Long Point Old Boys Club -Secrets Revealled!

[icenut]

Donald: I'm not saying we don't kill ducks down there because we do, what I am saying though it would sure be nice for a change to have the first few picks of the day rather than being 15th or so in the line up..And a lottery would make it fair to Everyone whether they live down there in the fall, show up the night before and stay in their trailer or vehicle, or show up the morning of..Fair For Everyone !! That's Not How It Is..

Men are from mars, women from Visa

 

[Donald]

It was voted on and more people didnt want that then people that did, that was fair. There is the reservation route which is the same as a lottery. Maybe take that in to consideration next season

 

[Duck Tales]

After reading this thread, I felt compelled to open an account to offer my point of view on this matter.

For starters it is completely bizarre to find anyone complaining about the lineup system, as I am convinced for many reasons that it is the best thing going.

I myself have taken off well over two weeks of work during this past duck season to get my butt down to the unit to get in line. Not because it is always needed for a good pick, but because it is a passion that I cannot give up. Never have I complained about this because it comes with the territory, and just being able to have the opportunity to pick whatever I want by getting off my butt and being down at the unit is nothing short of amazing. You will never have this opportunity with any other system. Quit crying into your beer, get off your can, and there is no doubt that you will have a great spot…….it’s that simple.

I am fairly new to the game (about 4 years at the unit), and I have never once been treated unfairly. The so called OBC’s are always willing to help out with pretty much anything that is asked, even when you come in as an outsider. I would also like to say that they have done a ton of work keeping this unit alive and well, and my hat is off to them. I would also hope that the individuals flogging on the present volunteers are at least offering some of their time to assist them were needed. If not, and you are simply complaining for the sake of complaining, then you are making ridiculous comments.

I can only speculate the reasoning for the certain individuals that have a chip on their shoulder, and it probably has to do with the fact that they have conducted some indecent acts of their own in the past, and are now not well liked by others.

For the record, I do not smoke pot, nor do I operate my vehicle while intoxicated, and for the individual posting this unreasonable comment, I would like to suggest that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

 

[mainlymallards]

"He without fault shall cast the first stone"

Some of the ones that have problems with the system in place have also been caught bending the rules! I was in lineup one day when one of them came strolling up the lane as the headlights backed away from the front gates!

If you want to compare the Long Point system with all the others, compare in whole.

Hullet is self serve but guess what, the fancy duck boats have to stay in the garage.

Rondeau has a lottery however prior to 2011 the marsh closed during the week @ 2pm until November first. That effectively stopped hunting at 1pm. Additionally, powerboats are not allowed to enter the marsh.

Each system has its pros and cons. These pros and cons may be different for different people.

I have my own beefs with the system in place but for the most part feel that the unit is fairly well run. I know what to expect before heading down and if I am not wanting to deal with it I just pack different equipment and head somewhere else!

 

[riverduck]

All I can say being a new Long point hunter but by far a new hunter is this. Duck hunting can be crap shoot at the best of times. Everyone has been helpful that I have encountered at the unit. I have had low picks and shot a limit this year and high picks and no birds. That is hunting. There is far too much complaining for blinds that are built for you, grassed for you, have channels cut to them, signs put up, multiple launches to them, ducks fed grain to be kept in the area for 17 bucks. Could all those who want this thread closed please reply so we can move on.
Chris

 

[Buddy Boy]

Hello Donald,

I have a few points to make in response to your comments:

1) I did state "After we had all registered there was still nobody in or near that first vehicle so it must have just been parked there to 'save' a spot in the line up".

In consideration of your explanation I should have stated "may have just been parked there" as there is a difference between "must" and "may" and for this I stand corrected.

However ... technically the vehicle was in essence "saving" a spot for you as per the rules of the LPWMU ... so I was not entirely wrong. I never thought that someone who was planning on hunting that day was still sleeping in their trailer.

2) You stated "Maybe this is why noone supported your stuff, cause apparently you just make stuff up".

My "stuff" was actually several proposals that were based upon the advice, contacts, information, recommendations and suggestions provided to me by Dr. S. Petrie and Dr. D. Ankney as well as information contained within the official Management Plan for the Eastern Population of Tundra Swans which was in turn based upon scientific data including information collected by the LPW satellite tracking project that the LPWA had previously sponsored.

It should be noted that four (4) out of the five (5) proposals that I have submitted to the CWS are actually ideas and initiatives that already have the support from various organizations.

One of the reasons provided why my Tundra Swan proposal has not yet received the formal support from one hunting organization at this point in time is that they do not know the level of support by individual hunters.

The level of response (returned surveys) from my Tundra Swan survey was nearly twice as what could be expected in general.

The level of support for my Tundra Swan proposal was approximately 85% with the balance basically neutral. I say "basically" because of the nature of their responses ... "maybe" rather than "yes" or "no" and one individual who did not support my proposal stated that he would like to hunt Tundra Swans in the future and that he would hunt Tundra Swans if we had a season in Ontario.

The level of support for my Tundra Swan proposal is even higher if you factor in the responses posted on the Hunt Ontario forum but these were not completed surveys.

The portion of your comment "apparently you just make stuff up" was offensive and borders on libel. I said "borders" only because you protected yourslf by using the term "apparently". I would appreciate it if you would not make such unfounded allegations against me in the future.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.

 

[sonnyuphi]

If my younger brother OCLP has been classified as a OBC member then I surely fall into that category having hunted from our cottage at the end of Old Cut for more than 50 years and the Unit since it's inception.While I have not always seen eye to eye on certain policies of the Unit I do believe the following is true and must be maintained if the Unit is to continue.Without the Line-up sytem there would definetly fewer volunteers to get things done in the Unit and the Unit would eventually fold.Why ? Members of the LPWA contribute because they know that their work has rewards atached -- better hunting !! I hunt friday afternoons outside the Unit and therefore never line-up for a blind .I do hunt re-rents Saturday but always know that if it was important enough to me to get a top pick then I must pay the price of lining up. When I was younger I would line-up friday nights for saturday and sleep in the car . Now I care more about being out there to enjoy everything that hunting Long Point can bring (sunsets ,sunrises, swans,etc.)as well as a little bit of action with incoming birds and of course the company of good friends.Without that carrot to reward members who want to pay the price of lining up knowing that they might very well be picking a blind they had voluntarily grassed earlier on Camo Day I doubt that many of the blinds would be grassed in for the rest of the hunters.Who is going to go out and fix/relocate blinds without at least a little incentive that they might benefit somewhere down the line .I decorate a blind because I want the Unit to continue to exist as a functional Unit .I don't know how many blinds have to grassed at Rondeau or who does it but I do know that the people that grass our Unit are Members of the Association (if there is anyone who does grass blinds who isn't a member I will stand corrected )Who raised the dollars needed to do work on our marsh --mostly Members who line-up to hunt.Our President has made great gains in securing additional funds to improve the marsh yet he as far as I know hunts mostly reservations.If anyone really wants to have a top pick then it's simple line-up and sacrifice time and effort.Duck hunting isn't an easy sport --it takes a lot of work and sometimes luck to bag a few ducks but it's worth it as far as I am concerned.
I find it a little discerning that some people want to ride on the work that others do .It seems like some want to turn the Unit into a socialistic environment where everyone is equal and hard work by some is appreciated by others who do none.Why in hell would anyone bother to line-up friday if they just have to show up Saturday @ 4:30 am and put their name in a draw .What would happen to the hunter who plans to hunt Saturday with his son and gets there early only to find out in the morning he has last pick in the draw and by then it is too late to make other plans for hunting another place.If he had 10-15th pick in a line-up he would have a good idea of which blinds might be available then .
I say let's keep rewarding those that wish to put in the effort of lining up and ALL hunters work on improving what we have so that it continues to be one if not the best places to hunt in Ontario.

Sonny Kozak
Sustaining Member

 

[Duck Tales]

Buddy Boy,

I understand how passionate you are in making progress on the swan hunt (believe me I have read enough of your threads to be well informed).

However, the problem is, and this needs to be said, that there are many tree huggingbird watching/bleeding hearts in the area that are also as passionate as you in the opposition to the duck hunting culture as a whole.

If these individuals caught a glimpse of a big beautiful swan being folded like a cheap lawn chair, I could just imagine the outrage that would occur, and I'm sure we can all understand where this could escalate to, and how quickly.

We hunters live in a very unstable society, and as we have it so good already, I personally do not feel that jeopardizing what we presently have is worth it to harvest a swan or two throughout the season. Personally, I would enjoy the opportunity to harvest a swan, but unfortunately it could devastate the community, and it is not worth it to me with the lifestyle I have chosen. I would also urge your supporters to understand the ramifications that your desires will pose on Long Point Waterfowl, rather than just having people believe that it is as easy as you have eluded too, as I am sure if they knew the potential downfall that they may reconsider the proposals.

Do not lose focus of this, and understanding that you have relocated residences to embrace the Long Point culture (not sure why with all the issues you have pointed out), you need to keep in mind that a lot of times we don't even realize what we have until it is gone.

For the sake of my sanity, please do not respond to my post with any further comments pertaining to swan proposals.

 

[Buddy Boy]

Hello Duck Tales,

I will comply with your request "please do not respond to my post with any further comments pertaining to swan proposals".

All the concerns that you have expressed in your post were previously expressed back in 1982 (circa) when the MNR introduced the first Canada Goose season in south western Ontario ... specifically the Cambridge area ... a two week season with a one bird limit.

I recall that the world of waterfowling did not end then.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.

PS Some big white birds are already harvested in Norfolk County ... they are called Snow Geese ... although not too often.

 

[Buddy Boy]

Hello Guys,

I made the following statement within my post of December 21, 2011.

It should also be noted here that two LPWA members informed me after the LPWA Annual General Meeting that many Tundra Swans were shot by the Long Point Waterfowl staff during a research project several years ago and consequently they questioned Dr. Mike Schummer's presentation. I realized the difference between the "collecting" of specimens for a research project and a recreational harvest however there was no public "outcry" against the shooting of these Tundra Swans as far as I was aware. Several weeks later another gentleman informed me that the number of Tundra Swans "collected" was significant ... a few hundred in fact were "collected" for that research project.

I received some additional information late yesterday afternoon clarifying and confirming what I previously had been told by this individual.

There appears to have been some misunderstanding at the time because there were two (2) research projects involving Mute Swans and Tundra Swans. Although several hundred Mute Swans were "collected" for one research project as well as to reduce their population at Long Point less than fifty (50) Tundra Swans were "collected" for the other research project.

Having clarified and confirmed what I previously had stated, the essence of my argument remains the same and that is that apparently a large number of swans were shot without any public "outcry".

This gentleman may not have known that there were two (2) different research projects involving two (2) different species of swans as well as a population reduction.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.