I heard a story of the duck hunter in Kickapoo. did not get all the story but if some one knows the real story could you post here.

wild bill

Okay got more of the story.. Seems there was a duck hunter set up with decoys when the rush of fishermen from tournaments came into Kickapoo creek. Apparently duck hunter called the game warden, Warden showed up and removed the fishermen from duck hunters area. This is parts of a story that I have heard. Really would like to know the entire story..
wild bill

thats the story I got also, I didn't know duck hunters had the "right of way" on a lake.

Was that this weekend?

Not sure if it's a right of way deal but i would think the courteous thing to do if they are there before you is to move on. Besides they have guns.....

Move on, never get in a gun fight with a fishing pole. Lol

When you see the decoys, show some respect and give him some space.

I would think if the hunter is set up and boats start crowding him it would be considered hunter harassment which is against the law.

This is the exact reason.

There's no fish in Kickapoo right now anyways, sounds like the hunter did them a favor.

I was fishing outside of Old Folks yesterday. A guy that was idling out told me that he had just been kicked out of the area by the warden due to duck hunters in the area. He was pretty pissed off.

From what I heard from guys that got ran out by the game wardens is that it was in Old Folks and it happened as soon as they got there. Sounds like a pre-planned deal by the duck hunters and the game warden for the wardens to be there that fast.

They may have had issues with anglers crowding the duck hunters prolior to this and decided to put a stop to it.

Agree

Game warden tells fishermen to not fish in the area a hunter is set up and is planning on shooting and fishermen get their feelings hurt. Kinda doing his job protecting the public wouldn�t you think?

What if it's a trailer tournament and you idle into an area before the duck hunters set up decoys? Couldn't you argue they are harassing you?

This!!!!!!!

First come, first served would by my guess/opinion. Been wrong before though...a lot so I might be off base here.

I would say absolutely yes and I believe a game warden would agree with you but that�s not the order the OP said took place.

It�s pretty simple. We can fish all year..... duck hunters get 60 days let them have their area. I do both and have seen fisherman plenty of times comes in right on top of you then want to complain because you pepper them when some ducks come in.

are you going to be idling in there at 3-4 in the morning? I can promise the duck hunter will be there by that time or earlier.

Tournament boats will never be out before duck hunters. I do both and try to respect anyone else on the water.
Tournament days start with early hours but duck hunting starts hours before that

Its easy to fish right up on a group of duck hunters and never know they are there. Especially in an area like old folks. Especially if the hunting is slow and there is not alot of shooting going on. I've done that many times by pure accident. Come around a blind corner and there you are. I don't think I would take getting "peppered" well. Especially on a purely accidental encounter.

I agree. I respect everyone that's on the water. But if I happen onto someone by accident and my boat gets peppered there will be a "conversation" had....

Last Friday on Palestine I ran up on some hunting the main lake outside of flat creek. I had no clue the were there until I was right outside of their spread and they got out of their blind.

Sometimes it's accident, sometimes it's not. Had an instance a couple of years ago during a high school tournament where a team was fishing just outside the hunter's decoys to which the hunters said "what's the deal? yall are fishing in my decoys." The reply from the high school team's boat captain was "We're not yet, but we're about to be." Something like that is completely unacceptable and sickening that some captains teach the kids that that is ok behavior. It's very simple, if you see decoys or hear shooting stay out of the area until they pack up. If you accidently come in on a group of hunters apologize for getting in their way and move out of the area. I try to tell people to think about if the roles were reversed and you were fishing a spot at daylight and a group of duck hunters came buzzing in and threw their decoys out right where you were casting. Either scenario is no good and yes like stated above if done intentionally could land someone in jail for hunter harrasment.

a couple years ago I jumped on the THF to ask the duck hunters what time they usually finish up. Was headed to Ray Bob up in Buck Creek and didn�t want to get in the way. Thought I was doing the courteous thing by asking... boy was I wrong. These folks thought I was trying to milk them for information and went sideways. Even got some heated PM�s. They seem to be even more elitist than bass fishermen if that�s possible. I�m thankful that my buddy has a deer lease loaded with ducks so I don�t have to go to public water and deal with all the Willie wannabes to hunt. I know the nappy beard is in these days but it�s comical how many duck dynasty look alikes you start to see at the boat ramp about 2 weeks before duck season.

I bowfish a lot when I'm not bass fishing, and winter is the time to shoot the big ones after a few days warming trend. They get REAL upset when I roll up on them in my fanboat about an hour before sun up.... But how the heck am I supposed to know they are there?!

Hope he limited out if he went through all that trouble to hunt there

So what is an acceptable amount of space to give you guys? I don't duck hunt so I have no idea what you guys expect here. So if I'm at Fork (guessing this is where this encounter happened) and fishing up in Glade Creek and stumble on you, what do you expect? How far away do I need to get to avoid an angry post on Texas Fishing forum? South of the 515 bridge?? 1/4 mile?? Out of gun sound range? Honest question, hope you hunters will answer it.

some folks dont even give fishermen room why would you think they would give it to other sportsmen. i doubt that if there were fishermen in a small area duck hunters would set decoys out an take the chance of peppering them.

It was the last weekend of duck season, give the guy some room...

Some of the behavior by the high school bassers is atrocious, I've seen it made my blood boil

I fish caddo a lot and those duck hunters out there are no joke. They peppered two tour pontoon boats last year.

If I hear duck calls, I go the other direction.

Sounds like that makes it even easier...they were there first...I would move on.

There is no written rule about how much space to give. Heath is saying the same thing myself and most are saying. If you come across someone hunting, be courteous and give them their space. I fish Fork all the time, and hunt it sometimes. Hunt Glade, and building a house in there. If Im coming down a bank and turn a corner, and see decoys, Ill just turn back and go the other way. Which has happened a lot out there. Normally you wont see them til you get right up on them.
My rule of thumb is I give them the space I'd want if I were hunting over there. And most times its just go to another spot. Besides....aint no bass worth accidently getting shot over!

Accident?!, who said it was an accident

Some people have no clue on hunting seasons and don't care. I just think if you decide to hunt a really popular bass fishing area during a tournament, be prepared. I've seen it happen a lot on Rayburn in the canyons and on Toledo in 1215. Ya they are great duck hunting areas but even better bass fishing. When you have 15-20 boats running in to the area, they don't don't know you're there until it's too late. Most of the duck hunters I've seen just pack up and move. Can't expect bass fisherman to know the "unwritten rules" when they are on the lake. It's not like some of these places are backwaters and super shallow hard to get into. These guys will setup out on the main lake.

It works both ways, you think all the hunters have a clue about bass fishing?, first come first serve and the GW will continue to enforce as such.

Guys that "don't care" put themselves in the line of fire. As soon as they get peppered they start raising hell. Tournament fisherman do not own the water. Main lake or not. If there are duck hunters there, just move along. If I'm there first and hunting ducks, I'm damned sure not going to pack up and leave because some "my my my" guy in a bass boat comes in on me. Should be the other way around. I, for one, am glad to hear the Game Warden was helping some fishermen not get cited for interfering with a hunter. Plus, keeping them safe from stray shotgun pellets.

Usually this time of year the duck hunters are done before the bass really turn on anyway. If I'm headed into a creek and duckers are set up I pick another creek and come back later. Common courtesy and respect for your fellow man, really should not be very difficult to figure out. I get it though, in a tournament situation it would suck... all the best water on Palestine this time of year is in the middle of duck central!

Fixed it for you

I dont have a dog in this hunt, but we do experience the same scenarios down here in Central Texas. As a sportsman, I take the time to know the laws and regulations on whatever particular body of water I hunt or fish on.

I expect those that call themselves sportsman to do the same

Harassment of hunters, trappers or anglers (Sportsmen's Rights Act) is punishable by a fine of $200 to $2000 and/or 180 days in jail.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/...l-regulations/laws-penalties-restitution


https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PW/htm/PW.62.htm

My first thought when I saw this thread on Sunday was "how long is it going to take for the high school trails get bashed on this thread. Turns out it was page 2. Funny how there were no high school tournaments this weekend on Palestine, I believe there was FOM and Media Individuals, but go ahead and get your licks in.

I get all that, I am not going to intentionally fish into someone's spread. I meant these areas where tons of boats will be in and out all day fishing. Can't expect all of them to know it's duck season and to know that exact area has guys hunting. Most of them just know it's a good spot to fish. It's just what I've witnessed many times. 1 Hunter can't get upset when tons of different boats are in and out all day. If I'm bass fishing an area and 30-40 duck boats come in and setting up or scouting, I'm probably going to get the hint.

you can really tell the men from the boys on a post like this.

Hunters 1
Fishermen 0

sportsman 0

One of the guys at the FOM weigh in said the game warden told them they had to be 300 yards away from the hunters.

Shotgun pellets go about 200 yards so 300 yards is probably about right. Funny to me how everybody gets very possessive of PUBLIC water. This happens when you fun fish too, tourney people want you out of their way. If someone is in your area before you, hunter, fisherman, jet ski, pleasure boat, just go fish some where else. Pretty simple solution, be nice!

Funny how the person doing the "bashing", as you put it, is a warden in the state of Texas. He has an impeccable reputation, is a good guy and also is an avid outdoorsman.


I bet Heath isn't "bashing", just speaking the truth and sometimes the truth hurts

Years ago on Fork we were fishing a Honey Hole big BASS tournament and pulled into the cove next to 2926 (s.e. corner were Vals used to be)....there were a cple of duck hunters on bank with a few decoys we never noticed until they fired over our heads. I told brother-in-law to leave and he said he'll no it's not their lake. They fired over us a second time and I ordered him to get out or I was going to lay in floor of boat. He turned around and caught an over of almost 9lbs at the mouth of the cove as we were leaving. Cashed a nice check and he owed it all to those hunters running us out.....lol.

Not bashing at all and didn't mean for it to come across that way if it did. I deal with duck hunters and fishermen on a daily basis and show no partiality to either. I've been a boat captain for high school tournaments for the last 4 years except for this year as our school didn't have any kids wanting to fish. The incident I was talking about happened on Lake Bob Sandlin a couple of years ago. I believe high school fishing has done lots of great things for the sport, but it would be false to say there aren't some negative aspects. Inexperienced captains who may not know better or captains who have a win at all cost mentality who do things like encroach on hunters, cut other fishermen off, don't make the kids wear life jackets, etc are teaching kids the wrong way to do things. I'm a huge supporter of high school fishing and have spoken at many high school team meetings and always try and stress the importance of following some of the "unwritten rules" of tournament fishing like not intentionally cutting someone off, fishing too close to someone, etc. I especially try and stress this to the teams who I am affiliated with and have my business logo on their boat or jersey. Not only are they representing themselves and their school, but also the companies with whom they are associated.

These issues aren't specific to high school tournaments. But every random issue thread get high school tournament mentions. Just look at the squaw threads on here, people of all ages and level have lost all courtesy.

In all likelihood, the inexperienced captains are the most courteous, it's the seasoned veterans that are doing these things in other tournaments and bringing it to their high school kids tournament.

I didn�t take what Heath said as bashing high school fishing. The other comment, yes. But not Heath�s comment. Heath was in fact stating the truth about what a boat captain did on Bob Sandlin and that incident was reported and was turned over to the proper authorities for them to handle.

Heath is a good dude who has helped several kids in our tournaments. And honestly, I like having a game warden or two at our events and very much welcome their feedback.

And here is some good news: our fish care numbers are off the charts this season, however, even with that, we are having 3 live release tanks built in the very near future so we can have a live release tank at every event the THSBA conducts, which will be 49 for the 2019-2020 season.

I am not a member of this thread and I'm using a friend's access to post this. First let me say that I do fish and I also hunt. I am the hunter that was in Old Folks on Palestine trying to hunt Saturday morning. In spite of the poor duck season this year, I was set up with decoys out about 5:30 that morning. About 7:00 I started hearing bass boats that seemed to be coming from the Villages. I didn't know there was a tournament that morning or I would likely have hunted Pines or Fork. Several boats came into the cove I was hunting, but they trolled along and were about 50 to 60 yards from me. Not ideal for my duck hunting, but I can deal with that. However, 2 boats came in and set up within 30 yards of me. I'll add that decoys were out, I did not have my blind on my boat up, and it was quite obvious we were duck hunting. One boat dropped his trolling motor on the very edge of my decoys right in front of me. I had actually set the decoys closer to my boat than usual and told my son I should have set them further out. The boat dropped its trolling motor and then moved about 10 feet beyond my decoys. The problem was I had 2 boats, one about 30 yards from me and the other within 25 yards of me and both stayed stationary and didn't move along. I waited and when they didn't move on we made sure they knew we were there and they still stayed. I called the local game warden, who I am familiar with, and told him what was going on. Just so happens he was already on the lake and said he would be there in about 10 minutes. When I got off the phone I proceeded to inform the guys fishing in the immediate area that I was there first and what they were doing was considered hunter harassment. I asked them to leave the area and warned them a warden would be there in about 10 minutes or so and it would be in their best interests to leave the area. They didn't. I'm sure they thought it was a bluff. Warden there in 10 minutes? He going to drop out of a helicopter or something? Well, about 10 minutes later here came 2 wardens in a boat with a small mud motor. He went to each boat and informed them they needed to clear the area and why. Everyone complied, although a couple of them grudgingly. One kept asking the warden what the law was on the matter and the warden had to keep repeating himself. No one was ticketed. And I'll add that I saw none of them catch any fish in the area. I stayed about another hour, picked up the decoys and left. As I was leaving boats started moving back in. The warden did what he was supposed to do. As a fisherman and duck hunter I don't get upset about a bass boat trolling by me while hunting as long as they keep moving along. I'm glad to see them on the lake as it helps keep ducks moving.....provided there are any ducks. But it is extremely discourteous what these guys did Saturday morning in old folks, especially 2 of these teams. It was a blatant disregard for someone else's privilege to be on the lake as a duck hunter. Duck season is November through January and I've been hunting on some very cold mornings and see bass fishermen on the lake. I give those guys kudos. I've had a few fishing that didn't see me, but most are courteous. I called the game warden and I would do it again without hesitation. If you are going to be on the lake, know the laws that might pertain to you.....whether you are fishing, hunting, etc. I'm almost 64 and have mellowed with age so I decided to let the warden handle the situation. As someone posted, fishing rods are not very effective against shotguns. Not only that, my duck boat is like a tank and my mud motor doing donuts in the cove would not have helped fishing in the area. To those of you on here who understand the law and are supportive of doing the right thing, I thank you. And to those who think otherwise and believe the lake belongs to them alone...�well, not much to say, except be glad I called the warden. If there had been ducks flying in the area and we started shooting it could have been interesting. Now that duck season is over maybe I'll see you on the lakes fishing. Good luck and be safe.

You had my full attention and empathy until you posted the bs I highlighted in red. If you had done that, you'd be no better than those who were harassing you.

Fouzman, I agree with you and would not do those things. I didn't and would not do them and it would be worse than hunter harassment. My point is that some folks were faulting me for calling a warden and even indicated it was pre-planned. It was not planned and tried to be level-headed about the whole thing. I know Old Folks is a good fishing area. If I knew about the tournament I would have gone to another lake that morning.

I really don't see what's so difficult about this thread......

If you come across hunters set up, give them space and respect. If your hunting and someone is already fishing where you wanna hunt, give them space and respect too. I was brought up duck hunting in Arkansas and fishing, so I know both sides. But it all boils down to RESPECT on both sides. It's not that dang hard to understand.

Im trying to teach my kids this now when they are in the boat with me. Because I want to know later down the road when they start doing it more on their own, they show others the same respect they want on and off the water.

I struggle more with game remotes than respect from them though!

I would have called the warden, too. You did the right thing.

I appreciate this response. As a guy that does not duck hunt, it gives me some insight into what hunters expect when you stumble upon them by pure accident. When I first heard about this it sounded like the game warden asked the fishermen to completely vacate old folks. In my opinion that would not be reasonable or fair for one group of hunters to tie up an area of that size. However, It doesn't sound like that is what happened at all. Sounds like all you expected was some common courtesy. The guys fishing around your decoys were completely unreasonable.

One of the points he made is very true for me at least, I like fishermen moving around up on the north end as it does tend to keep some ducks moving around, but I don't get the guys that dropped trolling motor right on top of him and his sons set??? That's the kind of stuff that make all tournament guys look like jerks.

Running out of north end Palestine once I ran right by a hunters set and stopped to apologize (set looked real, LOL)
I told them about a pocket we just came out of little ways from them where ducks were coming in and landing by our bass boat...later saw them at the ramp and they moved to the spot we told them about they and got 2 limits.

It's about respecting each other on the water, whether it's duck hunting or bass fishing, let's remember that we all love the outdoors and we still have way more in common than things that divide us.

If you drop your trolling motor on the edge of someone's spread then except anything that comes your way via ticket for you may be a prick.

Now if only these "fishermen" would identify themselves.

Sorry you had to deal with that. I use to hunt public water as well but thankfully never ran into those issues.

Story just in time for this topic:

shooting

the "hunter" really did not identify himself

just a screen name of someone else

But, I agree the anglers need to chime in as well.



As for the whole duck hunter vs bass fishermen "beef" deal, let the hunters have their space during hunting season, it's over before the fish really even get pre spawn

Would need a new pair of britches.......

That's what I don't understand about the guys' mindset dropping troller right on his set. I only see two things possible rattling around in their noggin.

1. They thought their presence would stop any ducks from coming in (D-B move)
2. They don't mind being shot at (D-A move)

Either way, kudos to you csbrad58 for taking the high road.

I wish the game warden had written them tickets. Maybe they would have learned their lesson.

From what the hunter said about the two boats fishing right up beside their decoys, the anglers should have gone to the boat ramp afterwards and loaded their boat up. Surely they know it is illegal to move in that close to duck hunters and they surely know the tournament rules say they must obey all state laws. At that point they should have DQ'd themselves. Especially after being confronted by a warden. This may be a time when a ticket may be appropriate, if for not other reason, to make tournament anglers start to follow the rules of the tournaments.

It's always nice to get the other side of the story. I can say as a bass fisherman or general user of the lake I would never dream of acting like that.

and DQ'd them from their tournament. they got lucky for thier unethical actions. should have been DQ'd.

Lets find out if they placed in the Tourney!

Yea, take their first place earnings for $250

I'm not a duck hunter, but the easy response or frame-of-mind to mitigate these kinds of encounters would be "if is was another fisherman and not a duck hunter, would you just roll up on them and pitch your bait into the same brushpile/dock they are fishing?" I know what the answer SHOULD be, but more and more these days, the less courteous answer is chosen. me me me me me me me me me

When someone gets to a spot first they have right of way. Most duck hunters set up on public lakes sometimes hours before sunrise, when someone in a bass boat or any boat for that matter decides they should be within 200 yards of the duck hunt they are messing up the hunt. While one can fish much closer than that, being that close to a duck hunter will scare away any birds that might come into his spread and also put oneself within range of steel shot intended for birds. Just be respectful and stay out of their hunting area.

Sometimes you have to go up a creek or through a cove etc to get to where you need to go and sometimes you simply don't se them, oit happens..just don't be a D.

It wouldn't have been a ticket. Hunter Harassment is a Class B and they would have been arrested on the spot and boat towed or a warrant for their arrest issued and picked up later and booked in jail to await the judge to bond out.

Buncha lake namers in here

2 limits on Palestine???

It's Palestine..... everybody that's ever watched Duck Dynasty bombards that lake!! To kill a few gadwalls or wood ducks!!

I am a duck hunter and fisherman.. I would remind everyone that not only is duck season only a couple of months of the year. it is highly restricted in the areas of the lake it is permitted. There are a very limited number of lakes that allow duck hunting at all. Competition for the public spots is fierce. I would ask you fishermen to give them a break. It is one of the few publicly available hunting sports left. Hunting is a slowly dying sport. Traditions are fading and access is becoming for the wealthy only..A public reservoir hunt requires enormous effort, but is still available... barely... give them a break.. just go around ...

^^A lot if wisdom here^^
As outdoors people both fisherman and hunters, I think we all owe it to the future generations to do what we can to keep things going.

The gun would have been a slight over reaction ....but getting in my duck boat and running circles around them would have been the courteous, righteous thing to do

Total lack of common courtesy.