Question for Jim Donofrio and Cas Alkanowski

Would this be in reference to "walking" jump shooting, or "paddle" jump shooting?

I paddle jump shoot a lot in my Aquapod. My evolution in duck hunting started by walk-in stand hunting when I was 14. We tossed two pairs of decoys into a particular pond in a freshwater swamp that we knew we could walk both around and across, and we never took shots outside of it. We also walk-hunted for woodies both sides of a creek on our way back to the car. Although we didn't always shoot ducks, when we did, it always came to a rest on the edges for us to pick up. After moving to NJ, it took me alot of scouting to find a nice freshwater pond, but it eventually dried up. I then upgraded to a canoe and found a nice isloated pond in a saltwater marsh that I could get to. I acquired my 'pod to make paddling, and cartop loading/unloading easier... and I could now hunt from the 'pod (*yay*).

Paddle jump shooting plays a large part in my duck hunting strategy. I stay away from open water, and other hunters' decoys and paddle slowly in the small creeks which get flooded at high tide, trying to sneak up on them (if they're there), ready to shoot as I go around a bend. It's harder than you might think, with wind, tides, and current to bear in mind. I become one with the 'pod and the water, focusing on how the 'pod is going to float... as I go around the bend, I actively check and think about what my shooting windows are, what the effective range is, and most importantly, will I be able to get to the duck after I shoot it. I pass up on about half of my shots because of this.

I can understand being annoyed at people who take shots they shouldn't, either by walking or paddle jump shooting. Personally, it really really gets my blood boiling when I see people motoring around, after sunrise, with a guy sitting up front with his gun at the ready. Of course, they're not jump shooting ducks, they're simply "looking around" - I'm sure the gun is unloaded (note: sarcasm). Let's not even go there. I wish there was some way I could identify and report these guys.

Although I've never owned a motor boat, or had the living space for a large dog, I am building a Kara and I will be getting a BBSB from Dave in the spring. Also, my new wife has agreed for us to get a retriever when her cats pass away in a few years. I look forward to my continued evolution as a duck hunter. Joining this site has opened my eyes; I'm even starting to think about carving my own decoys! yeah... one day... I'll eventually give up paddle jump shoot shooting over time as I start to get out of shape (married life does that to you, or so I hear) and have less and less time as repsonsibilities at home add up... but duck hunting itself as a passion will always be there.

My $0.02

Anthony
 
Anthony

I've spent many hours paddling a kayak and jump shooting ducks from it. As you are well aware it can be difficult because you can really only shoot from 9:00 to 1:00 if you are right handed. I never tried it on creeks or rivers but for me it has long been a tactic for hunting large flooded timber areas.

Eric
 
Much of our pheasant country is littered with irrigation ditches so we nearly always hunt with non-tox shot to legally handle the jumped mallard or teal. My dog seems to be okay with the method so that's good enough for me.
 
This time of year, when the open water is gone and the goldeneyes and mallards are using the open stretches of rivers makes for ideal jump shooting. A few methods are:

  1. Takes two hunters - One person sets a few decoys on the river and blinds up- second person walks or floats (not using a motor) the river starting a mile or two above the blind hunter, one hunter sneaks and jump shoots, the other hunter might get a chance at the moving birds over decoys.
  2. Use a canoe or other small craft to float downstream, you might stop and glass--plan a strategy for those resting geese on a sand bar etc.....or maybe find a bend with ducks and sneak around the cover in the canoe/boat ready for action...takes planning and a bit of luck to be successful.
  3. Walk a small creek and do the same as number two --- if you time it right this is a fun way to spend an afternoon on a small creek ---sneaking on small open areas with ducks....as a side note----watch crazy labs trying to retrieve duck that might have floated/dove under an ice shelf.....almost lost a dog that way on a small creek...
Many a cold frozen winter afternoon can be idled away jump shooting.......much better then working....HAHAHAHA!!!

So I vote for jump shooting when the world is mostly locked in ice and the snow is deep....

Matt
 
Eric;In reply to your ? .First of all duck hunting is a sport,one that requires some effort in acheving its rewards ,planning the hunt where to go,type decoys boats motors etc. For instance look at some duck hunting shows,good ones will show getting up in the A: M: guys bording their boats 'going thru the flooded timber ,setting up calling them in and yes they will show hits and lots of misses maybe.At the end of the show duck hunters returning from the flooded timbers or from where ever with ducks in hand its all about the comorodery of friends and a good hunt ,the ducks are just a bonus and not just about killing. Now on the other hand a bad hunting show mostly shows goose and duck hunts in various states showing 4or5 hunters blasting away at birds flying over head ,next scene bang,bang bang next scene repeat same thing over and over and then in between the show a lot of talking fill ins. So back to your ? about the snowy drakes there was no sportsmanship of a duck hunt .The man saw ducks pitch into a stream in BACK of HIS HOUSE grabbed his gun did aSNEAK up on ducks that looked for a safe place to rest( and we all know we see more birds on Golf courses , Hospital lawns in ponds next to highways ] . Why because they know they can't be mollested there. So at my age 75 and still duck boat hunting, I respect life in any form, therefor I will hunt in a sportsman maner in the salt ponds ,open marshes,state owed impoundmets rivers etc.there are many places to hunt instead of in back of your house.by the way I think this young fellow could have injoyed watching those mallards fom his kitchen window drinking hot coffee or tea that morning and enjoy the show they put on. So any way those are my feelings. P.S. I did not intend to hurt anyones feelings .God bless and Merry Cristmas to all. CAS
 
The wife and I have shot plenty of ducks-pheasants-deer-pest out in the yard and surrounding 100 plus acres......one doe eating my garden....the wife had a doe permit.....maybe she tasted so fine as she had been eating my tomatoes for half of Aug-Sept..... With that said...some was strictly food for the table(said doe)...some was spot and stalk...one nice young buck with a muzzleloader....some was opportunistic (just spotted a flock of ducks landing 200 yards down the creek, so get the dog and sneak).....and some were planned bird/waterfowl hunts....and all in all did I feel some disrespect for said game or food? strictly rhetorical of course.....and food for the mind....Rural people hunt in their back yard, they live there....I don't have to plan on driving 100 miles at Xam and loose sleep...just walk out the door....

Seems like I haven't hunted the golf course (30 miles away) yet (the golfers might get less poop on their shoes).........maybe the small local zoo? they have lots of ducks...some very exotic...wonder what a bread/pellet fed park duck taste like?....might be fine eating....more rhetorical thoughts of silly questions...(seems you can get those long barrels for low velocity shells- low noise)

With that said-----the past experience of a persons might influence how they individually define an ethical or satisfying outdoor experience as they move through life. As we age the "rocks" of life bump and grind against the rough corners of youth and modify that definition. As the body physically changes that also defines what we enjoy at age X...

Hell,, I wish I could still run a mile in under 5 min....hunt deer like a mad man, pack an elk out -boned- 3 miles in one afternoon in 4 loads on my back (takes all day now lol)...climb peaks and back country sking, packing decoys out of large mudflats and laying in the muck to shoot a few teal....Ah yes...the vigor of youth has waned but the desire to see that sunrise has not...

So I suggest that we shall be gracious to all, both young and older, as we move through life and experience that fine heady wine of the outdoors.

So please forgive me if I seem a bit sarcastic...It is all meant to make ones mind question him or herself and what they may or may not hold as the "truth" concerning the great outdoors.

Merry Christmas to All,,,,
Matt
 
there are many places to hunt instead of in back of your house.by the way I think this young fellow could have injoyed watching those mallards fom his kitchen window drinking hot coffee or tea that morning and enjoy the show they put on.
Click to expand...
Based on the photo and a second post, the creek is a 1/2 mile from his house and down in a depression. Not much to see from a kitchen window. The back of your house can be vastly different than the back of someone elses. If he had set up some decoys and sat in a brush pile on the bank and had the birds fly in to this same open spot in the creek you would be fine with it. But a 1/2 mile stalk across an open field and careful consideration of you shot as the birds jump up is not sporting.
 
How about different strokes for different folks. I grew up in central Illinois and my biggest body of water was 100 foot wide.......in the spring. The only hunting I had was to jump shoot the river (creek) near my house. I didn't have a big goose spread to field hunt and never thought twice about jump shooting being unethical or non-sporting. After teaching hunter safety for over 15 years in three different states, I have never come across game laws that restrict or abolish stalking practices. These are completely legal in all states that I am aware of and can be very challenging for the hunter. I will admit that these tactics are NOT for those that are out of shape or physically unable to perform them. They require patience, strength, and the ability to slosh thru mud, snow, crawl in mud, snow, water for long periods of time. I remember being told about folks in Florida hunting deer with dogs and I was disgusted. Up in the corn belt of Illinois that's unethical and illegal. I judged these people because of my ignorance to the sport as it presents itself in Florida. Once I saw Florida and realized that the trees were too small to hang a stand and even if you could, the underbrush was too thick too see the ground, I changed my opinions and my understanding of why they use dogs. It still wasn't my cup of tea, but I finally understood. I think we should just understand that different doesn't mean "wrong." I have tried different ways of hunting and fishing over the years and found that different techniques in different areas are just that.......different. dc
 
So is it only ethical hunting when doing so on public/state land (not your own private property) from a BBSB (without depth sounder) with a spread of hand made blocks set out?
 
As a trained interpreter, it is my opinion, your evading the question, or as they say in the interpreting business your evading the question. If you need that translated into Russian, Polish, Bulgarian or Czech I'm your man, as I'm a trained translator as well.
No Charge
Ïîæàëóéñòà îòâåòüòå íà âîïðîñ
 
On a public forum, where everyone is not in the same room to understand where everyone is coming from, we're all interpreting to some extent.

Jim, At the end of the day, I have no issue whatsoever if you dislike jump shooting (based on what I "interpreted" from your response). Me personally, I have no problem with it and didn't see anything wrong with Mitch's post. I was genuinely interested in hearing why you and Cas took issue with it.

I'm simply pointing out that's how it came across to ME.

Ryan
 
Eric has the right to ask a question and Jim has the right not to answer it. I am sure that Jim has seen all the pissing matches that have gone on here the past few months and I do not blame Jim for not wanting to start another one.
 
Thanks for all the support. In my 15 or so years of duck hunting this is the 3rd or 4th time I have ever jumped ducks, my favorite way to hunt is from a boat or blind over decoys calling them in.


Just so everyone knows.

Thanks again.
 
I'm with Dave Church. One of beauties of this web site is the wide variety of hunting techniques and equipment. Different strokes for different folks seems to be pretty evident on this site. A wide variety of boats, guns and decoys are seen here every day. Some hunt salt marshes, flooded timber and open water. Some live right on the migration routes and some not so much. Some of us are older and less physically able. Inevitably, with all of these variables, methods differ widely as to how we pursue our sport. Cas hunts by the method that best suits his view of the sport and others head out to the lower forty. Eric asked a valid question and I certainly didn't hear him chastise anyone - it was just a question. What matters to me is just to be out there and have the experience provided by the great outdoors. Like anyone else, I want to shoot my limit -- but that is the least important aspect to me. This site has helped me learn new methods and new equipment available to enhance my experience - and I thank all of you for that.

Mike's comment on the pissing matches is a greater concern. Lately, there have been more hard feelings generated on threads than useful hunting tips. Many of you guys have so much to offer, but instead spend more time generating hard feelings. We are like thinking individuals who have a lot to share without the BS.

my 2c
Bill
 
Edited
This was just going to be taken wrong and was probably delivered poorly by me.
Sorry to those who might have already read this.

Merry Christmas,
Tim
 
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