Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: clarki on September 27, 2022, 08:40:09 PM
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One of the hunters that I wrote about on my blog on the Reports page told me this story…
Last November he went duck hunting at Nicomen Slough. Before dawn he loaded his boat with his blind, decoys, dog, and all his gear. He motored a short distance and got everything set up.
After daybreak, a coho angler showed up. “This is my usual spot” the angler said, and proceeded to wade out among the decoys and start casting.
The hunter was flabbergasted but decided not to make issue since he was the one with the firearm.
The hunter is not an angler and wasn’t aware that slough is such a coho hotspot.
Who was in the wrong?
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Clearly the angler should've respected and moved to some other spot, I dont know anything about hunting but from what I read it looks like a lot of preparation at one spot, so if the hunter took the time and effort to setup and be there first then its his spot, nobody "owns" a spot just because they frequent to that location, respect the person who came first and move on
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Clearly the angler should've respected and moved to some other spot, I dont know anything about hunting but from what I read it looks like a lot of preparation at one spot, so if the hunter took the time and effort to setup and be there first then its his spot, nobody "owns" a spot just because they frequent to that location, respect the person who came first and move on
x2
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Angler should respect that someone was there before him.
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The angler was in the wrong . He interfered with his legal hunt. Look into that. It’s not legal
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Page 12 of the bc hunting regs Under during your hunt and it’s unlawful to do . On number 45. This is what it says
45. To interfere with or obstruct a person licensed or permitted to hunt, guide or trap while that person is lawfully so engaged
Ya. Just a anti hunter. It’s a normal thing duck hunting. As a hunter. I’ve had talks. I just chose to leave rather then start a fight about it. I just move down a bit. But I’m sure a lot of other people. Make a stink about it. It would be bad for the fisherman. If the CO came. Possibly!!!
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The hunter was flabbergasted but decided not to make issue since he was the one with the firearm.
The best decision made by either party that day. Doesn't matter who was in the wrong, though it seems quite clear ::)
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Page 12 of the bc hunting regs Under during your hunt and it’s unlawful to do . On number 45. This is what it says
45. To interfere with or obstruct a person licensed or permitted to hunt, guide or trap while that person is lawfully so engaged
Ya. Just a anti hunter. It’s a normal thing duck hunting. As a hunter. I’ve had talks. I just chose to leave rather then start a fight about it. I just move down a bit. But I’m sure a lot of other people. Make a stink about it. It would be bad for the fisherman. If the CO came. Possibly!!!
Not sure if that reg applies to non hunters since there is the phrase "during your hunt and it’s unlawful to ..." .
Conflicts between hunters fishers and others are bound to occur. Good examples I can think of people exercising their dog by throwing sticks in the water to retrieve while another person is angling. Another example, just walking along the dykes or trails could disturb a hunt. Oh and let's not start talking about jet boats etc.
I think it is a good thing that this has been brought up however as it makes at least some anglers more aware and hopefully gets them to consider how they should behave if they come across a hunt in progress when angling. I would hope the same is true of hunters. I have been in the line of fire a few times in my life from hunters and people just popping off rounds who didn't make a good check to see if there were people in the way.
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Ultimately you can't hunt unless it is safe to do so, Feel bad for hunter there is basically nowhere left to hunt in the lower mainland unless your rich and can afford to pay off a farmer.
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Angler was wrong... When I go fishing and someone asks me what I am doing I respond with "there is no fish in there" then I walk away giggling. Don't let anyone know your spots unless its already a gong show.
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Hunting in the Nicomen slough? Wow. That place is crowded during coho season with shore anglers and boat anglers. That seems crazy somebody would be duck hunting there. Discharging a fire arm amongst so many people not the wisest decision on someone’s part.
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Maybe the hunter could set up his decoys at KWB, I mean if he’s in the right.
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Hunting in the Nicomen slough? Wow. That place is crowded during coho season with shore anglers and boat anglers. That seems crazy somebody would be duck hunting there. Discharging a fire arm amongst so many people not the wisest decision on someone’s part.
Agreed, hunting in the lower slough, particularly below #7 bridge would be madness. Additionally, it would be fruitless. It would be tough to call in ducks in the midst of all those people and boats.
He was upstream of the confluence with Norrish/Suicide.
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After daybreak, a coho angler showed up. “This is my usual spot” the angler said, and proceeded to wade out among the decoys and start casting.
We only have one side of the story, but if this is how it really went, then that's some world class entitlement. What's this 'my spot' BS
The hunter is not an angler and wasn’t aware that slough is such a coho hotspot.
That shouldn't matter. First come, first served
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I thought there was a no shooting zone within 50m of the highway but what I could find doesn't list it. To me I can't think of many places on the slough, particularly below Norrish Creek that would be safe for hunting given the number people in the area Last December when my wife were collecting cedar on Norrish we did encounter a pair of young men packing shotguns and a bagged duck . I heard gunshots about a half hour before. The two seemed rather sheepish about having the duck. Again that area isn't void of people. There are still anglers plus people who walk their dogs etc. I have in past years seen people take a rifle out of their car and walk up the trail. Above Norrish there are farms and past Deroche the slough is very close to the highway for the most part. These days there are there are no coho hotspots in that area. The run to the east end of the slough isn't that large. None are shallow and wadable & the only spot that attracts some angling is the old red rock (marker no longer there) a mile or so east of Deroche. The story strikes me as inconsistent with the contemporary situation.
The shooting restrictions are a confusing mess; there are Provincial restrictions and local restrictions as well as those imposed by land owners. Little of this is posted.
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The story strikes me as inconsistent with the contemporary situation.
Meaning?
(Please excuse my limited reading comprehension.)
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the story doesn't make sense. Where, for example, does one launch a power boat above the confluence with Norrish creek? You said the incident took place above that point, yes?
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You can “launch” a car topper along Nicomen Slough Road.
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And you have done this? well one could launch one right at the #7 Bridge at Deroche - it would have to be hauled over the dyke. hen where to go? There are farms etc in that area so not a good place to hunt or discharge a firearmIMO.
Not a lot of fishing there either. As I said not many coho or angling above Norrish. If this happened as described I think it was an odd ball event. The angler perhaps a bit of a screw ball. I think most of us have had similar experiences over many years but they aren't the norm.
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It happened as described. Near Johnson Road and Nicomen Slough Road there are places to slide a cartopper into the water. A short distance downstream, there is potential for conflict between angler and hunters, even when the hunter is acting legally and responsibly and the angler is not a screw ball.
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Yes there is the potential but almost hunters are responsible enough not to set up below Norrish.
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Yes there is the potential but almost hunters are responsible enough not to set up below Norrish.
What world do you live in???
They will set up where the birds fly and that changes day by day depending on the current weather.
Just like the people that insist on fishing above the boundary on the upper Chilliwack..
The guy that does under water videos takes alot of hooks out everytime he swims above the boundary.
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Yes there is the potential but almost hunters are responsible enough not to set up below Norrish.
Right. Remember me saying that he set up above the confluence.
Besides, I don’t think it’s fair to label hunters irresponsible if the set up below the confluence. There’s a lot of water above #7 and below the confluence that rarely sees anglers on foot or boat and could safely and responsibly be hunted.
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There’s a lot of water above #7 and below the confluence that rarely sees anglers on foot or boat and could safely and responsibly be hunted.
uh... no I am there isn't. Most is available and used from the bank or by boat. there is about half a km east of Rowan Road that is private property on the south bank then it is very close to the Hwy which is very popular with people who view eagles. That's not good waterfowl habitat either. FWIW I have never heard a firearm discharged or seen discarded shells below inch creek and almost never above the confluence.
I also want to point out that this isn't your story, you are relating it second hand. After your first post you clarified (or added to it) your original post by saying it was above Norrish. Beyond that you never specified where it was. The original point, that maybe anglers needed to respect shoreline and water areas waterfowl hunters stake out was fine with me. However hunters have to be sure they are not putting other people in harms way which means avoiding areas where people could possibly be such as walking trails, fishing spots, highways and residences. As I said I once had my own experience where both I and my father were close to having our heads blown off to the point where the water within 15 feet in front of us was turned to froth as high as 6 feet because a hunter came around the corner and saw a duck in the water. He didn't know we were there, didn't look, didn't apologize & just slunk off out of sight. But those were the bad old days.
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I see we have differing perspectives.
Cheers.
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You can take a boat well past Johnson road on a high tide. Can't on a low unless it's a highwater year.
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the story doesn't make sense. Where, for example, does one launch a power boat above the confluence with Norrish creek?
There's a launch down by the confluence with the Fraser. Powered craft can and do occasionally foray above Hwy 7.
The original point, that maybe anglers needed to respect shoreline and water areas waterfowl hunters stake out was fine with me. However hunters have to be sure they are not putting other people in harms way which means avoiding areas where people could possibly be such as walking trails, fishing spots, highways and residences.
I dont have it readily available, but if you look at the regs/maps, the allowable hunting area where firearms discharge is permitted is fairly limited. Definitely nothing close to any roads nor anything below Hwy 7 that I recall.
If you can find the proper map, I suspect it would narrow down where this incident could have occurred to a few potential areas where conflict with anglers would be likely.
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Yes I have heard some say they have run their jetboat from the Fraser to Judd Creek but that was usually during the Fraser freshet. Dewdney/Nicomen slough is an old side channel of the Fraser and it goes up and down with the main river. Norrish Creek puts a big sand and gravel plug in the river and I don't think a jet boat will get over it in low water. this would be particularly true if they obeyed the 8km speed limit in place on the slough which many do not.