Comments on: Internet Scouting – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php Duck Hunting Chat has duck hunting tips and goose hunting tips and information, articles, photos, videos and more. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:39:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: M.R. Ducks http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-715 M.R. Ducks Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:21:38 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-715 I am a local who tells the truth but lies about the location. This way I don't have to deal with the rubber heads. I am a local who tells the truth but lies about the location. This way I don’t have to deal with the rubber heads.

]]> By: Peter Millin http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-350 Peter Millin Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:38:05 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-350 Great article and great discussion. Just wanted to add something that I haven't read her yet. I am in my 50's and I have three children. We moved around quiet a bit and never really stayed anywhere long enough to make friends (I hope those days are over) In any case. I am a first generation hunter, which means nobody in my family ever hunted. I really don't know anybody close enough yet who could show me the ropes. Currently I find these forums to be the only source of info I have. I don't expect for anybody to reveal their secrets and I can respect that, but general information is greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work. Great article and great discussion.

Just wanted to add something that I haven’t read her yet.

I am in my 50′s and I have three children. We moved around quiet a bit and never really stayed anywhere long enough to make friends (I hope those days are over)

In any case. I am a first generation hunter, which means nobody in my family ever hunted. I really don’t know anybody close enough yet who could show me the ropes.

Currently I find these forums to be the only source of info I have.
I don’t expect for anybody to reveal their secrets and I can respect that, but general information is greatly appreciated.

Keep up the good work.

]]> By: fuzznuts http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-251 fuzznuts Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:58:20 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-251 Great Article. Well........hunting has changed over the years. If you have a public honey hole, enjoy it while it lasts. Seems to me our battles shouldn't be amongst ourselves, but rather to keep open what we have open. Man, be a great steward of the land. Appreciate each and evry landowner that gives you free access to hunt their land or to lease their land. Take someone hunting. Take your kid hunting. Great Article. Well……..hunting has changed over the years. If you have a public honey hole, enjoy it while it lasts. Seems to me our battles shouldn’t be amongst ourselves, but rather to keep open what we have open. Man, be a great steward of the land. Appreciate each and evry landowner that gives you free access to hunt their land or to lease their land. Take someone hunting. Take your kid hunting.

]]> By: Jason Breuwirth http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-224 Jason Breuwirth Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:35:36 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-224 Great article! I thought it accurately covered all the dimensions of internet scouting. "Having “locals” stick their head in the sand and ignoring when someone posts a good spot on the internet (for 6 billion people and counting to access) is not a good course of action."---Jeremiah I agree with what you said, especially in regards to the PM's. The last thing anyone should do is get on a guy for posting a spot, and do it publicly. It only validates that the spot is indeed a honey hole and will only draw more attention to the thread. When it's all said and done, Internet scouting is here to stay. If you don't like it, be proactive and help educate people who aren't aware of the social norms of message boards...i.e. that it frowned on to post specific locations. Great article! I thought it accurately covered all the dimensions of internet scouting.

“Having “locals” stick their head in the sand and ignoring when someone posts a good spot on the internet (for 6 billion people and counting to access) is not a good course of action.”—Jeremiah

I agree with what you said, especially in regards to the PM’s. The last thing anyone should do is get on a guy for posting a spot, and do it publicly. It only validates that the spot is indeed a honey hole and will only draw more attention to the thread.

When it’s all said and done, Internet scouting is here to stay. If you don’t like it, be proactive and help educate people who aren’t aware of the social norms of message boards…i.e. that it frowned on to post specific locations.

]]> By: Darren (Yamaha783) http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-61 Darren (Yamaha783) Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:03:23 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-61 " there is pretty much nothing you can say or tell someone asking that they can’t already find on the internet." I think this statement is at least a little off. There's an awful lot you can find out on your own or by word of mouth that you could never find out on the internet sites for such public lands. Here in La there are so many intracacies to marshes with various feed conditions and bird numbers that you must seek it out on your own to find out. The websites don't have the info and I know for sure the information you alluded to regarding harvest reports don't exist in my state, again, Louisiana, where the birds are numerous but the number of hunters is crazy. In such a case, there are those that put in their homework before the season and there are those that want to rely on those others for inside info to make their next hunt. Here's a good example that occurred this year: A local public marsh was surveyed before the season with very poor duck numbers, largely due to damaged ponds, lack of feed, etc. from storms. There was an area away from the marsh, yet part of this area that was holding 90%, yes 90% of all birds surveyed on the marsh. The wildlife agents were the only ones to know about it, aside from word of mouth by slip-up. I knew about the area because I had scouted it previously but 98% of those visiting the marsh knew nothing. Wouldn't you know the game wardens were hunting this area hard each week and of course posting nor telling no one! In any case, there's an awful lot to be kept secret that should never be posted for all to see, rather shared in confidence with friends. I usually help out those who ask in order to get them started but I do not divulge the secrets of my hidden away locations found while scouting in July dripping in sweat while Joe Internet Scouter was sipping a cocktail on his boat. ” there is pretty much nothing you can say or tell someone asking that they can’t already find on the internet.” I think this statement is at least a little off. There’s an awful lot you can find out on your own or by word of mouth that you could never find out on the internet sites for such public lands. Here in La there are so many intracacies to marshes with various feed conditions and bird numbers that you must seek it out on your own to find out. The websites don’t have the info and I know for sure the information you alluded to regarding harvest reports don’t exist in my state, again, Louisiana, where the birds are numerous but the number of hunters is crazy. In such a case, there are those that put in their homework before the season and there are those that want to rely on those others for inside info to make their next hunt.
Here’s a good example that occurred this year: A local public marsh was surveyed before the season with very poor duck numbers, largely due to damaged ponds, lack of feed, etc. from storms. There was an area away from the marsh, yet part of this area that was holding 90%, yes 90% of all birds surveyed on the marsh. The wildlife agents were the only ones to know about it, aside from word of mouth by slip-up. I knew about the area because I had scouted it previously but 98% of those visiting the marsh knew nothing. Wouldn’t you know the game wardens were hunting this area hard each week and of course posting nor telling no one!
In any case, there’s an awful lot to be kept secret that should never be posted for all to see, rather shared in confidence with friends. I usually help out those who ask in order to get them started but I do not divulge the secrets of my hidden away locations found while scouting in July dripping in sweat while Joe Internet Scouter was sipping a cocktail on his boat.

]]> By: klyde31 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-58 klyde31 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:35:25 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-58 Jeremiah, I think your logic is a little flawed as well. Since I didn't notice any mention of this in your post, let me clarify first. If you are talking about privately owned land, then I can see where you're coming from and agree with you. If you are talking about public hunting land, the I couldn't disagree more. I don't know about all states, but most states have a wildlife and parks department webpage nowadays that contains many helpful hunting tools. Downloadable maps, regulations, picture identifying books, GPS coordinates, bird reports, etc. I could go on and on. The point is, for public hunting at least, there is pretty much nothing you can say or tell someone asking that they can't already find on the internet. Example: I say I shot a limit this weekend and someone says where at. Well, my profile says I live in town X and there are really only 3 public spots within 5 hours of town X. So, unless I mentioned an extended hunt trip, you can assume I didn't go farther than 5 hours. I can look up on the wildlife and parks website that Public Land A is reporting 20,000 ducks with most people who are checked getting limits and most of the people checked were around Marshes A and B. Meanwhile Public Land B and Public Land C are both reporting around 500-1000 ducks each with an average of .9 birds per hunter taken the past weekend. There are also some maps to get to the marshes, parking areas, dikes, etc. Now, when asked by the other person where I shot my limit at, if I had said Marsh A on Public Land A, every "Local" on there would be chewing some Ace, even though they don't own it. The second option would be I say nothing when asked and the person asking looks at where I am from and looks it up the websites and such. They find pretty much the exact same info. I am not advocating telling or asking of spots and whatnot. I am merely saying that there is no need to jump down someone's throat and crucify them for merely saying what wildlife department websites already say. That is what I find ignorant. Maybe that is still helping out too much. I too agree that the fun is in the scouting. But "Locals" should just calm down a little and realize that the wildlife departments are doing more to give away "their" PUBLIC spots than anyone else. Jeremiah, I think your logic is a little flawed as well. Since I didn’t notice any mention of this in your post, let me clarify first. If you are talking about privately owned land, then I can see where you’re coming from and agree with you. If you are talking about public hunting land, the I couldn’t disagree more. I don’t know about all states, but most states have a wildlife and parks department webpage nowadays that contains many helpful hunting tools. Downloadable maps, regulations, picture identifying books, GPS coordinates, bird reports, etc. I could go on and on. The point is, for public hunting at least, there is pretty much nothing you can say or tell someone asking that they can’t already find on the internet.

Example: I say I shot a limit this weekend and someone says where at. Well, my profile says I live in town X and there are really only 3 public spots within 5 hours of town X. So, unless I mentioned an extended hunt trip, you can assume I didn’t go farther than 5 hours. I can look up on the wildlife and parks website that Public Land A is reporting 20,000 ducks with most people who are checked getting limits and most of the people checked were around Marshes A and B. Meanwhile Public Land B and Public Land C are both reporting around 500-1000 ducks each with an average of .9 birds per hunter taken the past weekend. There are also some maps to get to the marshes, parking areas, dikes, etc.

Now, when asked by the other person where I shot my limit at, if I had said Marsh A on Public Land A, every “Local” on there would be chewing some Ace, even though they don’t own it. The second option would be I say nothing when asked and the person asking looks at where I am from and looks it up the websites and such. They find pretty much the exact same info.

I am not advocating telling or asking of spots and whatnot. I am merely saying that there is no need to jump down someone’s throat and crucify them for merely saying what wildlife department websites already say. That is what I find ignorant. Maybe that is still helping out too much. I too agree that the fun is in the scouting. But “Locals” should just calm down a little and realize that the wildlife departments are doing more to give away “their” PUBLIC spots than anyone else.

]]> By: Jeremiah http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-57 Jeremiah Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:43:44 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-57 Chris, I have to say I think your logic is flawed. Having "locals" stick their head in the sand and ignoring when someone posts a good spot on the internet (for 6 billion people and counting to access) is not a good course of action. Those posts are archived by search engines and will never really be gone unless they are edited for content - then the newly edited content will be archived. It is clear that the problem is the person who posted the "honey hole" in the first place. This person likely posted the honey hole for one or more of a few reasons. 1. Ignorance - the "communicator" does not understand the sheer scale of internet communication and how many people he was "friendly" to at that moment he pushed submit, and consequently how badly he just ruined the experience of those "locals" that put time and gas in scouting. 2. The communicator is the type of person that he wants to be liked/accepted so much so that it overcomes what he knows to be wrong. I thought there would be more reasons but those two really cover just about everything. Either the person does not know the wrong he commits, or knows how it affects people and chooses to post anyway. "He either don't know or he don't care". The way to combat the problem is that good old concept of education. Let the communicator know how posting a spot in clear text on a public forum is not good practice. Explain to them that they have no idea who they are typing to on the other end of the computer network, let alone who is "lurking" now or five years from now through the looking glass of a search engine. This can be done through a PM. However, the forum moderator should understand this too and be ready to assist in teaching the communicator and working a solution. That is the definition of moderator, after all. The moderator badge is not worn for free - at least one would hope... Being asked to refrain from posting honey holes in clear text does not mean a communicator should not be friendly - it just means he should not be hurtful. If the communicator is really such a helpful person, he should meet the other communicator (that requested the hotspots) in person and show them the places he wishes to share. That way, communicator 1 is helping communicator 2 only, and not assisting hundreds or thousands of lurkers. Another way to help is to use Private Messaging. Either through the site or exchange of personal email addresses. This way the "communicators" can remain friendly (true to themselves) without ruining the spot for "locals" because there are no "lurkers" when the message is private. Unless the second communicator is extremely blabby and immediately posts the spot on a public forum, Private Messaging would help the problem immensely. Jeremiah Chris,

I have to say I think your logic is flawed.

Having “locals” stick their head in the sand and ignoring when someone posts a good spot on the internet (for 6 billion people and counting to access) is not a good course of action. Those posts are archived by search engines and will never really be gone unless they are edited for content – then the newly edited content will be archived.

It is clear that the problem is the person who posted the “honey hole” in the first place. This person likely posted the honey hole for one or more of a few reasons.

1. Ignorance – the “communicator” does not understand the sheer scale of internet communication and how many people he was “friendly” to at that moment he pushed submit, and consequently how badly he just ruined the experience of those “locals” that put time and gas in scouting.

2. The communicator is the type of person that he wants to be liked/accepted so much so that it overcomes what he knows to be wrong.

I thought there would be more reasons but those two really cover just about everything. Either the person does not know the wrong he commits, or knows how it affects people and chooses to post anyway. “He either don’t know or he don’t care”.

The way to combat the problem is that good old concept of education. Let the communicator know how posting a spot in clear text on a public forum is not good practice. Explain to them that they have no idea who they are typing to on the other end of the computer network, let alone who is “lurking” now or five years from now through the looking glass of a search engine. This can be done through a PM. However, the forum moderator should understand this too and be ready to assist in teaching the communicator and working a solution. That is the definition of moderator, after all. The moderator badge is not worn for free – at least one would hope…

Being asked to refrain from posting honey holes in clear text does not mean a communicator should not be friendly – it just means he should not be hurtful. If the communicator is really such a helpful person, he should meet the other communicator (that requested the hotspots) in person and show them the places he wishes to share. That way, communicator 1 is helping communicator 2 only, and not assisting hundreds or thousands of lurkers.

Another way to help is to use Private Messaging. Either through the site or exchange of personal email addresses. This way the “communicators” can remain friendly (true to themselves) without ruining the spot for “locals” because there are no “lurkers” when the message is private. Unless the second communicator is extremely blabby and immediately posts the spot on a public forum, Private Messaging would help the problem immensely.

Jeremiah

]]> By: swamphunter07 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-50 swamphunter07 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:40:15 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-50 I think some changes are are good but other technological advances are'nt so good. They ruin the sport of duck hunting like automatic duck and goose and even all game calls with those remotes they have to call in animals instead of using actual calls and learning how to make sertain sounds. I think some changes are are good but other technological advances are’nt so good. They ruin the sport of duck hunting like automatic duck and goose and even all game calls with those remotes they have to call in animals instead of using actual calls and learning how to make sertain sounds.

]]> By: Dan Kelly http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-49 Dan Kelly Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:38:21 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-49 Great article Chris. The internet can be a great tool, but it can also be just as dangerous. Dan Great article Chris. The internet can be a great tool, but it can also be just as dangerous.

Dan

]]> By: James Peterson http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/internet-scouting-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly.php/comment-page-1#comment-48 James Peterson Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:09:01 +0000 http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/?p=414#comment-48 Great post Chris. It is true that we are at a stage in the internets development where it has started to spread its wings into the hunting and fishing realm. We all just need to remember that new sportsmen are coming of age each year and with that comes the adjustments for those times just the same as our parents went through during our generation. New technology, whether it be better equipment or the use of the internet and GPS we all need to grow with the changes or be left behind. Great post Chris.
It is true that we are at a stage in the internets development where it has started to spread its wings into the hunting and fishing realm. We all just need to remember that new sportsmen are coming of age each year and with that comes the adjustments for those times just the same as our parents went through during our generation. New technology, whether it be better equipment or the use of the internet and GPS we all need to grow with the changes or be left behind.

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