How close is too close?

[Will]

Well, it happened again tonite. We get to our spot early this afternoon, then about 4:30 two guys roll up, see us then set up within 100 yards down-wind. I am sick and tired of this and i don't know how to deal with it. Any suggestions out there? Or is this just acceptable now? Seems foolish to confront someone when they have a gun. I don't run into this prob when i am out of town, why should demigraphics make a diff? I know space is at a premium when close to home but this is getting ridiculous! I will save SKYBUSTING for another rant.

[tylor]

If there isn't some crazy reason why that is their only option of a place to set-up, then I would just say something to them as they are setting up. They might be new to hunting or something and just not understand what they are doing wrong. I would think most people would give you space if reminded.

[RumRiverRat]

500 yards is too close IMO.

[paceman]

It does happen all the time. I have had pretty good luck just simply asking them to move a little further away. 99 percent of the time they do....

[BrdHunter01]

100 yards? thats nothing! Try 50 yards staight accross! Litterally shooting at the same birds and of course they cut us off! The DNR cameto check everyone out and we stuck our opinion in there about conducting a law against people like this. They said unfortunatly there is no law, so I stated that bullets were SCREAMING by my head.... He told me "Now if one of them hit you, they would be in big trouble." I'll haveto bring my flat jacket w me next time... maybe put a few bullets in it before I go

BTW: the DNR checked them 1st, they said they were locals and think they own this "public" lake. show some RESPECT people! Its an fing duck!

[tearin' lips]

Unacceptable! At least 250 yards, would be my personal opinion. But even that is close. Some people just have no common sense. I have never wanted to kill a duck so bad that I crowd someone...come on people.

[kc0myy]

last year I was on a lake near Annandale. its was deer opener weekend I went duck hunting saturday. there was no one on the lake. so I thought sunday would be the same way WRONG. There was alest 5 other guys in front of me launching there boats. when I was on the water i could not find a spot so I had to set up 100 yards or so from other guys. but that was in the moring where I could not see anything. but in the afternoon you should be able to set up at another place.

[The_Duckslayer]

I will go at least 150 yards away. I also try to go some where so that there is a point or island or something between me and them. That way it just does not seem like we are interfeering with each other. Also if I can see them and they have birds that are working their setup I will not try to call them off. If they come to me any way I will shoot them though! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jibmo

[broken_line]

me and my buddies were out, some one came to set up about 7:30 and they set up with in 125 yards. i know if a 3.5 goose load would have been fired we woulda have been hurt. just dumb! good thing the birds liked our spread of 23 over some guys with 60 ish and anothrr 125 yards away with 50.. =/

[onlydrakes4me]

Man that sucks. i hate it when some guy gets up late and then comes in and sets up close to you.

[TruthWalleyes]

I hear ya, my decoys took a couple of BBs saturday morning from the nearby hunters...whenever they shot, we ducked! lol

[dan z]

If I can see you your to close.

If I can hear your calls your to close

If I can hear you shoot your to close

does it ever happen sometimes but more times not

hunted a local slough and actually had a decent spot but then some guy rattled off some shoots at high fliers, so we picked up and headed to the southern part of the lake and had a great hunt, the really cool thing is there was only one other boat on the lake when the shooting started

[SORNO]

250 yards min. Some times it is hard to tell when it is pitch black out and people don't shine there dang lights back at you thou.

[MN Greenheads]

That's too close. I always tell someone that they are too close firmly and politely. Most people move, some give me the back turned wave back and continue on until they realize I will shoot at ducks that are in their direction. They then move some where else. I won't do this on opener when some guy(s) come on the lake and there is nowhere to go. If they have to sit 120 yds down a straight shoreline of cattails I don't care, it's opener and thats apart of it. Some places people are going to be 150 yds. no matter what, it's small and there are too many people.

If I get out latter than others I always paddle or motor over and ask people if I set up on a particular spot and they are comfortable with it. That goes a long ways in avoiding problems. I think 150 yds. is about as close as some one should set up.

[broken_line]

i would say 150 yards is to close. i have killed a duck ay 70 yards- not that im proud of it but if bbb can stop a duck in its tracks at half the distance it wil still sing/ take eyes out at 150 yards.. minimum 250 yards for me. i took a bb to the nose saturday afternoon while going to get a box of shells. the guy was a good 150 away but still i have a welt that hurts really bad.

[fish4cats]

500 yrds minimum. If someone sets up too close to me, I pick up and move or go home. Not worth the steel shot in the eye for a duck or 2. My problem of late has been fishermen trolling or fishing too close to my spread. Not sure what they are thinking?

[Gordie]

I hate when that happens but you just have to deal with it

[MN Greenheads]

I've been hit by #2 steel at 120 yds. no big deal. It feels like someone threw it at you but dosen't hurt. I can't say I can say the same for dead coyote or tungsten. you guys need to look at some ballistics.I have in real life.

500yds. is your limit? Where do you hunt NoDak? I'm lucky if the late people don't set up 150 yds away. But I do hunt the dog eat dog metro, but I also do quite well at times.

[broken_line]

I've been hit by #2 steel at 120 yds. no big deal. It feels like someone threw it at you but dosen't hurt.

YEAHH IT DOES! i have a nice sized welt on my nose from a guy im guessing was a good 130 yards away..

[gardn184]

If you're straight across from someone I feel like you better be a good 300 yds, but it doesn't bother me to much if someone is 100 yds down the shore left or right, just adds to the challenge of having a better spread and calling ability than the next guy. I've also seen boaters trolling within yards of my dekes, I mean I'm a diehard fisherman as well and they have a right to the lake but common sense says don't fish right in the middle of a decoy spread, lots of structure out there

[TruthWalleyes]

I've also seen boaters trolling within yards of my dekes, I mean I'm a diehard fisherman as well and they have a right to the lake but common sense says don't fish right in the middle of a decoy spread, lots of structure out there

Well said!