Arkansas Moritorium

[JimWalker]

The FWS stopped the creation of any new "resorts" releasing tamies to be shot, saying there are so many now that they are not sure if this is a biohazard to the wild ducks.

The shape of things to come. Hunt Arkansas. We gaurantee you get to shoot ducks.

I think they should be legally bound to NOT using the word HUNT in their marketing or anything else to promote that business.

Because it's not hunting.

But it sure as hell is where guided hunting -- uh -- I mean guided slaughtering is going.

I can't believe that the catfish farmers haven't jumped head first into that business, it seems like they go together better than any business that exists. They have the food, the water, the space, what else could they need?

[SkippyJ]

http://www.mallardmagic.com

[Bullet]

I think... wait a minute...wait just one minute... yep... I agree with Jim. Someday better name a holiday for this occasion. I think whtat they're doin should be banned totally. There is no sport in what they're doin. Right on Jimmy

[JimWalker]

Oh I doubt very seriously it will be banned. It truly will take a hazard to the wild populations and scientific proof of that, with studies, and the whole ball of wax, before it will be banned.

Most guides are probably thinking "why didnt we think of this before"

Always have a whole lot of ducks. All have bands on them. You can shoot all of them you want to so the limits do not apply. What a money making MACHINE if your patrons just - dont - care that they are shooting your pets, and you dont either.

The article I read said they stopped new businesses because there were already so many ducks being put into the system in this way and they are concerned. I wonder what it is going to be like when every guide service in the country is doing it, and even more than that, because when all you have to do is buy ducks and feed them to get guided hunts, just about anybody can do it.

It's going to be something to watch for sure.

[marionfd708]

jim,i have seen one of these operations at work. the fella i know has it for the kids of his clients. simple the way it works you get the kids in position then just shoot over the top of the birds. they will get up fly around and towards the others and then right back to where they started.
i helped him out on one hunt and the birds just will not leave. i could have picked greenies up by the neck off of my 4-wheeler. as far as birds being turned loose to the wild it dont happen. these ducks jump make a big circle and come back. they know right where their food is.
this is not a hunt that i would want but it give the kids a good time.
just my .02 cents
kev.

[GulfCoast]

There was a problem on the eastern shore of Maryland several years ago with disease being spread to wild duck populations from "released" tame birds. As I recall, they shut the whole thing down. I used to have the material saved somewhere on my old computer. Benny probably has the stuff, too.

I believe Mallard Manor has tame bird shoots, and a place in Lucedale as well.

[chance]

Too much pressure to kill birds. There are a lot of hunters who measure a good hunt by the number of birds killed. Sure, it is a part of it or why carry a shotgun. I have seen hunter after hunter this year very disappointed after a day without shooting birds. Guide services have given away many a hunt because of the lack of birds. Hunters want to shoot, and as long as they are willing to pay for it, someone is going to give them the opportunity. Whether you realize it or not, there are duck hunting clubs that are raising mallards and releasing them for the club members.
Think of this, why is it OK to shoot pen raised quail, and so abhorrent to shoot pen raised ducks? I hesitate to call either one "hunting" and can find no justification for one over the other. Shooting pen raised birds is just that--shooting--not hunting. And it is our fault for putting so much emphasis on killing.

[JimWalker]

marionfd708 I myself would rather not see duck hunting be added to the list of things that we make far too easy for our kids. I think this is terrible for the kids above all else. Duck hunting, and many other challenging activities, are the vaults of character building and a foundation upon which an understanding of the environment they live in can be built. I believe in kids working for their fun because it builds character to do so. I also think kiddy shoots set a dangerous prescedence in their minds that will effect the future when they rise to control.

Chance I see that point for sure. Nobody said a word about quail and phesant, what is the big deal now?
To me, none of those things should have happened. Nobody should be shooting anything out of a cage and calling it hunting.
I realise that this is not going away, but I would prefer a demarcation and a clear identification name for the activity that correctly sets it apart from hunting.

[tunica]

and on a larger scale what about all these game ranches that for a sizable fee you can Kill a springbuck or some other exotic animal.

[Ducks be us]

Guys, we could hours debating these type of "canned hunts" As long as there is money bieng made, they will continue. If you dont agree with them, dont go, simple. Dont think its right to cast judgment on somebody who does. People have been making a killin off of wildelife for eons, its not gona stop. Some would say the use of a guide is "cheating" who are they to say? This is America after all. There may come a day when that is YOUR only viable option to get out and "hunt". There are those that would say hunting is wrong period, whos right and whos wrong? Yall have a nice day

[chopper30]

I agree with Jim, none of it should be called hunting.

[gadwall2]

Well said Chance. Shooting quail that are raised in a barn doesn't crank my tractor. But shooting quail raised on a preserve isn't bad. There is a difference between the quail and duck hunts. Ducks are being conditioned by some operations to fly to a certain spot once they are jumped. That is where the shooting occurs. To some, thats fine. To me, its not. Will I hold it against an operation that has these type hunts--no. Its a business that people are willing to pay big bucks for. I personally would not. If it is legal for them to do it and they are able, then it is their right. It is kinda hard to condition quail because of their flight distance.

As for disease spread, that could be a problem. How big a problem? I don't know and hate to speculate. But there needs to be someone looking over these operations other than a game warden. They already have enough to worry about.

The old saying that one man's garbage is another man's treasure seems to fit in this scenario.

[JimWalker]

I think you are right they need a monitoring platform if disease can cause real problems, because there will be many many many people doing this shortly.
Maybe the FDA can do it since they are for food and are raised, things they already monitor in other fowl industries.

[chapper]

I say let them raise the ducks and shoot as many as a shooter can afford. The guys that visit these places are undoubtedly the same ones that we all complain about being out in the woods. Think about it, if enough preserves are established it will keep some of the fringe hunters off of public land and reduce the pressure. As far as diseases spreading, that could be a problem, have to wait and see.