JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

If you never had anyone teach you
the finer points of outdoors etiquette,
here are some thoughts on how to act
towards other sportsmen that may help
hunting for everyone. Many waterfowl
hunters in Tennessee rely on public areas
to have a place to duck hunt. These
sites offer sportsmen an opportunity
to hunt waterfowl that they would not
otherwise have.
There are two complaints from duck
hunters that are considered among the
worst offenses on public hunting areas.
Shooting at swinging ducks and skybusting.
Skybusting, skyblasting, or, as
I heard one hunter put it, “Practicing the
art of long-range shooting.” Whatever
you call it, it is a terrible habit to get into, not only
on public lands but anywhere. Skybusting leads
to lots of crippled birds that never get retrieved,
which is a travesty in and of itself. It also causes
ducks to become duck-blind shy, decoy shy, duckcall
shy, and further, may cause waterfowl to feed
more often at night. The 3½-inch shotguns and 10
gauges have apparently made hunters think they
can kill ducks at 60 yards. Well, maybe you can
but why would you? Where is the satisfaction in
shooting at a duck that was just passing by? If you
just want to shoot, get a skeet thrower and shoot
all you want after the hunt is over.
The way to keep from having to skybust is to
learn how to work ducks, which is a real art. I
suggest that you either practice a lot or hunt with
someone who can call. Most of the old-timers will
tell you that the satisfaction in duck hunting isn’t
the killing, it is watching a mallard bail out of
the stratosphere and land in the decoys, or being
patient enough to work a group of ducks for 15
swings before they decide to come in “feet down.”
Skybusting is a disease on most of the public waters
of our great state. So help cure the disease
by observing good duck hunting etiquette. Many
times the ducks leave and you never get another
shot. After all, the sport is called “duck hunting”
not “duck shooting.”
The second biggest problem is NEVER, EVER
shoot at swinging ducks that are working another
duck blind. This is an extremely poor behavior. It
may be frustrating to watch someone at a better
blind kill ducks but that is life. Get over it. If you
want to kill ducks, get there earlier, brush your
blind better, put out more decoys, learn to call better, and hope you get drawn
for that blind next year. Along with that, it is also considered very bad manners
to try to call ducks off another blind. If the ducks swing over close, then call
but don’t try to blow them off another blind. Showing consideration for other
hunters shows good character and even if they don’t show the same consideration,
you and the sport are the better for it.
Also, don’t leave trash behind. Police up your spent shotgun hulls and
boxes. If someone else has left out decoys, leave them the way you found them
and leave the other guy’s blind alone.
ManY PeOPle Can Call duCKs,
but there is an art tO WOrKing a duCK.
if YOu Can’t Call, it is usuallY better
tO shut uP and Just use a gOOd deCOY
sPread With a JerK string.
Ever been invited to hunt with someone else in his blind? Most of us have
and if nobody ever told you the rules, then here they are: Never pull out your
duck calls and start calling unless you have been invited to do so. It is considered
very poor manners. You may think you sound great, but ducks respond
differently to different calls in different areas under different kinds of conditions.
I once invited a buddy to come home and duck hunt with me for a few
days. The first morning in the blind, he started blowing his duck call every
time a group of birds came by. After about an hour Dad asked to see his duck
call. He opened it up, took out the reed, put it in his pocket and handed the
call back to my friend. Never said another word. Knowing when to call, what
different calls to use, and all the other fine points of working a duck, is an art.
If you can’t call, it is usually better to keep quiet and just use a good decoy
spread with a jerk string.
Don’t pass your poor hunting manners on to your dog either! Hunting
with a well-trained retriever is a blessing and cause of great enjoyment. If you
are invited to hunt with someone else, always ask if it is okay to bring your
dog. Many hunters own dogs and yours may be spending the whole time