Fishing and Hunting Conflicts

[Peter E.]

You Know What Makes Me Sick?

  (Earl Pitts American)

      I don't know about you but I am as fond of hunting as the next guy, until it interferes with my fishing  >!!!! I know that I should not be bitter about the fact that alot of my favorite ponds, creeks, swamps, and lakes are owned by these huge hunting clubs around the area  :-[. But I can't Help It  :'(!!! I sympathise with them in the fact that they have only a few months to get their hunting fix in before that is gone, but even on my own property where our family and freinds hunt, and they do not hunt near the areas I fish, I still sometimes feel like I am in the middle of a War Zone  . I had to do the unthinkable on of the last times I fished this month, I had to use a cell phone to call someone  !!! I had to remind my cousin that I was in the Creek and that I would appreciate it if they would kindly not shoot skeet in that general area  >. My cousin apologized for having done so and to cut it out then he invited me to go hunting with him  :-/! I love my family but COME ON  :-?!

     Due to hunting Season here in the great state of Alabama it has been a full three weeks since I have so much as wet a line. I caught myself using my sister's aquarium to check actions on a new slip jig I had bought the day before  :-?. I figured I would start this topic as simply a source of ranting and raving over the complications of winter.

Please, B@#$% as much as you want about the dulldrums of winter, I just did!

Oh and Keep it Clean!

This is Ol' Peter here, Pete's OFF!!!!  

[Will]

Are you talking about public land, private land someone else owns, or your own land? I don't hunt much, but I did try fishing when my dad, brothers, and cousin went dove hunting. Man, I was whacking the fish but shot was hitting the water and mud all around me. I tried fishing under a tree and a dirt wall bank that was 6' straight up, and still the pellets were getting to close. No sense in getting myself peppered or even the possibility of my rod getting struck by some pellets, last time I try fishing around hunters.

[Shad_Master]

There are a couple of lakes near here that have permanent duck/goose blinds set up on some pretty productive coves.  A couple of years ago, we were having a tournament on one of the lakes and goose season had already started.  Not being hunters, one of our boats drifted into the cove and found himself being confronted by a local game warden who proceeded to check his boat (life jackets, fire extinguisher, bilge pump, etc.) and then proceeded to announce that he could write him a ticket for invading the hunting area.  The boater, agreed that he could write him a ticket but please be sure to note his name and badge number on the ticket so before going to court to argue that he had as much right to the water as the hunter, he could alert the State DNR that this guy was hunting while on duty.  The warden didn't write the ticket and went back to his blind without any further comment ;D

[Peter E.]

Well Will I do own the land but, the creek is the boundrary of my family's land. I would like ya'll to know that I am not bashing hunters, because I hunt also, though not often. I simply get tired of my favorite fishing holes being controlled by hunters because they feel that my presence will scare the deer away and yet I feel that I have seen the most and biggest deer when I am fishing. In one day I had a six and an eight point, cross a beaver dam not 20 feet away. I see them feeding and drinking along the creek bank all the time and seeing these animals as a companion and not as prey gives a person appreciation for the Native Americans' veiw that all animals were their kin. Of course I am a quarter Creek, so I got that through genetics. I love hunting but I always feel bad for killing that animal. I am by no means a PETA supporter, but an admirer of God's creations. I think that that veiw has made each fishing trip more and more rewarding.

Peter

[Guest avid]

I had a situation similar to Wills.  I was drifting down a river in NY in a jon boat.  The river is public but is bordered in some areas by private land.  I heard these shotguns go off and some crows started cawing.  It was pretty close and I was a little nervous.  Next thing though I hear the shotguns go off and the spent shot is pinging off the boat all around me.  I started yelling but the invisible crow hunters didn't seem to care because another volley cut loose and more shot started raining down on me.  Ever drive through a hail storm?  That's what it sounded like.  I high tailed it out of there.  This was before cell phones or I would have called the game warden.

[gotchaback]

8 pointers huh on your property? HMmm bring a gun while your fishing lol during deer season leave it in the boat. Hmm as far as people peppering you i dont know what to do bring something hella noisy like one of those blow horns things so they can figure out there is someone out there. EVEn though they should already be aware.  First shot u hear that bugs u Blow it.

[Peter E.]

Well GOTCHaBACk, I never had them spray me with lead but I was getting close or they were anyway. I check on taking a gun with me on those fishing trips and i found out from a freind of mine who is a game warden and found out that it is illegal to hunt deer from a boat. Besides i know the day I bring a gun is the day they don't come to the creek  : oh well.

Peter

[paparock]

I am extremely lucky in that I was born and raised in deep southern Arkansas. Now some may think otherwise but it was a blessing. Yes there was great grinding poverty but as a child I did not see such things in choosing friends. I grew up hunting and fishing. My family owned enough land that I did not have to see another human being if I did not want to and despite my grandfather raising cattle we rarely ate beef but rather fish and game we found upon the banquette table of the land and water. My best friend was half American Indian and we ran the pine barrens, swamps and ridges until we knew them by heart. We tracked game until we knew their habits as well as they did. It was such a wonderful time. Then, I did not understand how special it was; like once killing a wild Razorback hog with a friends custom bowie knife after it ate our food while on a camping/fishing trip. I figured we fed him so why couldn't he feed us. So many people today have no concept of being totally comfortable even when you are temporally lost at night in a forest or swap. It's how we learned and was a far better education than I ever received at any of the universities I went to. Now my body will not let me roam the land as I did but I have those wonderful memories to relive any time I want. Now fishing is my passion as it was with my father in his latter years. I'm not worried about catching the biggest or the most fish. I just enjoy being there. The sights, sounds, smells, and experience are enough. Being young and impatient I did not understand my fathers way. Now I get it dad; thank you so much for giving me the life you did and sharing it with me! Make memories while you can because some day they may be all you have. That is not a complaint but a treasure beyond any value money can buy! Spending time in all that God has blessed us with is never a waste of time. I only hope many of you younger guys and gals can experience the wonders I have experienced in my time here on this water world and if I die tomorrow I will be happy and thankful for all I have!!!