water with weeds, have them up 50% of whatever you are hiding in, skiff, boat, boat blind, ground blind and you should now be legal, well, sort of, unless we see it is also maybe involving a tree that is rooted, alive, and leaning into the water because that is too much of the wrong kind of cover and ....???? Yep, see, it is all better now right? LOL
 
Sound like you have to have a lawyer to go duck huntin... Gone are the good ol days... Glad I live in a gun freindly state. I got pulled over for a tail lite the other day. Loaded 45 on seat. He made me get out, but never said a word other than that...
 
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