I. Thou shalt not shoot another man's swing – If your neighbor's working a flock that passes over your blind within range, let them go. It's common courtesy, and you never know when that neighbor's going to be built like Stone Cold Steve Austin and have a temper like Russell Crowe.

II. Thou shall allow ample space between thyself and others – This one's simple: Unless you're both willing to partner up, give the next guy room. And in most parts of the country, 50 yards isn't considered enough.

III. Thou shalt know the effective range of thy own 'fowling piece – They're called skybusters, these pseudo-hunters who shoot at anything within eyesight, and they rank right up there with Osama bin Laden.

IV. Thou shalt not blow a duck call nonstop, nor at every bird and beast – Sure, you paid $20 for it, but that doesn't mean you have to get $20 out of it every trip into the field, does it? Remember the immortal words of legendary outdoor writer Nash Buckingham: "A duck call in the hands of the unskilled is conservation's greatest asset."

V. Thou shalt set up and tear down quickly and efficiently – In other words, don't putter through the decoy spreads 5 minutes before shooting time or lolly-gag in your blocks for an hour just because you have to be back to work at 9 a.m.

VI. Thou shalt clean thy kill neither at the ramp nor in the parking lot – We as hunters need to realize that a lot of non-consumptive users – birdwatchers, photographers, hikers, school groups – use our nation's public areas, and that the image we leave at the ramp or in the parking lot reflects on us as a whole.

VII. Thou shalt be familiar with and abide by waterfowl regulations – Another no-brainer. Ignorance, says the wildlife officer, is no excuse; however, it can come with a hefty fine.

VIII. Thou shalt know the area boundaries, and though tempted, stay within them – This one's not only a public relations issue, but a legal one as well. If it's marked Keep Out... well, then, KEEP OUT.

IX. Thou shalt leave thy temper at home – Think about it. Do you really want to get into a shouting match with a complete stranger that you know has a gun? Enough said.

X. Thou shalt work harder than most – Nowhere in the world does the old adage, "Hard work and perseverance will be rewarded," hold truer than the realm of the public-land waterfowler. Do your homework and go that extra two miles, and you may have that mallard hole to yourself.

I like...I think I will post this on a few windshields on the trucks at my favorite public hunting areas.

too long to read

Ten Commandments of hunting private

1-10. Lock the gate behind you.


btw, I hunted public this weekend and it sugged azz.

Lol great post! Had 1st Commandment happen to me last Sunday. Called in a pair- turned them and everything and this guy shot twice when they where least 80 yards up. Taking it as him being a jerk- was so pissed-joys of public hunting. Only birds called in too

You pulic guys always crack me up...

I wonder how many times you get on here and complain about a "barney" on "lake x" today and it was a fellow THF'er on here!!!

More than you know.

Unbeknownst to JAYB it was the OP who fired the shots...

1 more....don't shoot the cattle

Dump out a truck load of corn and don't hunt just make a call. The next week you'll have to yourself LOL

LOL

Kinda ironic... but this just got emailed to me from DU

http://www.ducks.org/Hunting/HuntingTips...?poe=Jan10Enews

Was wondering the same thing.

so the OP ripped this off the DU website and then didn't give any credit to them?

Got it from DU yes. And for forgetting to give them credit means me ripping it off, then apologies. I thought i added the link.

nice post, just read it in my DU email, I was gonna post but I figured someone already had...and I was right!

Ducks Unlimited gets the credit. great list guys