No Patience with Duck Killers.

M

Mike Trudel

Well-known member
Let me start off by saying that I have killed a good number of ducks and hope to do so in the future, but before I am a duck killer, I'm a duck hunter.

A recent sell of all my traditional archery equipment brought me into contact with a number of traditional archers. They were some of the most polite, non-arrogant hunters I have eve talked with. I made mention of this fact to one, who told me he enjoyed successful hunts but just loved, archery. This love for archery was not measured by kill.

It occurred to me, that many of the hunters on this site love duck hunting. They love the tradition of this sport. The boats, decoys, dogs, guns, environs, and there hunting partners. Trust me when I say this sure isn't the case on all the duck hunting sites. It may not of even been the case when this site started, but time and a guiding temperament, has turn this truly into a duck hunters site. Even the outdoor tv shows and video people have a hard time getting it right.

Some of you guys probably don't realize this, but you are living museum pieces....and I am glad to be associated with you.
 
Point well taken.

I know I'm getting old but museum piece ( : o )

Others can better put to words. The hold the the pursue of ducks has on us. dogs,boats,decoys,calling,guns,building things,tradition and best of all the sunrise.

At a certain time in life just to get up in the morning is a good day.
 
First and Foremost thank you to all of us for PASSING it on to the next generation.

MY name is Shermie and its been 45 days since i last hunted waterfowl.Its been 45 days since i last spent the nite before getting ready and it has been 45 days since Me and my Dawg Daisy has sat with anticipation listening to the new day break around us waiting for the first hint of Dawn to come peaking up over the hills to see if we are ready for what the day may bring..

I have hunted everything since i was allowed to and waterfowling with whitetail chasing coming in at second are my passions.I found this site back a few years ago was scared to death to post with such mystic hunters who were here from the start.But like most things i jumped in posted here and there .I hope over the time that i have helped to contribute in some small way to passing it along and entertain a few of you to my misfortunes and inventions lol.

Its was the buying of our Barneygat that brought me to the net then to here ,it was hunting for years with my cousin and friends with there great dawgs that brought about Daisy in our life and by gawd i will not go thru the rest of me life without a dawg by myside ,and you know alot of you have helped with my training of Daisy thank - you.With you and my hunting buddies here I have enjoyed waterfowling more then i can remember .Its not about how many or if any.Its about the lifestlye we live and die by,its about the first tea or coffee after the set up is out as you sit there and the whish of wings and a splash then its woa daisy its to early there will be more ,"watchem "if hes there come time will get em..good gurl ..My gawd its gonna be a long time till october 1st..

Its about the little things Like my daughter Makayla blowing Daves Call{she won here} around the house ,her going bunny hunting and crow hunting with me ,my little buddy she is .Having a place to share the little things with like minded folk who would realy know how much it means to me Because they probably have had similar things happen to them..

I have laughed and cryed more here and even almost choked on my tea once thanks dani for that one[Little person accident] ,oh and dani i hope my Mickey will grow up to be a right fine waterfowler like you ,i show her all you and hitchs pics..she loves to see another girl doin it for real..

oh and by gawd the tips and tricks and tidbits and vast amounts of good ideas and info i have gained by being here is enormous and i pass this along to others who will listen thank you again.


Shermie
Sheila
Makayla
Daisy
 
Shermie,wouldn't miss a word you say.You have enriched us all with your adventures and your family.Thanks.
 
The feeling is mutual... Good ethics, and great ettiquette. It makes one proud that you are not alone in your sport of hunting waterfowl, and this forum is by far the best place to visit--- second only to being out in the marsh.


-Jack
 
I hope i'm not a relic or museum piece yet, but it beats the alternative of waking up with a white chaulk outline around you!
 
The way I put it is "I've killed about a million ducks in my life, I don't care about killing another" What I'm trying to say when I say that is exactly what you have stated. I also really think that part of the reason this site is like it is comes from the fact that we all use real names, no hidden duckslayerbabygonnakillsomegreenheadsnow things. It makes it less likely that you'll "hide" behind an anonomous name, makes it more difficult to be a "keyboard hero" Now about that relic thing...........................dam I'm only 45

Sab
 
It occurred to me, that many of the hunters on this site love duck hunting. They love the tradition of this sport. The boats, decoys, dogs, guns, environs, and there hunting partners. Trust me when I say this sure isn't the case on all the duck hunting sites. Some of you guys probably don't realize this, but you are living museum pieces....and I am glad to be associated with you.
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Mike,

That in a nutshell is the reason you'll notice the members here unlike most other sites continue to be members year after year and participate daily. Thanks to Eric Patterson for the site and thank you for being one of us.

Take care,

Ed L.
 
I think we all start off as duck killers. I also think the toys make this sport what it is. These are the attractions that gets all of us to buy in. For years I had only been around poorly trained dogs and viewed them as a liability when it came to my duck killing. Over time I associated my self with better hunters and better dogs, all the while falling in love with this whole pursuit. Somewhere in my thirties I started to really notice the environments around me and started to appreciate it more and more. Blood lust gave way to great sunrises with great friends, great dogs, and the possibility of getting in a few good shots along the way. In my opinion, duck hunting is not a competition. Now days , I never really care about who shot what. What matters to me the most is, plans were laid, the ducks fell for the trickery, and that the opportunity for the harvest was even realized. Watching dogs work and the memories of hunts with friends is what brings me back. The chance to learn and see other ways to enjoy this pursuit is what brings me back to this site. The members on this site are some of the best in the sport.
 
Just being honest here but every time I go hunting I intend to kill something. I can go bird watching if I just want to just 'experience' nature, and I do.
I do not let the killing or lack of killing get in the way of enjoying any day out hunting. I suppose that is the point you are making, the bag at the end of the day is not the measure of the day. Luckily I don't need to kill anything to have a good time, M. Paul Girly doesn't bug me about not shooting much for no reason.
I still would shoot a limit every time out if I could, but I don't, not even close.

I think we have to be careful when we talk 'tradition'. I think the traditions in waterfowling are much more about killing then we would like to believe. Bo Whoop wasn't built so Nash could shoot totally committed ducks hanging over the decoys at 20 yards.

My $.02
Tim
 
Sounds like the same kind of drivel expoused by C&R flyfishermen, that think of their pastime as more than impaling the jaw of a fish with a piece of steel to drag it around in the current and tire it only to release it to do it again.

I go duck hunting to kill ducks, not look at sunrises.

T
 
I look at old photos of days gone by when men wore canvas jackets and hip boots made of rubber, gunned out of home made sneakbox's, carved their own decoys, and did'nt go anywhere without a pipe and their favorite hat. Oh how I long to go back in time for just one day and be a part of this simpler time. Back when men were men, boats were made of wood, decoys were hand carved and, wait a minute..........................That sounds exactly like a visit to this site. Except the fact that there were no computers back then. You know what I mean! Thank you members for being there for me, always......................Kevin
 
Just being honest here but every time I go hunting I intend to kill something. I can go bird watching if I just want to just 'experience' nature, and I do.
I do not let the killing or lack of killing get in the way of enjoying any day out hunting. I suppose that is the point you are making, the bag at the end of the day is not the measure of the day. Luckily I don't need to kill anything to have a good time, M. Paul Girly doesn't bug me about not shooting much for no reason.
I still would shoot a limit every time out if I could, but I don't, not even close.

I think we have to be careful when we talk 'tradition'. I think the traditions in waterfowling are much more about killing then we would like to believe. Bo Whoop wasn't built so Nash could shoot totally committed ducks hanging over the decoys at 20 yards.

My $.02
Tim
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Hey Tim,

Looks like we made similar points at about the same time.

All this talk of tradition makes me want to shoot some birds on the water (with my first barrel, anyway), hunt over bait, hunt with high capacity shotguns, use live decoys and rally - the way tradition dictates.

T
 
I enjoy what this thread has brought out. I'm with most of you. I really enjoy the tradition, the friends , the good gear, the feel of an old double in my hands. That said, I hunt in a TDB with a SBEII and herters foamers. Will I shoot a duck on the water to add it to the bag so I don't go home empty handed, no way. I LOVE the HUNT and killing is part of that. Killing for killings sake, never. But, as I was once told "It's all about the killing!" It's the hard truth. Hunters are killers, but most killers aren't hunters. It's the feel of a warm bird in hand that gets me out of bed. Not the sunrise, yet. Who knows maybe someday I'll get my fill of folding birds but I don't see that happening soon.

I remember when my grandfather still hunted, we had a rooster flush behind he and I when we were pheasant hunting. I remember HIS cackle when he folded that bird before I did. I don't remember the bird cackling! It was the kill that made that old man cackle like a school boy saying "nana nana bo bo!" when he beat the kid to that bird. I hope I never loose that feeling. He let me kill more than my share of birds over the years and he was just feeling it was his turn and he beat me to the bird fair and square. That's what made it so sweet.

Gene Jr.
 
Just being honest here but every time I go hunting I intend to kill something. I can go bird watching if I just want to just 'experience' nature, and I do.
I do not let the killing or lack of killing get in the way of enjoying any day out hunting. I suppose that is the point you are making, the bag at the end of the day is not the measure of the day. Luckily I don't need to kill anything to have a good time, M. Paul Girly doesn't bug me about not shooting much for no reason.
I still would shoot a limit every time out if I could, but I don't, not even close.

I think we have to be careful when we talk 'tradition'. I think the traditions in waterfowling are much more about killing then we would like to believe. Bo Whoop wasn't built so Nash could shoot totally committed ducks hanging over the decoys at 20 yards.

My $.02
Tim
Click to expand...


Hey Tim,

Looks like we made similar points at about the same time.

All this talk of tradition makes me want to shoot some birds on the water (with my first barrel, anyway), hunt over bait, hunt with high capacity shotguns, use live decoys and rally - the way tradition dictates.

T
Click to expand...


If I could use call ducks I would be in heaven. Don't get me wrong, I like the "stuff" (as Worth called it) but I think most who say they liked the simpler times wear neoprene waders and all their camo matches. Heck I'd wear brown blob-o-flage if anyone still made it, but I won't give up my neoprene.
Simple for me is laying in a fence line shooting birds passing back and forth between ponds while wearing brown carharts. Either way I'm happy if I'm hunting.

Tim
 
Absolutely,

Bert Becker built that gun to kill a long ways off. The man was truly an articifer in the shotgun making business. You will also remember that Nash was helping Winchester to refine the 12 ga. 3" mag, again to kill at longer ranges. None of that made either of them blood mongers. Those efforts not only served the hunter but served the fowl as well. A quick and humane kill would certainly be of no interest to someone who is only there to kill.

I think the vast majority of us feel really bad for the cripple that skulks away only to become racoon food.

It is our responsibility to give the fowl a quick and merciful death. Then we are responsible to see that it is well prepared and that the resource is not only not wasted but enjoyed by those who take part. When I meet those who are antis and claim not to be vegan I always ask where is the nearest hamburger tree.

Respect the resource,

Harry
 
I can agree that not everyone agrees on what 'makes' the hunt. I have my own criteria, and it's a long list....of which the take is only one element....but the pinnacle element for there even to have been the urge to have a hunt in the first place, I guess. What I see in many newer or younger hunters is the 'competitive' duckhunting mentality. Gotta brag, gotta trash talk, gotta show off, gotta have this or that, and to heck with etiquette, ethics, or any common sense decency for the sport or their fellow hunter. THAT'S the stuff I see all to often these days, on the water and on the internet, that make many of us wonder what is ahead.:)
 
BamaBill

You said it as good or better than I could with far fewer words. One has to read no more than a few posts at some sites and they will see exactly where your sentiments stem.
 
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I am certain that the "museum piece" thing was intended for Sutton so no offense taken here.

I am, like Lee Harker, a Michiganian, born and bred. I grew up on the water and get itchy when its any more than a short drive away. I can think of nowhere I would rather be than on the water, anytime, anywhere.

I like to hunt because I like the idea of blending into the earth, be it water or land, and thru my actions, changing the behavior of the birds to come my way. Mother Nature has created so much perfection in a duck...wariness, eyesight, flight ...that to fool one by calling, decoying, and camoflage is to me at least, an accomplishment whose reward is a closer glimpse than anyone who hasn't put out that effort, will see.

I like painting decoys because God saw fit to give my carving skills to someone else. (Same with my calling skills)

But once in a while, I get it right and it makes it all worthwhile
 
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