Unoccupied duck blinds on public land?

I'm with hawk-i, building stuff on public property is disrespectful to me. I'm in Ontario, and didn't realize until reading this thread that it is legal here for a 21 days, so if that's the case take your crap out of the woods/marsh/riverbank, whatever after the 21 days. It drives me crazy finding blinds and or homemade treestands all over public property, most of them look like they have been abandoned for years, and in my opinion is just as disrespectful as dumping your household trash in the woods. With modern treestand designs, and pop up blinds, there is no need, carry it in, carry it out. If you do decide to build something, same rules apply, take it out when you are done. (or 21 days later if that's the rules)
If you want to make property look like a landfill site, buy a piece of property and do it on your own land. It is the guys that leave all this crap in the bush, whether it be blinds, or garbage after shooting, or tearing up the land with 4 wheelers, that will be the cause of public lands being closed to the "public" aka. "us as hunters and shooters"

I would use a blind if nobody was around, but if someone came by and claimed it was theirs, I would invite them in, or I would move on, and politely remind them that a built structure must be removed when finished using it. Fighting about it wouldn't be worth my time.
 
Chefhunter said:
The good old days are gone...with population growth and all the housing developments that comes along with it, as well societies philosophies on firearms and hunting being negative has made it really difficult for all the hunting community. I grew up hunting and i remember my old man and i would hike in our folding stools and build a make shift blind, and when done we would hide our branches and brush out of site to be reassembled another day...couldn't tell that we were even there...some days we would stumble on hunters being in our favorite spot and those were the days i remember most now because we would hike along and go exploring and ended up finding other spots albiet less productive. When it comes to crown land I'm a firm believer in leave it as you found it! and first come first serve.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%.....as I've said before....when your hunt is done remove your shyt!!
 
NShunter1254 said:
lots of lazy members of the entitlement generation here.If your to lazy to build your own blind then sit in the open.
Click to expand...

Some people who erect blinds or stands on public land believe they're entitled to that spot for the season simply because they built something there. Could you please explain how this sense of entitlement is any different than what the "lazy members of the entitlement generation" have? There's a sense of entitlement on both sides, no?

If you'd like to have your own blind available to you any time you wish I suggest seeking permission from private land owners.
 
hoytcanon said:
And how did YOU feel when the disrespectful jackasses were keeping you out of the blind that you worked hard to locate and build??? Then... no respectful hunter would occupy another hunters blind or stand... If you want to hunt the "location" then build your own blind or put up your own stand...
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, how do you suggest one might go about erecting their own blind or stand in a spot where some self entitled hunter has already built one in the only practical and accessible location in the area?

Other hunters should be expected to hunt locations where there is zero chance of a successful hunt simply because someone has already erected a structure in the only good location?
 
Here's the Manitoba regulation.

"Tree Stands and Blinds
Any tree stand or blind on Crown land must be clearly identified with the name and address of the person who placed it. Tree stands or blinds can only be left overnight on Crown lands for the purpose of hunting deer, moose, elk, caribou, black bear and wild turkey. Tree stands and blinds being used to hunt deer, moose, elk, caribou, black bear and wild turkey can be placed up to two weeks before the season they are intended to be used for and all parts of tree stands and blinds on Crown land must be removed within two weeks of the close of the hunting season for which they are used. Tree stands and blinds can be used to hunt any other legally hunted wildlife as long as they are removed from Crown lands and taken with the hunter when they are finished hunting for the day."

I think that's the answer. Since you can't leave them up all season long or even overnight, the owners are in violation.
 
waterwheel said:
Because that's what it is.
Click to expand...
since when? is this your opinion or fact? Is it illegal to leave a treestand or blind unatended on crown land in your province?

I find people walking around much more intrusive to my hunting than inanimate objects are, and those that own those inanimate objects have been for more courteous than those who walk or drive by you while hunting I my experience. No matter the method of hunting, If you are there first chances are the other guy is going to be pissed and depending on the person it usually means ur stuff will get stolen or damaged if left unattended after you leave for the day or if your camp is close by. It is very rare to meet courtious people now a days so I understand your mentality but you have to give everyone at least one chance before you make an opinion solely based of of their blind or treestand position. The mentality here is the guy is an as##ole before you even meet, I bet you would feel like a real clown when the guy shows up in his wheelchair to his duck blind and your ideas of telling him he has no right to leave it there and has to do this and that go right out the window and you show some compassion. why assume things of people before you meet?
 
Last edited:
mcmack said:
In Ontario, you need a Crown Land permit to build anything on public land. See this excerpt from page 27 of the Ontario 2013/2014 Hunting Regulations:

"The Public Lands Act states that you must have a work permit
before you construct a new building, create trails or do other
modifications on Crown land. Crown land also includes the
bottom of most waterbodies. For information on work permits
and the application process, visit ontario.ca/publiclandpermit.
Hunters are reminded that it is an offence under the Public
Lands Act to leave any material, substance or thing on
Crown land."
Click to expand...
here is the easy solution if it is illegal, report it to the authorities with GPS location and have them remove the blind or stand and keep it as evidence so they can prosecute the builder if they find them. If they refuse to do so, you have your answer as to how "illegal" it is
 
ciphery said:
Well the law stipulates that it is free for all. First in the blind first to use it. If you build a structure on public/crown land than anyone can use it. Duck blind,icefishing hut, even a cabin on crown land. I do believe.
Click to expand...
you have no idea if whoever built whatever you have decided to use got a permit to do so or has some sort of rights to that crown land allowing him to erect structures (mineral rights/claim or trappers for example)
 
ciphery said:
Well the law stipulates that it is free for all. First in the blind first to use it. If you build a structure on public/crown land than anyone can use it. Duck blind,icefishing hut, even a cabin on crown land. I do believe.

It was a pisser last year that a blind that had been built and worked on all summer fell into the hands of local hunters EVERY SINGLE GD MORNING...these guys would practically camp out in our spot! 2 in the Morning, 1 in the afternoon, 4 in the evening the same guys were in our blind for over a month and legaly there was nothing we could do.
Click to expand...
wait till they leave and then set up camp yourself?
 
If I found a tree stand or blind on public land, I'd use it if it were unused.
If the 'owner' came along, I'd give it up and thank him/her for the use while they weren't around.
 
I believe it's illegal to erect any type of permanent structure on Crown Land in Canada without a permit. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. What defines a permanent structure would be left up to the discretion of the official. I highly doubt that a duck blind made out of reeds and sticks would be classified as a permanent structure whereas one that was built with material not available in the immediate area probably would be.
 
The question has been asked and answered may times.
Seriously how many would turn their nose at a vacant blind when there was nobody else around?
I dont know why there is so much tension over what now appears to be a hypothetical what if situation.
Everybody relax, step back from the computer and take a deep breath an d Go Hunting and kill some
GD ducks.
Sheesh,
Rob
 
Brian46 said:
since when? is this your opinion or fact? Is it illegal to leave a treestand or blind unatended on crown land in your province?
Click to expand...

Since always. It's not how you're trying to twist it as 'leave a blind unattended'. Because that's not what happened. What happened is, a permanent blind was erected. You're not allowed to erect permanent structures in our province - and I'm reasonably sure that's not just my province. It's not opinion. You can't be building your #### on crown land. It's not any more difficult than that. The exception is that you can camp temporarily, but you'd better clean up when you leave, and you can't stay forever. Clear enough for you?

if you want to put up a blind on crown land, take it down when you leave. Otherwise, it's not yours anymore. It's mine to use or burn down as I see fit. That's my opinion.
 
waterwheel said:
if you want to put up a blind on crown land, take it down when you leave. Otherwise, it's not yours anymore.It's mine to use or burn down as I see fit. That's my opinion.
Click to expand...
And this is why we have problems as hunters in the woods, one person feeling more entitled than the next, thanks for coming out.
 
waterwheel said:
You're not allowed to erect permanent structures in our province . It's not opinion. You can't be building your #### on crown land. It's not any more difficult than that. The exception is that you can camp temporarily, but you'd better clean up when you leave, and you can't stay forever. Clear enough for you?
Click to expand...
your province does not grant permits for grazing, mineral rights, trapping or timber on crown land? farmers build corrals to remove their animals from the land, miners build houses and cabins to live in while they mine, trappers build cabins to work their trap lines, loggers build camps to work the timber........And guess what, when they are long gone they dont pack their garbage out with them and it is all legal.
 
Last edited:
bearkilr said:
I highly doubt that a duck blind made out of reeds and sticks would be classified as a permanent structure whereas one that was built with material not available in the immediate area probably would be.
Click to expand...
other than temporary blinds this is how most people build them because ducks are smart enough to stay away otherwise, I have yet to see a conservation officer remove a duck blind because it was deemed illegal use of the land.
 
As the original poster I would like to thank everyone for their responses.

Obviously there are very strong opinions on both sides of the discussion on blinds on public land and some good middle ground too.
 
Here is how I feel and everyone in my personal hunting group feels with regards to waterfowling blinds on public land. Opening day blinds are used by the builders, after opening day its first come first serve. If you're there before me and I know you we may hunt together, but most likely I'm going to say hello and then move on to someplace else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom