has the public blinds/stakes drawing gotten as bad as I have heard in Back Bay?? My buddy says he got numbers into the380's and i have heard grumblings of 400's. That hard to believe. My dad grew up hunting there but moved on when the ducks left. He has some crazy stories about hunting false cape and barbours hill (when their was still a ramp on the beach side) and up towards ragged island and killing a ton of ducks.
Back Bay
1 - 20 of 60 Posts
Joined
·
1,597 Posts
Yes, it has truly turned into a zoo. There are about 30 boats on average launching to hunt. (Some days more launch, some days less) Add the CPO's sitting at the end of the canal with their lights off trying to impede your hunt by tying you up for inspections every single time they see you at 5:20 AM. It is borderline harassment when you are checked three times in a day by the same CPO's.
Then, you add in the "hunters" that do not know the law, rules, or regulations and lack basic waterfowl and or boating skills and it turns into a zoo without fences or cages. Most of them have absolutely no respect for fellow hunters. You see boats hunting 300 yards away from the stakes, sky busting, jump shooting in the marsh and the list goes on.
I have hunted the area since I was a kid in the early 80's. I shot my first duck there and have many fond memories of what the place used to represent. It was a black duck mallard hybrid and mounted my second duck (widgeon) that is hanging in front of me in my office to this day. The state used to have guides to take you to the Pocahontas marsh, the Trojan marsh was do it yourself and false cape and barbours hill were fantastic hunts that rival hunts in Arkansas.
The only positive thing occurring on Back Bay is the fact that all the "hunters" drive most the birds to us in North Carolina. I have two fantastic deep water blinds on Back Bay and have not hunted them in two years due to the mess out there. I may only hunt the area once or twice this year and my group of guys has numbers into the mid 400's for the draw.
It is a shame what has occurred over the past 32 years I have been out there, but it is the only hunting many people have access to on a steady basis and I understand that aspect of our area and the limited public resource. Some years there are ducks and well, I think you know the rest.
Dave
Then, you add in the "hunters" that do not know the law, rules, or regulations and lack basic waterfowl and or boating skills and it turns into a zoo without fences or cages. Most of them have absolutely no respect for fellow hunters. You see boats hunting 300 yards away from the stakes, sky busting, jump shooting in the marsh and the list goes on.
I have hunted the area since I was a kid in the early 80's. I shot my first duck there and have many fond memories of what the place used to represent. It was a black duck mallard hybrid and mounted my second duck (widgeon) that is hanging in front of me in my office to this day. The state used to have guides to take you to the Pocahontas marsh, the Trojan marsh was do it yourself and false cape and barbours hill were fantastic hunts that rival hunts in Arkansas.
The only positive thing occurring on Back Bay is the fact that all the "hunters" drive most the birds to us in North Carolina. I have two fantastic deep water blinds on Back Bay and have not hunted them in two years due to the mess out there. I may only hunt the area once or twice this year and my group of guys has numbers into the mid 400's for the draw.
It is a shame what has occurred over the past 32 years I have been out there, but it is the only hunting many people have access to on a steady basis and I understand that aspect of our area and the limited public resource. Some years there are ducks and well, I think you know the rest.
Dave
Yeah my buddy got some numbers that high, but he also drew a couple really good ones like pick 5 for opening day and pick 1 in January. From what he has told me even with a number that high you still stand a good chance of getting a pick of a blind stake. He was telling me that they rarely ever fill all the stakes on a hunt day.
Joined
·
3,610 Posts
Talk about a duck with fear in his eyes.
Joined
·
1,597 Posts
The blinds that are not selected are not selected for a reason; no birds. Or a less than favorable 30 MPH North East wind in your face at Cedar Island. So getting a blind just to get a blind does not work in most cases. Only a handful are actually worth the time and effort.
Joined
·
4,379 Posts
Dang the quota hunt system of Virginia , the old way was much better . Sure hunters that lived close to the places got most of the hunts and some people would make the trip only to not get to hunt but with numbers up in the 100s and only a few spots worth shooting I'm done with sending my money to Hicksville, New York .
:sad: LD :sad:
:sad: LD :sad:
Joined
·
1,597 Posts
Amen, LewDog. CyberData makes a fortune off the VDGIF and US. Think of how many applicants pay 7.50 for all of the hunts. Deer, Swan, waterfowl, rabbit, quail, turkey...did I forget any? I would like to know just how many total applicants there are for all drawings.
Also, what the DGIF has done with the blinds on Back Bay is appalling. I know of several locations with two blinds within yards of each other and the blind wars are on. People thought if they saw an empty location they could put a blind there. WRONG. The blind that was previously there was taken away by the ice and now they have both built blinds and are in a Mexican standoff to see who will flinch first. Meanwhile the state gives no room for adjusting the location of your blinds. It is either in the location (GPS) where it is shown on the license or it is deemed an illegal blind and must be removed. It is criminal what they have done.
Dave S
Also, what the DGIF has done with the blinds on Back Bay is appalling. I know of several locations with two blinds within yards of each other and the blind wars are on. People thought if they saw an empty location they could put a blind there. WRONG. The blind that was previously there was taken away by the ice and now they have both built blinds and are in a Mexican standoff to see who will flinch first. Meanwhile the state gives no room for adjusting the location of your blinds. It is either in the location (GPS) where it is shown on the license or it is deemed an illegal blind and must be removed. It is criminal what they have done.
Dave S
Like Ichabod said i recieved 5 for the opener followed by 419 the following day. Some how i also managed a number 1 :grooving: They have gotten really redicuous out there with the CPO's checks. I had them drive right through my spread as i had ducks working to come do a check and this was all after they stopped us on the way out to ask if we had life jackets on board. And as thick as the grass is out there this year you really have to get out and scout the area before hand unless you have a surface drive.
How is it appalling that they are now starting to enforce the blind laws. If people followed the correct dates and retagged their blind there would be no issue of blinds to close together. And you dont think blinds tend to migrate to grass beds everytime they get rebuilt. People have been abusing the system for years to the detriment of the ones following the rules. It is about time they enforced the rules and stopped allowing people to keep licensing more than 2 nonriparian blinds move the same ones around every year. The rules are available to everyone, so not being able to follow them is no excuse.gooosehunter said:
Joined
·
582 Posts
Selective enforcement is more like what is going on. The state took over the blind management without a clue as to what they were doing and what the implications were. Up till last year the blinds were registered with the clerk of court in Va. Beach, now it is a freakin free for all. What is needed is a system like in Currituck County but DGIF would rather create conflict by following the existing letter of the law...when it is convenient and to their benefit. Otherwise they turn a blind eye or interpret the law as they see fit. I suspect they wish to end all private blinds on the bay and this is the first step. Why the sudden interest by DGIF? For 20 years they haven't given a crap, now they care? Something doesn't smell right here.nickp9797 said:
Joined
·
4,379 Posts
Don't you see that the blind laws are one of the biggest money maker DGIF has and they are in need of money .
What I don't get is this has been on the books for years so if you had family blind rights and DGIF has the GPS numbers how did a new blind license come to be ?
I bet the new WMA "Mattaponi WMA" will be the next to fall into the quota hunt system so enjoy what you can . DU wanted that duck stamp money so they invested some money into buying some wetlands near NOVA and got what they wanted . Now DGIF has a free for all with no manpower or funds to run the place , next year is where my bet is on.
:sad: LD
What I don't get is this has been on the books for years so if you had family blind rights and DGIF has the GPS numbers how did a new blind license come to be ?
I have always looked at Back Bay as the lost world of the HAF b/c one would have two ways of getting to hunt the place , mary in or throw the dice. Are you saying that DGIF is selling blind licenses for GPS numbers of Back Bay and if so does Virginia Beach city council know about it ?
I know that they plan to make a blind map of the whole blind law part of the state and I'm sure that is going to stink b/c I think DGIF wants to cash in and sell a blind license to every 500 yards of waterfront that isn't on the shores of a WMA. They don't give a dang if it gets hunted are not $$$.
I bet the new WMA "Mattaponi WMA" will be the next to fall into the quota hunt system so enjoy what you can . DU wanted that duck stamp money so they invested some money into buying some wetlands near NOVA and got what they wanted . Now DGIF has a free for all with no manpower or funds to run the place , next year is where my bet is on.
:sad: LD
Joined
·
1,282 Posts
Because they know the system is broken, because someone complained and told them guys were moving their blinds, because guys were licensing more than 2 blinds, because guys are building ghost blinds, because there are laws on the books and someone told them to enforce them.VA Wigeon said:
It seems like its a pretty easy fix if you ask me, once it all would get sorted out. This is my blind, I register it by x date, I maintain and bush it every yeear and hunt out of it. No one else can hunt within 500 yards of it. if I dont register it by x date or I dont keep it maintained/bush it, it is no longer my blind and someone else can put a blind there and register it. Seems simple enough to me.
Joined
·
1,597 Posts
NickP757 ~My blinds are in the same locations as recorded from 100 years ago, so no, my blinds do not move to the grass beds. Some, very, very few have moved location. But according to state law, that is acceptable. Blinds can move or are you just like the state when it comes to enforcement? You must be one of the people without a blind on Back Bay, and/or you are one of the guys who is trying to take blinds.
Why does the DGIF select certain areas to require blind license? ie why are there not any blinds laws on the Eastern Shore or west of 95? It is still part of VA and it should be regulated just like Back Bay and the rest of the chesapeake's tributaries.
One of the problems on Back Bay is with the riparian ownership laws. A riparian owns half way across the waterway or until the water is greater than eight feet at high tide. Well, Back Bay does not have a lunar tide like traditional saltwater. Also, most of the Bay is less than eight feet deep. Thereby making many blinds on the bay either illegal or subject to be taken from who ever currently is the license holder. In other words, if you own a section of marsh on the bay, you can reach out one or two miles and take a blind from someone. Is this fair? I think not. This will be addressed in 2012 by the DGIF.
As far as regulating people not owning more than one blind....Good luck with this one. There are more holes in this law than a fish net. My kids (3) each own two blinds, my wife owns two blinds, my brother (4) own two each and if that does not work for you...I can "own" as many hunt clubs as I wish that can own two blinds each.
Why does the DGIF select certain areas to require blind license? ie why are there not any blinds laws on the Eastern Shore or west of 95? It is still part of VA and it should be regulated just like Back Bay and the rest of the chesapeake's tributaries.
One of the problems on Back Bay is with the riparian ownership laws. A riparian owns half way across the waterway or until the water is greater than eight feet at high tide. Well, Back Bay does not have a lunar tide like traditional saltwater. Also, most of the Bay is less than eight feet deep. Thereby making many blinds on the bay either illegal or subject to be taken from who ever currently is the license holder. In other words, if you own a section of marsh on the bay, you can reach out one or two miles and take a blind from someone. Is this fair? I think not. This will be addressed in 2012 by the DGIF.
As far as regulating people not owning more than one blind....Good luck with this one. There are more holes in this law than a fish net. My kids (3) each own two blinds, my wife owns two blinds, my brother (4) own two each and if that does not work for you...I can "own" as many hunt clubs as I wish that can own two blinds each.
Thanks for the lesson on back bay. I am not trying to take any blinds from anyone, I am simply supporting the enforcement of the laws. But it sounds like you didnt follow the rules and now its somebody else's fault that you couldn't read and follow the rules. The reason there are no blind laws west of 95 and not on the eastern shore has to do with # of duck hunters and land/marsh available. East of 95 we have a very limited resource with very high demand, so some sort of regulation is needed to protect what little we do have. If your looking for sympathy, beacause the state is enforcing the laws on a PUBLIC waterway(NOT DAVE'S) then you won't find it here. If you really think about it you should count yourself lucky you were able to use it for as long as you did, while vdgif did not enforce anything.gooosehunter said:
Joined
·
4,379 Posts
Chesapeake bay (saltwater)MLW mark , Back Bay (Freshwater) Half way or out to 8 foot mark .
ES don't have blind laws b/c of the guides of yesteryear. West of I-95 Freshwater rivers, streams, and swamps with private own bottoms make for no way to enforce blind laws.
:fingerhead: LD :fingerhead:
ES don't have blind laws b/c of the guides of yesteryear. West of I-95 Freshwater rivers, streams, and swamps with private own bottoms make for no way to enforce blind laws.
:fingerhead: LD :fingerhead:
Joined
·
1,597 Posts
Yeah, ok, you win. You are the smartest person in Virginia, the person that is all knowing all when it comes to the Virginia Beach old blind rules/regulations, State laws, DGIG regulations and the history of waterfowling on Back Bay. We are all inferior to your superior intellect and should bow down to you when you pass. Some people just do not get it. Good luck to everyone and we will see you all out there. (not you Lewdogg)
Joined
·
4,379 Posts
To read that post one would think I was disagreeing with you on the subject of back bay :huh: . The only one to bow down to would be your maker . I guess I should have address that reply to Nick and HGWT .
Yes I disagree with blind laws should be state wide but that isn't the subject of this thread now is it ? I would be the first one to say I don't know back bay and if I had said something wrong about the place I would hope someone would point it out to me real fast like. How I ask if I'm right in thinking that Virginia Beach would stop all waterfowl hunting in Back Bay if they could ?
LD :huh:
Yes I disagree with blind laws should be state wide but that isn't the subject of this thread now is it ? I would be the first one to say I don't know back bay and if I had said something wrong about the place I would hope someone would point it out to me real fast like. How I ask if I'm right in thinking that Virginia Beach would stop all waterfowl hunting in Back Bay if they could ?
LD :huh:1 - 20 of 60 Posts
