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Has anyone heard of the launch regulations for either one of these wma's. I had heard that the new launch time for the scatters was going to be 5:00 this year. I also heard the same time applied to Matthews Brake, but i find this hard to believe and have read nothng about it. Any informatiion would be appreciated. Thanks.

The new rule for Malmaison is: Waterfowl hunters may not access hunt areas prior to 5 A.M. on day of hunt.
You are allowed to unload your boat at the landing prior and be ready but not enter the hunting areas.

Thanks for the clarification.

They need to build bleachers off to the side - it'll be more fun to watch the 5 am race than to be apart of it!

I am afraid that this new rule will cost many an overzealous hunter a lower unit and cause a few confrontations in the woods.

Double R, I guess we could treat it like a horse race or the Daytona 500. I can see 30 boats reving up their motors at 4:58am. At 4:59am the goggles go on. At 5:00am one poor feller is going to be standing on the back of his boat screaming about the #@*$ing motor being flooded and his buddies calling him a dumba$$.

I hope everyone can hold their temper and be safe.

With a 5 a.m. launch and low water. It will be daylight before some that get to the landing early will be able to get to a hole. I don't know what the MSDWFP were thinking. You will be able to film a Jerry Springer episode at the landing. The MSDWFP must want to see some fights is all I can figure.

Don Miller you got that right. There won't be any motors reving this weekend, it'll be more like the paddles paddling or people running. Guess we could get an iron man competition set up.
2 dozen decoys, waders, gun, shells, etc., all strapped to everyone, running through the muck in 70 degree weather. That's more of what it will look like this weekend.
But I guess that's what makes duck hunting, duck hunting. Can't wait!

I am all for the bleachers idea, I think it would be an interesting spectacle to witness. Also, 5:00 will not give many people a chance to get to holes before the prime shootin time. I have a feeling that with all the problems that this may cause that it will be changed in the near future. Any ideas of how much rain was received in the Craigside-Money area??

Will it be enforced? They have had a time restriction in the past, but I have never seen anyone abide by it. And I don't see how they can enforce it with folks using the ramps to access private land.

The local game wardens have said that they will be writing tickets for early launch for both the Scatters and the Greentree areas this year. According to the game wardens, there has been a problem with hunters spending the night in their boats and hogging the best holes.

The Daytona 500 is right. We have hunted in Bayou Meto in Arkansas a few times in the last few years and they have a 4:00 launch time. It is just like the Daytona 500. No motors over 25hp and everyone hauling booty to get to their spots. Of course half of the guys have hot-rodded up their motors or put 25 hp stickers on a 35. I bet MDWFP will do something dumb like that to.

This regulation has worked well on other MDWFP WMAs. Where implemented, hunters have liked it. Hunters actually get together prior to leaving the road or boat ramp to discuss where each party will be going, so they don't crowd each other. A 5:00 AM start time gives at least 1 hr to get to ones hunting spot before legal shooting hours. This should not be a problem considering the size of the waterfowl WMAs and the amount of access on these areas. Good luck this season and be safe.

I think that it is a bunch of S&*t about the regulations. There will be people in your spot when you get there anyway. The 3:00 am launch was good enough just trying to make it hard on people. There had best be more that one warden at the landing.

We used to enjoy hunting the Scatters - put boats in at our cabin there. But, a few years ago some new folks moved in and started getting out of line competing for the best holes (or when the water is low, the only holes), sleeping in their boats, etc. I just quit going down there at all. I can't imagine how bad it is with the public ramp there now.

As much as I love that big cypress timber, the actions of some of the so-called "sportsmen" I saw down there made me want to puke. Maybe after some of the greenhorns trash their boats on the cypress knees, the old timers can have some good hunts there.

Luck everyone,

Mike F.

I agree with ducman77. There will be somebody in your spot when you get there. They will leave before 5am and say they are hunting the private land and go straight to the hole, or, they will sit on the private land (if they are members or have permission), wait until 5, and then step across the line to claim the hole. MDWGF is going to have a real hard time enforcing this new rule.