I always thought my group was crazy because we always made sure we beat everyone to the public water. Well this past weekend we went to Arkansas and I realized what crazy really was. We were hunting a public WMA and camping 200 yards from the boat ramp. Legal shooting time was 6:45am. The duck boats started showing up at 2:30am. By 3:45 there were usually about 20-30 boats in the water. I was amazed. This place was 30 minutes from the smallest town and 3 hours from anything big. They woke us up and we decided to play by their rules, so once we were totally setup we had 2 hours to sit and wait for shooting time.

Man that is crazy. On open morning you can expect stuff like that. Places I use to hunt last year, you had to get there by 3:30 or 4:00 to feel good about getting your spot, this year when I walk in 2 hours before legal (7:00), I have beat everyone every time.

I need my beauty rest

Stink I hunt in Arkansas anyway and one time I hunted a WMA(Shirey bay rainy break) in NE Arkansas. The friend I went with told me to be at his house at 1am, I looked at my friend like you are freaking crazy. He just told me you will see why, well I did and you are so correct. Them guys were showing up at 2am and launching them duck boats. We had to wait to get our boat in at this ditch they were using as a boat ramp. We also got to our duck hunting hole and set around for 3 hrs. I thought you guys can have this, You could only carry in like a box of shells and no more!!! Hell we got done hunting and was looking around and seen no telling how many boxes of shells stuck up in logs and in the brush so when they ran thru that one box all they had to do was wade about 50 yards and get the other box they had stuck in the brush. it was a crazy experience, but I liked it a little bit.

There are TWO areas like that out at the grasslands. Be there by 3am to get a primo spot or don't show up at all cause you ain't getting a spot that is anygood or not a hike from hell. Very crazy over here in some areas also.

Watched some guys I know Camp out on Thurs. night in there truck to get a spot on Sat. morning at Peach Point WMA. It was also about a 2 mile hike in. Thank God for private land.

ya, that is kinda amazing because I can hunt metromess spots and not see anyone.

That is because you take the time to scout. These Jack A$$'s didnt, I even told them about some other public land and they didnt want to try it. They said that the best hunting is here. They also lived on the north side of Houston. Since I live about 5 miles from where they wantede to hunt I kinda knew that they werent going to do any good. But maybe they will listen next time.

Got to give them credit for being a die hard hunter.

I usta do that stuff...

Get to the ramp at 2:00 here in North Texas...

Not no more...

If someone wants a spot bad enough take it!!!!!!!

I'll go somewhere else...

Also, I believe in Ar-kansas you can only shoot 4 mallards?

I'll stay here in texas and shoot 5 Greenheads!

The grass ain't always greener on the other side! LOL

J.J.

A buddy and I met JJ and Brian Hall at the ramp at Richland-Chambers at 2:30 one morning, and those two already had their boat in the water and had been scouting since midnight.

The new Farm Bill has funding for the Open Fields Initiative, which provides grants to states to increase public hunting opportunities. Texas sorely needs it.

I agree with you 100% Gdogg. Richland Chambers isnt even worth the time anymore.

It is the same way here on Texoma. We have spots that I'll be sitting on at 2:30 in the AM and there will be people coming in about 3am

Amen brother!