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.

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. .

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

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

Lets find out if they placed in the Tourney!