Public Lakes and blinds

[SoggyRedNeck]

Alright, first off let me say that I am unexperienced with public lakes, WMA's, and anything other than leases and having my hand held, so help me understand this one.

I have a thread about some land we inherited a few years back that came with a blind that is extremely old. I went friday afternoon and did some work to it and got it ready to roll for this morning. It hasn't been hunted by my distant family for over a year or two, the shape of the blind made that evident. I get up this morning with my buddy from school and my little cousin and head out there only to find someone sitting in the blind. I simply asked who they got permission from the hunt it and they give me some names, none of whom are relatives or friends of relatives (that we know of after calling around). I simply tell him that its my grandfather's blind, I worked on it yesterday, We're land owners, the whole spill. He simply mentions how its a public lake, how someone has been hunting it all season long (less than 2 weeks) and how he'll leave but as soon as he does he's going to find a game warden because I was in the wrong. Against my better judgment and my pride I let him hunt bc Id rather just deal with it now than have it burnt to the ground as well as make me look like a *****. He also had some small kids with him and I'd rather let someone like that hunt any day of the week.

I know the blind has not been touched in a very long time. I know that showing up less than an hour before day light is a no no even on private property. I know that game warden's have no jurisdiction on blinds or anything similar ( I called an old family friend who is a captain on the WDLF force in north LA) things like this are deemed "HONOR SYSTEM". I know that only land owners are allowed to have a blind.

TELL ME WHAT I DONT KNOW and WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE or IF I DID THE RIGHT THING.

My plan of attack after today is to 1.) Get there GOD awful early from now on. 2.) do some major renovations to the blind to make it obvious it isn't abandoned. This is the only thing I can think of to get people from hunting this blind with out a major confrontation.

[BIG RED 1983]

If you are sure it's your land you have nothing to worry about next time he shows up politely let him know that he is trespassing and if he does it again you will call iron man on his a**

[adamsfence]

Good luck I would find out who told him that he could hunt it and confront him. Also bun****s isn't private so how can they say only land owners can have a blind I've never heard of that. Most probly he won't be back now that he knows its someone's blind

[SoggyRedNeck]

Its a public lake but blinds are supposed to be private land owners only, I've been told that by a handful of people. I haven't seen this anywhere, in fact I wish I could find some documentation on the rules but i'm sure they don't exist.

The blind it's self is not on our property thats where the grey area comes into play.

[DUCKGOGETTER]

Originally Posted by big red 1983

if you are sure it's your land you have nothing to worry about next time he shows up politely let him know that he is trespassing and if he does it again you will call iron man on his a**

lol!!!!!!!!!!! That's what i do and they run with their tail between their legs

[BIG RED 1983]

There is nothing private about a public lake get there early

[weedeater]

does yalls property boarder the lake? If so just build a blind on the edge of yalls land and maybe even put a wood walk from bank to blind so that its like a dock and then post it

[SoggyRedNeck]

Originally Posted by weedeater

does yalls property boarder the lake? If so just build a blind on the edge of yalls land and maybe even put a wood walk from bank to blind so that its like a dock and then post it

I wish, property is around a lot of residential. We've got it figured out. Uncle who gave us the blind has fought this crap for years. Said if they are in the blind they know they shouldn't be, told me to hold my own and make em leave.

If I have this problem again and they won't leave I'll get out of range and sky bust like crazy.

[Duck Butter]

You are walking on a slippery slope! No one wants to tackle this issue that is for sure. First off you are on a public lake, BUT it is YOUR blind. You did the right thing being around kids and didn't make it an issue. Likely you will never see that guy again, but if he shows next time tell him politely to leave and if he doesn't call Iron Man! I wouldn't be mad that he was hunting it, because for all he knew it was abandoned (and it was).

For the record though: I HATE private blinds on public lakes, but unfortunately the rules will not be changed anytime soon

[SoggyRedNeck]

IRON MAN....whats the inside joke?

[weedeater]

Originally Posted by SoggyRedNeck

IRON MAN....whats the inside joke?

he's the man that rules with an

[simplepeddler]

I think you handled it well.
Especially with the kids.

the sky busting thing?.........just remember he can and likely will return the favor.

Bad deal for sure, but I would try and talk to the guy after a hunt in a more reasonable setting without kids and just let him know what a doochebag he is being and all that kinda stuff.......and give him the stink eye......like a "I will burn your house down" stink eye

[iron man]

Originally Posted by weedeater

he's the man that rules with an

lol

[SoggyRedNeck]

Got it pretty much squared away. Been told that its a normal thing for people to be in that blind. Once you show up and tell them who you are they normally leave....this guy totally took advantage of me because he had the age factor going. When I pulled up with my grandfather in the front of the boat (not my decision, i didn't go tattle) the fella in the blind pretty much said it would never happen again. PawPaw gave him a good talking. I know my uncle wasn't with us last sat but he'll be with us this coming, if this happens he won't just be talking to the guy.

We understand the fact that its a public lake, its been "abandoned", but once we put the extra $ and update it a little....there won't be any excuses, its going to be OUR blind. Just going to take a little time to get "established" and let em know we're back.

[RatherBFishin]

Great way to handle it. But know that it is public and when you build it on public waters it becomes public also. The HONOR system does work for the most part but you will continue to have this problem cause they will just wait til right at shooting time and when you dont show up they will hunt. You will lose the battle with GW and in court. I have family hunting Bun. and they have already been down that road. Just the price you pay for hunting free. You will kill more birds if you stand by a tree rather than a blind at bund. after opening morning anyways.

[huntin fool]

Had somebody brush the blind I hunt every year on the river for me.. horribly, so I figured it was some new guys. Get there opening day of teal, throw deeks, shooting time comes, shoot 3, and here comes a pirgoue with a go devil, grandpa, dad, and son. They seen me in it and quickly turned around. We call people like this, topwaters. They show up late, hunt others blinds, etc.

[iron man]

Another short story...My dads friend, Pecka, was on his way to hunt his blind in the afternoon. He got there and found 2 guys in a Pirouge hunting his blind. This was a while back when people actually had respect and recognized people's blinds. So he pulled up and asked if they could leave. They said its public property. So Pecka said, Ok look, I agree with you there, but if you don't get out of this blind in 30 seconds, I will run through this blind with my boat. One of the guys said I'd like to see that. So Pecka left and about a minute later, he comes about 30mph toward that blind...he said he's never seen a Pirouge being paddled that fast in his life...He did run right through the blind though.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by SoggyRedNeck

Alright, first off let me say that I am unexperienced with public lakes, WMA's, and anything other than leases and having my hand held, so help me understand this one.

I have a thread about some land we inherited a few years back that came with a blind that is extremely old. I went friday afternoon and did some work to it and got it ready to roll for this morning. It hasn't been hunted by my distant family for over a year or two, the shape of the blind made that evident. I get up this morning with my buddy from school and my little cousin and head out there only to find someone sitting in the blind. I simply asked who they got permission from the hunt it and they give me some names, none of whom are relatives or friends of relatives (that we know of after calling around). I simply tell him that its my grandfather's blind, I worked on it yesterday, We're land owners, the whole spill. He simply mentions how its a public lake, how someone has been hunting it all season long (less than 2 weeks) and how he'll leave but as soon as he does he's going to find a game warden because I was in the wrong. Against my better judgment and my pride I let him hunt bc Id rather just deal with it now than have it burnt to the ground as well as make me look like a *****. He also had some small kids with him and I'd rather let someone like that hunt any day of the week.

How did you inherite a blind on public property?

I know the blind has not been touched in a very long time. I know that showing up less than an hour before day light is a no no even on private property. I know that game warden's have no jurisdiction on blinds or anything similar ( I called an old family friend who is a captain on the WDLF force in north LA) things like this are deemed "HONOR SYSTEM". I know that only land owners are allowed to have a blind.

I show up when I want to, what rule book are you reading from?

TELL ME WHAT I DONT KNOW and WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE or IF I DID THE RIGHT THING.

My plan of attack after today is to 1.) Get there GOD awful early from now on. 2.) do some major renovations to the blind to make it obvious it isn't abandoned. This is the only thing I can think of to get people from hunting this blind with out a major confrontation.

Why would you go through the trouble of a confrontation for a blind that will probably not shoot a grass sack full of birds in 60 days?? The only lake that has blinds that are semi-private is Catahoula Lake, if nobody is in it you can hunt it. Head to Sabine or Laccasine and try the "Ole Homestead"
routine and see how far it gets ya.

[Pat Babaz]

Lets apply the same logic to public land like Clear Creek or Westbay. You could hang a ladder stand or put up a box blind on all your favorite spots and run off everybody who tried to hunt in those areas. I don't think many people would like those rules. Public land or water is and always should be first come first serve. Some of these public freshwater lakes are riddled with literally hundreds of blinds and even if you wanted to build your own you could not find a place to do so. Good Luck with your situation, sounds like its going to be a headache.

[adamsfence]

Don't worry after the first couple of weeks you will have your pick its only bad there at the beginning