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Update: Duck Hunters Vs. Waterfront Residents
We recently posted a link reporting tensions between these two groups on Indiana’s St. Joseph’s River (see our previous coverage). Now, the Washington Post reports on similar friction along the Potomac:
Hunters call their sport a Virginia tradition and mobilize at any talk of rule changes . . . . Homeowners say gunshots wake them up, stress them out, spook their pets and scare their children.
"In terms of sheer numbers, I get more complaints about duck hunting in suburban back yards than any other single thing," Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax) said. "Suburban swing sets and duck hunters are incompatible neighbors."
As sprawl continues, the places that were once welcoming to hunters are going to be off limits.
It's not just duck hunting. It's any type of hunting that involves a firearm.
It sucks, but it's the way it's gonna be.
Jim
Posted by: jstreet | July 21, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I think this demonstrates a pressing need for a wholesale ban on suburban swingsets.
Posted by: Mike Diehl | July 21, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I think this demonstrates a pressing need for a wholesale ban on suburban swingsets.
Posted by: Mike Diehl | July 21, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I think this demonstrates a need for a ban on urban swingsets.
Posted by: Mike Diehl | July 21, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Weird. Sorry to all about the multiple posts. Posted once and it made two posts. Then none.
Posted by: Mike Diehl | July 21, 2008 at 12:35 PM
We have a similar situation around our home. I live on a private lake which is shared shared with 80 other nearby residents. We are in the township (outside of municipal regulation) and are free to hunt our property per DNR regs. Further, discharge of firearms is not prohibited at any time.
It is a desirable area, especially to folks who pine for "life in the country", but somehow believe when they move here that their urban habits and customs will be observed.
We hunt geese on our lake, and some of the newbies are: (1) freaked out by the sight of guns; (2) think hunters are scary; (3) ignorant of ballistics despite countless explanations; and (4) won't let their pets or children outside during season, fearful we may mistake them for geese.
We have tried many polite and friendly methods to put them at ease: invitations to learn about firearms, meeting with the local ranger (she hunts with us), offers to teach them safe gun-handling, invited them to the range, etc.
They will have none of it. It seems no amount of friendly persuasion will ease their irrational fear of guns and hunters.
These folks live in the country now and they will have to get used to guns, hunters and animals. (What did they expect?)
Posted by: jack | July 21, 2008 at 04:00 PM
When people move in near rivers, ponds, lakes, or swamps they should be expecting waterfowl hunters to be close by. If it bothers you then don't buy the waterfront property.
Posted by: JTC | July 21, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I think that people don't have to hunt but they should at least respect the ones that do. Urban sprawl and development is going to choke off and kill many of our hunting areas.
Posted by: zm | July 21, 2008 at 04:11 PM
I have heard of the "metro barrel" which lessens the muzzle blast. My sons Brown Gold when using 2 3/4 shells sounds like a pop gun when he fires it. The only thing left to satisfy the anti-hunters might be some sort of silencer.
Posted by: Elvis | July 21, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I used to hunt along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. People decided they wanted a home with a view of the river in the desert. We had people walking up to us threatening to call the cops, so we told them to go ahead. They did, and the cops took our side and explained that we were breaking no laws. Urban sprawl means the rich get their dream home and the rest of us have to give up our hobby. Blame greed for one thing. Some people are not happy with the home they already have and just have to have a bigger home in a nicer neighborhood. And also blame all those that have had more than two kids. Overpopulation and development will be the death of hunting and the American wilderness.
Posted by: Matt M | July 21, 2008 at 11:56 PM
MattM
I don't believe the issue here is "rich" people with large families. Most of the people I know that you might characterize as "rich" are regular hard-working folks like you and me who love the outdoors. They have achieved some measure of financial success and now seek to enjoy it.
The problem seems mostly to be former urbanite non-hunters who are ignorant of the way things are in the country. They have a fairy tale mindset of country life.
As for the overpopulation argument - I am hard pressed to believe that I am the cause of your perception that hunting is endandered because of my existence. I am the 7th child of 9 my blessed mother carried.
Posted by: jack | July 22, 2008 at 08:30 AM
someone should make the new neighbors or other waterfront property owners restore wildlife habitat along the bank. if we can't hunt near them at least they can give back to the greater good. isn't destoyed habitat one of our biggest problems??????
Posted by: chris k | July 22, 2008 at 08:38 AM
At a recent hearing regarding suburban hunting in Wisconsin a woman stated "City people complain about the smells and sounds in the city and the first thing they do when they move to the country is complain about the smells and sounds." How true. Ammo companies need to work with firearms companies to make quiet firearms.
Posted by: Kevin Coakley | July 22, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Jack,
If you don't think human overpopulation is a threat to hunting, I suggest you look at Africa and Europe. How much public land do those continents have? Very little. How much affordable hunting is available to the average person? Very little. How many people do they have? My point is made.
As far as rich people, it is not the working class or poor who suddenly decide the house they have in town is not big enough and decide to have another home built with better views of nature.
Posted by: Matt M | July 23, 2008 at 12:50 PM