How to Get Kicked Out of a Duck Blind
Somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania (I’m cautious with specifics) lies a farm. And at the edge of that farm lies a pasture. And through that pasture meanders a narrow stream that’s invisible to passing motorists. Thus only select individuals are aware that the unassuming strip of water draws ducks. A lot of ducks. Flocks worthy of envy even in more western flyways — flocks that occasionally include drake black ducks.
So, as you might suspect, only trustworthy ’fowlers are allowed to accompany me to this Atlantic Flyway oasis. Nearly all have been invited back. One friend, although he might now prefer a different term, was not. Despite noting the location of the farmer’s barn, my companion took a crack at a tall, passing drake. Within seconds, the tink-tink-tink of steel pellets raining on a tin roof echoed across the property. We haven’t hunted together since.
The rules of waterfowling etiquette aren’t all that challenging to follow, but violating them is discourteous at best, and a safety hazard at worst. Neglecting them can cost you hunting opportunities, as well as friendships.
Want to end up hunting alone next season? These missteps will quickly cause you to lose your spot in the duck blind.
Don’t Train Your Dog
Your dog doesn’t have to nail 500-yard blind retrieves. Heck, the retriever doesn’t even need to mark every downed bird. However, good blind manners are required. Nobody wants to share a blind with a Chessie in a China shop.
A dog that excitedly prances around the blind, breaks consistently, steals sandwiches, risks knocking over shotguns or spends more time playing in the decoys than sitting on its retriever stand will cause your buddies to lose your phone number.
Shoot Outside Your Zone
I was on a trip hosted by a major ammo manufacturer, when a single greenhead decoyed directly off my side of the blind. Just as I began to mount my gun — KABOOM — a fellow outdoor writer in the center of the blind had leaned around me and fired. The muzzle blast dropped me to my knees. My right ear has never quite been the same.
The writer’s shot was both dangerous and downright rude. Don’t get greedy: Shoot only at ducks within your zone. Say there are three hunters in a blind. The hunter on the right can shoot any ducks out front or to the right; the hunter on the left can take birds to the left or in front; and the middle hunter can shoot birds centered over the decoys and a reasonable angle (typically about 30 degrees) to the right or left. Shooting out of your zone risks ringing your fellow hunters’ ears or just plain scaring the heck out of them. It’s also a lot more enjoyable to relax and gun ducks in your zone rather than race a game hog to the first shot.
Stink at Calling (But Call Anyway)
I’m an average caller at best, but at least I know my limitations. If there’s a better caller or two present, my lanyard stays in the blind bag.
Yet we all know a guy who’s oblivious to the horrendous notes produced by the plastic kazoo he swears is a duck call. Not only does he sound like a 5-year-old who just found grandpa’s single-reed, he thinks he’s Fred Zink. He calls so poorly, and so frequently, that all you can do is blare away on your own call to mask his caterwauling. Forget finishing chatter.
We all miss a few notes on our calls. But those who hail away with neither skill nor a desire to improve tend to flare ducks, as well as friends.
Insult the Dog
You can insult a hunter’s calling, shooting, decoys, truck or even a spouse, but insult his or her retriever, and you better be prepared to go for a roll in the dirt. And to find a new hunting buddy.
Treat Your Friend Like a Free Guide
Some people have a nose for the birds and love scouting almost as much as hunting. Perhaps you possess neither of these traits, but you still have to make the effort. Scouting requires time, effort and plenty of gas money. Be a team player. Don’t just show up to hunt.
That’s especially true if you have the privilege of hunting from someone else’s boat. Even the simplest johnboat requires physical and financial capital to maintain. So, pull your own weight. Scout extra hard, fill the outboard’s fuel tank, help paint the hull, buy breakfast — anything to show you’re a grateful first mate. Otherwise, the captain might have you transferred.
Be Loose-Lipped
I suspect you’d sooner hand out your social security number on the street than disclose the locations of your favored duck spots. Any decent hunting buddy should recognize the need for such discretion. Loose lips sink ships — and ruin mallard honeyholes.
Still, mistakes can happen. Years ago at a local Delta Waterfowl dinner, I overheard a buddy come dangerously close to revealing our favorite bluebill spot while making his fourth trip to the beverage station. I promptly wrapped an arm around him, exclaiming, “Hey you won’t believe these decoys over here!”
I whisked him away as the general location of the sandbar crossed his lips. Even he couldn’t believe what he was saying. He knows he came perilously near being stranded ashore the next time the strong winds of winter send a good push of diving ducks our way.
Keep shooting after you have your limit but others in the blind do not.
Criticize a blind partners dog.
Is this the Jeff Churn from Missouri?
To the person who posted this article , your forgetting what hunting is all about . It’s about having fun with the people you like to spend time with out in the field or on the water . Some people just don’t have the time to do all the so called scouting that you explain about . If you are lucky enough to find a good place or places to hunt it’s nice to share that with the friends that you hang with . Being selfish about the good spots to hunt to me is like a kid who has his ball and won’t let any one play with it . Other people have jobs that take them into the weekend and times to hunt are few and far between . To make somebody else happy always makes me happy ! And to share a honey hole with parole that are not so fortunate is a good thing . When I’m fishing and crabbing and I hear people over the ship to shore radio that they are not catching anything , I tell them my spot where I’m fishing . That’s of course if I’m catching fish there . It’s better to share than to not share , it’s not like your hunting to feed your family in most cases . To a lot of hunters it’s about bragging how many you shot for the day , not about how many people you helped have fun shooting for the day . !!
I bet you are one of those people that let your kids play sports but don’t keep score.
Scouting is hard work and hard work always pays off don’t down play the efforts scouters put forth to succeed and have a quality hunt. If I just wanted to hang out with my friends I’d go to the coffee shop.
LMAO
Bob, you are apparently completely clueless–ever duck hunted yourself? Fact #1. Duck hunting costs $$–a LOT of $$! Fact #2–when a duck hunter finds a “honey hole,” he is smart to not let ANYONE else know–as soon as they find out its location, they will likely GO there, and (over)hunt it. You need to hit those areas every so often, like once every 10 days, at most–any more pressure than that, & the ducks will stop using that location, which means even MORE scouting! Fact #3–ANY person who is REALLY a duck hunter does a lot of scouting–the people YOU have described in your diatribe here need to AT LEAST give their host some $$, to help cover fuel costs incurred WHILE scouting–after all, his efforts would be THE reason they’ll get any “action!” Must be “swell’ to have somebody ELSE do all of the preliminaries, and to get to drop some ducks WITH them. I have a GOOD friend who I took under my wing at GM, as a (new) hi-lo driver, back in 1978–I was BLESSED to be introduced to the wonderful world of duck hunting by him, that Fall–I got to go out on Opening Day, 4 years in a ROW–Helped him pick up dekes after every hunt–HE “set” ’em all, he was that picky ABOUT his spreads–115 decoys, 36 of which were floater geese–we had action, every TIME we went–the man knew/knows his STUFF! The 2nd Opening Day, since his blind was near a canal across from my home, I had him run me TO my neighbor’s dock–I called ahead, & then picked up a pizza for the 3 of us hunting that day–pretty cool, eating (fresh!) pizza, in a duck blind! THAT is the kind of thing one DOES, without having to be ASKED, when someone takes you duck hunting–it shows appreciation, for being asked to participate!
Yall are going for each other. Some people don’t take it as seriously as others enjoy the damn sport. It is about fun if you want success take it seriously and scout if not don’t expect anything more than good times with the boys. There’s not to many hunters left I try to help as much as I can
Not too many hunters left? You either do not hunt public lands or you are not in the right spots yourself. In the south, there’s so much traffic from 12-4 am on a Saturday morning, you’d think it’s Black Friday weekend, every weekend. Then you have those that come in 30 minutes before shooting hours and set up right next to you. When I find a honey hole, I tell only select friends that I trust. Take a public hunt in mississippi and you’ll find yourself wondering why you still hunt. It takes pure love for the sport to endure these circumstances.
Your article is so true. I used to be a generous hunter. Too many self centered people out there for me. I hunt with very few anymore. Greed is a funny thing. Let us all remember, hunting is not a competitive sport.
I can agree with everything that was said in this article, but only cause I wouldn’t do any of this. But if any of this happened to me, I wouldn’t lose a friend over it. That is for sure. I have one standard for my hunting buddies, and that is that they have the same regard for safety as I do. If they can show me that they can hunt safely, then I am more than willing to share a honey hole, they can crack a joke at my dog, take a sure shot at something I might miss and definitely they don’t have to feel like they owe me something for friendship. Seriously, hunting is an expensive hobby, and I know better not to make my less fortunate buddy feel like its a members only club. Oh, and one more thing, if you know someone can’t do it, show them how. Growing up with out a father, I taught myself just about everything I know about hunting and life. Maybe the guy who doesn’t know how to call hasn’t been shown how, and I can tell you from experience that it’s nice to be taught than feel like your not good enough to a hunting partner.
I have replaced a few guys that just showed up and after several trips never so much as offered fuel for the 2 hour drive or for the outboard. One guy on a job overheard me talking about it and he piped up, “I’ll gladly pay for fuel if you would be willing to take me along”! Had start him out on the mediocre locations but he quickly stepped up to be a trusted companion in many hunts until he moved to another state. A new hunting partner search is underway. Oh, and if I reach over and act like I’m trying to keep your gun from falling, I’m probably stabilizing the gun as I tap your trigger. It goes off…? Hope you brought your walking shoes!
If you tap my guns trigger I’ll break your nose on the spot …. keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire … keep your hands to yourself two golden rules of life .
Nicely said! We all want to have a good time and safety concerns come first of course. With that said, with today’s media and TV programs, too many people out there get the wrong idea. Not going to name any one show or person. Too many people out there want to KILL, KILL, KILL… and they don’t step back, relax and enjoy the moment and they expect too much.
Scouting is a serious thing. We all know what it takes and how much time, gas, glassing… All the ones I know want it easy and are more than willing, without any doubt, will use you for everything they can get and then if they have a good shoot with the help they got from you, they don’t even thank you and brag to other people about how cool they are and how it went down lol… I have the same thing going on as the above. I’m down to hunting with a couple guy’s who “Get it” and we do well.
Safety is my big thing too. Once I’ll accept and correct the offender. If there’s a second time there’s never a third.
Don’t have a dog so can’t be insulted on that one.
The “caller” the writer is talking about can’t be taught because they know everything already.
No, it’s not about limits. It’s about the experience and the dog for me.
So a buddy vouches for a guy that we take to a special spot. I was very clear about that I’d worked very hard getting permission on that land. The guy went back without permission,
Dropped my name, left gates open. I get booted from a place I respected. Gave the landowner gifts. Anyway, I mostly just hunt with my dog now . Sometimes another guy.
You folks can koom by ya all ya want, snitches get stitches.
Just remember hunting needs to be fun. I’ve been waterfowling 53 years and still enjoy every hunt. Also remember that everyone hunting is there for different reasons. I don’t like to shoot ducks and geese unless they are decoying. Sure I take the occasional pass shot, but it’s all about getting them fooled. Safety should and always will be the #1 priority, if a guy cant be safe that’s where I draw the line.
I use to take the new person out that wanted to learn about duck hunting, but I do less know because of some of the items on this list.
Here’s a few tips for you new to duck hunting When you’re told 25 times to get a calling instructional video or check out YouTube by the guy that has been duck hunting for over 40 years…maybe you should take his advice.
Don’t shoot my dog, I’ve had more than one person shoot at downed birds just a foot or two in front of my dog.
Dont shoot my decoys, a full body floater goose decoy is $25 x 3 dozen…you have nothing invested in the hunt other than your coffee, dont shoot my decoys!!
Know what you are shooting at…there are plenty of waterfowl ID APPs, learn what you intend to shoot. Learn what they look like flying and in low light conditions.
Cormorants are not geese! Stop calling at them.
Most of all, be safe and take your kids hunting. A duck boat/blind is great family time!
Goose Commander on Twitter, Hunting is a gift, a talent, a joy, an adventure, a memory, a bounty to share on and off the field, a rush, watching God’s creation at work, test of skill, blessing, start each Hunt praising our Lord as creator of the universe and Thanking Him for the opportunity to enjoy His gift of life, and the bounty He provides and safety while we are in the field. Canada is calling.
I’ve never duck hunted before. But I have a new friend who is excited to take me as much as I am to go. I truly enjoyed all of the post that I’ve read here and they will help me be a good first timer and hopefully a return hunting companion. Thanks!
It all depends on your individual circumstances. Most of this etiquette is excellent but it does vary from person to person. Here in Alberta we have a massive abundance of land and birds with very few people. We really do need to continue to the growth of the sport. Without new hunters we could loose all of our influence. Unlike the southern U.S. we don’t have tons of people Hunting a limited area. It’s not really too expensive if you want to get into the sport. If you’re handy at all you can throw together a decent blind for less than $400 in Canadian dollars which would be even cheaper in U.S. dollars. Although I don’t use it where I hunt I have a John boat that my grandfather bought 40 years ago but this can indeed be a big initial cost for some. Many ponds, swamps and marshes here in the northern prairies don’t require a boat, just a shoreline blind. The most expensive part is usually getting and keeping a good dog but this is a long term investment. A dog brings so much more to life than just the hunt. Some people are fortunate to inherit a decent shotgun too but they are increasing in value if you need to buy new like I did. If you are fortunate enough to have access to other people’s private land, you must show the upmost respect for the landowner at all times. I personally have such access and do not need to scout at all. I don’t have lots of friends who hunt and am always willing to pay for breakfast and gear. I’m just appreciative to have people who want to hunt safely and responsibly with me. I don’t ask them for anything other than help setting up the blind and decoys along with clean up at the end of the season. It’s much more enjoyable with other people for me. Hunting alone is ok but I prefer a partner or 2. I only share my spot with a select few people out of respect for the landowner and they must be accompanied by me. I also assist the landowner with work on the farm just as I assist with property maintenance for my friend’s parents who have a cabin we hunt big game out of. Appreciation can be shown in many ways.