change.

[Up2Early]

A draw is just not a manageable scenario with waterfowl. I can see it (but still not like it at all) with deer or squirrel or other game that isn't migratory in the general definition of the word. Ducks are just too unpredictable and I'm often not sure of even the general area where I'm going to hunt until I make a scouting run the afternoon before. Case in point - I ran into the Area Manager at the converted fish ponds outside of Rolling Fork one afternoon while he was out getting some lunch. I asked if he was starting to see birds yet and he said the numbers just started picking up this week. Guys, that was the first week of January. That means everybody who was drawn for hunts before then either didn't go or went and likely scratched. I had been killing birds on public land the whole month of December by driving 1000's of miles and stomping 100's more to pick my spots and days! Draws make that impossible. You have to show up and take your chances. Even if the birds are "there", they may not be using your unit.

Another case... here's the harvest data for the WMA north of VBG. I recall (but may be wrong here) that the area went to the draw in the 2007 season. Data here is from the MDWPF website.

Season Hunters Harvested Avg Daily Bag
2006-07 2007 3300 1.64
2007-08 1050 1693 1.61
2008-09 1400 3027 2.16
2009-10 1221 1472 1.21

I'm no professional biologist or game manager, but what I see here is lower utilization, fewer opportunities, and a reduction in average hunter "success rate". I used to hunt this place often and you know how things are...there's one hot corner on a given day. The group that's there pounds them and moves out. Another group moves in and continues the harvest. Guess what, none of that when the unit is a draw.

The public land I hunt most (and many of you hunt it with me) gets tons of pressure and stays good and civil because, by and large, all the guys that hunt it know or at least know of one another. We meet at the parking lot almost every morning and decide who's going where. Heck a bunch of us even talk the night before. The person taking a large group or kids or whatever gets first say about where they want to hunt. When I leave my house I can just about tell you who's going to be in the woods with me and it works well. It didn't start out that way but we made it happen by getting to know each other. When someone new shows up, we pull them into the fold rather than compete with them. Some of the "new guys" are now my best hunting buddies!

[DuckslayerSX2]

This is unfortunately what i was afraid of hearing...whenever i get to duck hunt i have to hunt public land because i have no other option...I would hate to see it go to a draw. Lack of respect and all the Bichin and complain from everyone bout he set up too close he did this or i cant believe that fool did that started all this mess. This could have all been avoided if everyone could respect others while they hunted....if its the boat race they hate then they should make it to where you cant put the boat in until a certain time just like at the brake, that would end all the racin everybody puts in individually and goes to whatever hole...no racin is needed...it worked pretty smoothly at the brake

[Seymore]

The public land I hunt most (and many of you hunt it with me) gets tons of pressure and stays good and civil because, by and large, all the guys that hunt it know or at least know of one another. We meet at the parking lot almost every morning and decide who's going where. Heck a bunch of us even talk the night before. The person taking a large group or kids or whatever gets first say about where they want to hunt. When I leave my house I can just about tell you who's going to be in the woods with me and it works well. It didn't start out that way but we made it happen by getting to know each other. When someone new shows up, we pull them into the fold rather than compete with them. Some of the "new guys" are now my best hunting buddies!

That is certainly commendable but a very rare situation indeed. In most situations new guys are considered the competition and are viewed on the same level as pond scum. They are not given the time of day and if a new guy shows up in "somebody else's hole" then it's on.

A review of this very forum shows the disdain held for "topwaters". If they are given any information it is misinformation and misdirection. In some cases to have them commit an illegal act by trespassing. I've even read comments made by members where they move the markers a new guy has placed and then sit back and laugh at him as he follows them in the fog to who knows where.

Then people get their panties in a wad when the state says enough. Everyone will be treated the same. If it means someone doesn't get to hunt 50 days on the same public land they have for the past 20 years that's tough. Everyone has the same shot at getting drawn and the same chance of having a great hunt or a crappy hunt. If you don't like it, save your pennies and join a club.

The word freedom has been thrown around here very loosely. So long as it is their "freedom" we are talking about. Give the same courtesy to someone else and all Hell breaks loose with discussions about how "my freedoms are being trampled".

A few post back someone made a real intelligent post by saying my views were those of a fifth grader and to basically grow up. Well, I would counter that most are acting like a bunch of two year olds who only know how to scream, "MINE, MINE, MINE".

Sorry guys. I think draws suck just as much as every one else. However, it's the only real solution to a problem that just gets worse. The comments of we just need to enforce the rules we have don't cut it either. In case nobody has notice the state is broke. Departments are getting cut across the board. I don't think the general population of the state of Mississippi would tolerate cutting education and sending teachers home yet funding additional officers to babysit a bunch of duckhunters who can't police themselves.

[booger]

There is NO on going problem needing resolution.

There is the occasional incident that gets blown way out of proportion. Such is life, big deal.

Someone is always going to drag up that paw-paw got shot & peppered twelve years ago and Jim Bob & his kid nearly got killed on the four wheeler.

The cost of a draw system is significant and a real pain in the booty for the agency. Manpower for all the email responses/phonecalls/system set-up maintenance. Then the manpower of a an officer unnecessarily there each day.

I ask them to
A) Keep a boat ramp in a somewhat decent condition. Mud/gravel 45 degree incline is fine.
B) Plant something/anything. Surprise me this year.
C) Cram a board in the ditch then fugg off. Nothing more.

boog the simpleton.

[Seymore]

There is NO on going problem needing resolution.

There is the occasional incident that gets blown way out of proportion. Such is life, big deal.

boog the simpleton.

Sorry, a review of this very forum contradicts that statement. There have been thread discussing letting the air out of peoples tires, damaging boats and trucks, assaults and verbal altercations, and let's not forget the mythical El Camino crew that has been created just to scare any OOser to happens to read this forum and consider going to a particular piece of public property.

Blown out of proportion??? I'm glad you personally have never experienced some of the things I have. If you would like to have a physical altercation the first of next year please send me a pm and I will give you the GPS coordinates to a piece of public ground and guarantee that you will either be assaulted or your property damaged.

Go back and read the past 3-4 years of this forum. I submit that the evidence that something needs to be done exist just in that reading alone. Now take that into consideration with other forums and other sources and there you go. Unless there are viable solutions presented contrary to having a draw then that is what we will have.

[DUCK-HUNT]

There is NO on going problem needing resolution.

There is the occasional incident that gets blown way out of proportion. Such is life, big deal.

boog the simpleton.

Sorry, a review of this very forum contradicts that statement. There have been thread discussing letting the air out of peoples tires, damaging boats and trucks, assaults and verbal altercations, and let's not forget the mythical El Camino crew that has been created just to scare any OOser to happens to read this forum and consider going to a particular piece of public property.

Blown out of proportion??? I'm glad you personally have never experienced some of the things I have. If you would like to have a physical altercation the first of next year please send me a pm and I will give you the GPS coordinates to a piece of public ground and guarantee that you will either be assaulted or your property damaged.

Go back and read the past 3-4 years of this forum. I submit that the evidence that something needs to be done exist just in that reading alone. Now take that into consideration with other forums and other sources and there you go. Unless there are viable solutions presented contrary to having a draw then that is what we will have.

Unless you have turned these people in you keep talking about harassing, slashing tires etc..... shut up!!!! I promise you if you turn them in something will be done..... I have seen it happen

[BR549]

Jason, You can forget it! That stuff just flies right over their heads! Nobody's fault but their own that they have to have so many regs on a WMA! Yall keep up the good work now ya hear!!!!!! Before long they will all be draw!

Oh and by the way for all you know it all Highschoolers! You can't be in college yet you still to dumb! Sam Polles is one of the few friends a sportsman still has in the Dept Of Wildlife!

[DUCK-HUNT]

Jason, You can forget it! That stuff just flies right over their heads! Nobody's fault but their own that they have to have so many regs on a WMA! Yall keep up the good work now ya hear!!!!!! Before long they will all be draw!

Oh and by the way for all you know it all Highschoolers! You can't be in college yet you still to dumb! Sam Polles is one of the few friends a sportsman still has in the Dept Of Wildlife!

have you talked to the people that work in the DEPT lately????

[Seymore]

There is NO on going problem needing resolution.

There is the occasional incident that gets blown way out of proportion. Such is life, big deal.

boog the simpleton.

Sorry, a review of this very forum contradicts that statement. There have been thread discussing letting the air out of peoples tires, damaging boats and trucks, assaults and verbal altercations, and let's not forget the mythical El Camino crew that has been created just to scare any OOser to happens to read this forum and consider going to a particular piece of public property.

Blown out of proportion??? I'm glad you personally have never experienced some of the things I have. If you would like to have a physical altercation the first of next year please send me a pm and I will give you the GPS coordinates to a piece of public ground and guarantee that you will either be assaulted or your property damaged.

Go back and read the past 3-4 years of this forum. I submit that the evidence that something needs to be done exist just in that reading alone. Now take that into consideration with other forums and other sources and there you go. Unless there are viable solutions presented contrary to having a draw then that is what we will have.

Unless you have turned these people in you keep talking about harassing, slashing tires etc..... shut up!!!! I promise you if you turn them in something will be done..... I have seen it happen

I have numerous times tried to turn them in. The conservation officers are stretched to thin and the offending parties are gone by the time they get there. I have been told numerous times that officers will not come unless and altercation has actually happened when I have called during the argument phase. If you know of an officer who comes please give me his contact info.

By the way. Screaming "shut up" is not a very mature thing to do. If you want to have an intelligent conversation about a topic like a grown up that is great. Want to sink to the level of name calling and uncivil decorum then I submit you are part of the problem.

[DUCK-HUNT]

you keep whining about a problem you can fix..... if it bothers you so much YOU can do something about it... you call the fed boys, sheriff, and MDWFP guys??????? I will bet you, you havent.... you get a tag number, you record the altercation,

We have done it so I know what I'm talking about....


And BR549 you dont get it because you think it doesnt affect you..... you hunt PRIVATE land!!!!

[Seymore]

you keep whining about a problem you can fix..... if it bothers you so much YOU can do something about it... you call the fed boys, sheriff, and MDWFP guys??????? I will bet you, you havent.... you get a tag number, you record the altercation,

We have done it so I know what I'm talking about....


And BR549 you dont get it because you think it doesnt affect you..... you hunt PRIVATE land!!!!

Tell you what. Here are the GPS coordinates tough guy. Give it a shot next year and then come back and tell us all how it went. I'd advise you take a few spares with you.

33°54'40.36"N
89°31'59.28"W

[booger]

Seymore, I like to keep the subject in focus and not engage personally, so I rarely get involved with many forum issues because that's how they end up. However, reading three or four years of bellyaching half truths won't enlighten me. I've had boots on the ground for a long time and always on public ground. Been there for the old school blind burnings, fisticuffs etc.

This year 2010, no joke, on a WMA, after sinking a motor in 11 degree weather and getting it back on board, I was sitting in the boat at the edge of the river, having coffee, fixing to paddle/float downstream to the truck when some sports coming around the bend (motor running) fired at a jumped duck (I guess) and the shot string crackled through the bush right above my head. I was pretty well hidden, accepted part of the blame, cracked open the boat survival box and put on a fluorescent orange hat for the trip downriver.

Does five hundred more stories mean anything? I think not, however, I'll take all the GPS coordinates you got, so look for a PM. edit - oh I see it now. Thanks!

boog the swamp yeti.

[BR549]

you keep whining about a problem you can fix..... if it bothers you so much YOU can do something about it... you call the fed boys, sheriff, and MDWFP guys??????? I will bet you, you havent.... you get a tag number, you record the altercation,

We have done it so I know what I'm talking about....


And BR549 you dont get it because you think it doesnt affect you..... you hunt PRIVATE land!!!!

I don't know anything about you or where you hunt but I probably killed way more ducks on "public land" this year than you did! I broke a knee just before the season opend so I couldn't wade. Was confined to huntin from a boat. But I made the best of it and when it finally froze up we hammered em every day! 167 DUCKS IN 8 DAYS! Hunted a different spot every day too! ALL ON PUBLIC LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DUCK-HUNT]

you keep whining about a problem you can fix..... if it bothers you so much YOU can do something about it... you call the fed boys, sheriff, and MDWFP guys??????? I will bet you, you havent.... you get a tag number, you record the altercation,

We have done it so I know what I'm talking about....


And BR549 you dont get it because you think it doesnt affect you..... you hunt PRIVATE land!!!!

Tell you what. Here are the GPS coordinates tough guy. Give it a shot next year and then come back and tell us all how it went. I'd advise you take a few spares with you.

33°54'40.36"N
89°31'59.28"W

Thnks brother..... Now I feel bad that i might have been the one harrassing you.... if that was you, your kazoo blowing skills could use some work

[paraduck]

I heard a rumor yesterday that Kevin B. is leaving the state to go back to MO.