The reason there were so many leftover blinds

[younggun308]

…is because evidently, if you are a member of more than one party putting in for online blind draws, both parties get disqualified (assuming each party has only 4 people).

I had never heard of this until today. Not necessarily a bad rule, but it should have been made clearer, I think. Feels like that got more people than returning the NOI or

Thankfully, it didn't affect me negatively, since I only put in with one group (and so did the other group members).

 

[West_Tn]

If you are tying to do that you deserve to be disqualified. Enter the draw once I don't know how much clearer you can make it.

 

[WilcoKen]

I would not think the system would let you join multiple parties but I guess it did. Yep a person should know better than to do that.

 

[younggun308]

I bet people added family members that rarely hunt, without their knowledge—but so did someone else. Grandpa or little Jimmy's TWRA number may be in high demand this time of year.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

Yeah I could see how this could easily be an issue. I had to add my little brother to my party and he rarely hunts. One of his good friends hunts a lot so I could see him also adding little bro to a second party. Better text him…

 

[Chiflyguy]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that you guys have to go thru all this BS to duck hunt.

 

[WilcoKen]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that you guys have to go thru all this BS to duck hunt.

Up until 3 years ago, it was a good system. Since then, a total train wreck. I am confident the new system has cost TWRA (and local small businesses) lost revenue and many hardcore waterfowlers have moved to MIssouri and Arkansas taking sales $ with them. Furthermore, most WMAs are a joke for waterfowl habitat. It's just not worth all the hassle to me.

 

[RUGER]

Up until 3 years ago, it was a good system. Since then, a total train wreck. I am confident the new system has cost TWRA (and local small businesses) lost revenue and many hardcore waterfowlers have moved to MIssouri and Arkansas taking sales $ with them. Furthermore, most WMAs are a joke for waterfowl habitat. It's just not worth all the hassle to me.

Yep.

 

[RUGER]

Saddest part about this entire fiasco is they did it to stop the selling / buying of blinds.
Specifically one or two in what I believe they call the Camden bottoms?

Screwed the entire system to stop something nobody gave two squirts of piss about.
Never even HEARD of anyone trying to buy a blind at other places like Gooch but yet they stole the best spots on every WMA.
Makes me sick.

The kickbacks and family or friends that got rich over the $50,000 + duck blinds is an entirely different story too.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

Saddest part about this entire fiasco is they did it to stop the selling / buying of blinds.
Specifically one or two in what I believe they call the Camden bottoms?

Screwed the entire system to stop something nobody gave two squirts of piss about.
Never even HEARD of anyone trying to buy a blind at other places like Gooch but yet they stole the best spots on every WMA.
Makes me sick.

The kickbacks and family or friends that got rich over the $50,000 + duck blinds is an entirely different story too.

Couple of specific blinds at Reelfoot, just about any blind in Camden(only a handful were big money, just about any one could be bought/sold for 3-8K, with a couple 12-16K, if you contacted the right people to buy or sell and were at least known to them).

 

[TboneD]

Growing up close to Pascagoula MS on the coast although we weren't on the flyway we usually had enough ducks to make it worth the while. That involved me walking down the hill to the canal with Daddy's little 6.5 hp Johnson for our Jon boat and maybe one more trip for my dozen decoys and gun. If the tide was high in the marsh I had a favorite spot where I could pull my boat into some cattails. If low tide, I'd just find a spot where there was cover and hunker down close to my decoys. And if nothing was flying I'd just just spend the morning chasing snipe and marsh hens.

A friend of mine had just about convinced me to try hunting Old Hickory when we could still blind hop during the week, but now? Shoot, there's no way I'd go to the trouble for the hope of so little time in a particular blind. I can understand them wanting to stop the selling of blinds but why did they have to ruin it for the average guy who doesn't have private land somewhere to hunt?

 

[scn]

The selling of duck blinds may have been a reason for the new system, but, it was a minor reason. The impetus came from the agency and the Commission continually hearing from hunters in Regions 3 and 4 about having virtually zero public waterfowl hunting opportunities in their regions. It was a continual gripe for decades.

So, rather than trying to spend the millions of dollars they didn't have in the budget to make new waterfowl areas in those regions, they explored trying to give those hunters, and others who where not interested in a year long blind and the trouble/expenses for a hunt or two a little better access to the current waterfowl areas. A scientifically done survey confirmed the interest.

When it came time to make the change, the input they got from the public was pretty much evenly split from the ones for and against. So, they went ahead with the project.

I have been on record from the start of not liking the new system. I still don't. There are a couple of areas where I think it might work OK. But, there are some others where I think it may lead to some deaths due to some potentially very dangerous issues in accessing the draw blinds at times.

I guess I am at the point that I am really tired of the continual bashing of the Agency and/or the Commission over decisions they made in good faith. They didn't do this to try to screw over local waterfowl hunters. They thought they could give a segment of their license buyers a piece of the pie. I totally don't like the fact that some of the best blinds were lost, but, I can also understand the thought process of why they located them where they did in most cases.

And, if someone does have info that there have been kickbacks in the process, here is the anonymous reporting link to the State Comptrollers office to report it: https://apps.cot.tn.gov/ANTS/Submission/Submit

It will be investigated by folks with zero ties to the agency or Commission, and, it they find something, it will be dealt with. I have seen it in action over the years. If all it is slinging mud because you are pissed like I am about the whole deal, then maybe take a step back and think about how you would feel about someone saying bs towards you.

YMMV

 

[RUGER]

@scn
I totally understand what you are saying and as you know I respect you and your opinion, more than anyone on here.

With that being said, yeah I'm still mad and will continue to be mad till they change the entire thing back.
I just hope they do it before someone dies.
I understand you know the agency better than the average Joe ever will. I guess the main difference is, I simply do not believe it was done for the reasons you believe they were. I'm not saying you are wrong, I am just saying I don't believe what they say.

I also will NEVER believe their "study" wasn't set up to get the results they wanted.


The kickback is about as hard to prove as the buying of blinds so there's that.

It's all good and when we are smacking ducks in the face this year in Missouri it won't matter.

 

[Tennessee280]

Saddest part about this entire fiasco is they did it to stop the selling / buying of blinds.
Specifically one or two in what I believe they call the Camden bottoms?

Screwed the entire system to stop something nobody gave two squirts of piss about.
Never even HEARD of anyone trying to buy a blind at other places like Gooch but yet they stole the best spots on every WMA.
Makes me sick.

The kickbacks and family or friends that got rich over the $50,000 + duck blinds is an entirely different story too.

Sam lashlee was the main one, admits it, doesnt hide it, and twra has never done anything about it. Now sam is the biggest one cryin on fb about some twra guy getting the best and only year long blind in one of the camden fields and an sit and keep an eye on the other blinds to make sure nobody is hopping them when they arent supposed to.. If twra wanted to put a stop to blind buying they knew who to make examples out of but never did...

 

[DeerCamp]

The selling of duck blinds may have been a reason for the new system, but, it was a minor reason. The impetus came from the agency and the Commission continually hearing from hunters in Regions 3 and 4 about having virtually zero public waterfowl hunting opportunities in their regions. It was a continual gripe for decades.

So, rather than trying to spend the millions of dollars they didn't have in the budget to make new waterfowl areas in those regions, they explored trying to give those hunters, and others who where not interested in a year long blind and the trouble/expenses for a hunt or two a little better access to the current waterfowl areas. A scientifically done survey confirmed the interest.

When it came time to make the change, the input they got from the public was pretty much evenly split from the ones for and against. So, they went ahead with the project.

I have been on record from the start of not liking the new system. I still don't. There are a couple of areas where I think it might work OK. But, there are some others where I think it may lead to some deaths due to some potentially very dangerous issues in accessing the draw blinds at times.

I guess I am at the point that I am really tired of the continual bashing of the Agency and/or the Commission over decisions they made in good faith. They didn't do this to try to screw over local waterfowl hunters. They thought they could give a segment of their license buyers a piece of the pie. I totally don't like the fact that some of the best blinds were lost, but, I can also understand the thought process of why they located them where they did in most cases.

And, if someone does have info that there have been kickbacks in the process, here is the anonymous reporting link to the State Comptrollers office to report it: https://apps.cot.tn.gov/ANTS/Submission/Submit

It will be investigated by folks with zero ties to the agency or Commission, and, it they find something, it will be dealt with. I have seen it in action over the years. If all it is slinging mud because you are pissed like I am about the whole deal, then maybe take a step back and think about how you would feel about someone saying bs towards you.

YMMV

There's always more to the story, but it's easier to just read a headline and be pissed.

 

[West_Tn]

So, rather than trying to spend the millions of dollars they didn't have in the budget to make new waterfowl areas in those regions, they explored trying to give those hunters, and others who where not interested in a year long blind and the trouble/expenses for a hunt or two a little better access to the current waterfowl areas. A scientifically done survey confirmed the interest.

When it came time to make the change, the input they got from the public was pretty much evenly split from the ones for and against. So, they went ahead with the project.

I took this so called scientific survey and can tell you first hand it was complete BS and completely biased in favor of the change.

 

[Crappie Hunter]

I haven't duck hunted in middle TN in quite some time due to the lack of ducks. I havent kept up with all of this, but if I understand it correctly, y'all are saying that if there is a blind on Old Hickory that doesn't have someone in it that you will get a ticket for hunting it?

 

[TNGunsmoke]

I haven't duck hunted in middle TN in quite some time due to the lack of ducks. I havent kept up with all of this, but if I understand it correctly, y'all are saying that if there is a blind on Old Hickory that doesn't have someone in it that you will get a ticket for hunting it?

Only a tier 2 blind

 

[WilcoKen]

I haven't duck hunted in middle TN in quite some time due to the lack of ducks. I havent kept up with all of this, but if I understand it correctly, y'all are saying that if there is a blind on Old Hickory that doesn't have someone in it that you will get a ticket for hunting it?

Correct--as Gunsmoke said, Tier 2. So they just sit there empty MOST of the time. Not good use of a $35,000 blind (metal shed, really).

 

[RUGER]

Correct--as Gunsmoke said, Tier 2. So they just sit there empty MOST of the time. Not good use of a $35,000 blind (metal shed, really).

Closer to $53,000

 

[younggun308]

I will say, it'd be tough to imagine how to sell blinds with this year's system. The seller would have to be able to hunt it, too, unless the buyer were already in the application group…and they can only be in one, apparently.

I don't mind working with this system; it's been a painful process of unforeseen pitfalls. But if everyone understands how it works, everyone can work with it (and statistically, there will be more people who have a chance to hunt reserved blind spots as a result—just this year, setting the minimum party size at 4 should itself make a difference in # days blinds go unhunted).

But I simply never saw anything explicitly stipulating someone can only be in a single draw party—and that includes the leftover drawings! Even the TWRA officers conducting the drawing said they were at the last minute told that they could not award blinds to individuals (had to be the information of all 4+ party members in the system), and that if any individual was on the list for more than one leftover blind, there was a good chance both the leftover blind and any blind they previously drew online (if applicable) could be forfeited.

 

[EchotaClovis]

…is because evidently, if you are a member of more than one party putting in for online blind draws, both parties get disqualified (assuming each party has only 4 people).

I had never heard of this until today. Not necessarily a bad rule, but it should have been made clearer, I think. Feels like that got more people than returning the NOI or

Thankfully, it didn't affect me negatively, since I only put in with one group (and so did the other group members).

I bet people added family members that rarely hunt, without their knowledge—but so did someone else. Grandpa or little Jimmy's TWRA number may be in high demand this time of year.

Sounds like there are a bunch of democrat duck hunters.

 

[woodyard]

I have no use for them after they manipulated answers on my after hunt survey. I still wonder how many they did that too in order to make the economics look good for their new system. They may have done some house cleaning , but I doubt enough.

 

[RUGER]

I have no use for them after they manipulated answers on my after hunt survey. I still wonder how many they did that too in order to make the economics look good for their new system. They may have done some house cleaning , but I doubt enough.

Exactly!!!

 

[cmn]

The selling of duck blinds may have been a reason for the new system, but, it was a minor reason. The impetus came from the agency and the Commission continually hearing from hunters in Regions 3 and 4 about having virtually zero public waterfowl hunting opportunities in their regions. It was a continual gripe for decades.

So, rather than trying to spend the millions of dollars they didn't have in the budget to make new waterfowl areas in those regions, they explored trying to give those hunters, and others who where not interested in a year long blind and the trouble/expenses for a hunt or two a little better access to the current waterfowl areas. A scientifically done survey confirmed the interest.

When it came time to make the change, the input they got from the public was pretty much evenly split from the ones for and against. So, they went ahead with the project.

I have been on record from the start of not liking the new system. I still don't. There are a couple of areas where I think it might work OK. But, there are some others where I think it may lead to some deaths due to some potentially very dangerous issues in accessing the draw blinds at times.

I guess I am at the point that I am really tired of the continual bashing of the Agency and/or the Commission over decisions they made in good faith. They didn't do this to try to screw over local waterfowl hunters. They thought they could give a segment of their license buyers a piece of the pie. I totally don't like the fact that some of the best blinds were lost, but, I can also understand the thought process of why they located them where they did in most cases.

And, if someone does have info that there have been kickbacks in the process, here is the anonymous reporting link to the State Comptrollers office to report it: https://apps.cot.tn.gov/ANTS/Submission/Submit

It will be investigated by folks with zero ties to the agency or Commission, and, it they find something, it will be dealt with. I have seen it in action over the years. If all it is slinging mud because you are pissed like I am about the whole deal, then maybe take a step back and think about how you would feel about someone saying bs towards you.

YMMV

Like anything else now, especially politics. I support what TWRA is trying to do. I hope they can find a happy medium where hunters can meet and be somewhat satisfied. I hate the fact that people have "lost" traditions and have bad feelings over the changes. Can't please all and never will. People calling my house and threatening to "beat my ass" because I was lucky to draw a blind? I stated that if anyone wanted to hunt it let me know a date and they could go. Crickets on takers. The new attitude expressed in the US is troublesome enough without it spilling over into our recreational outdoor pursuits. Sorry for the soapbox...Good luck to all this season, wherever you choose to hunt. I truly mean this...

 

[RUGER]

People calling my house and threatening to "beat my ass" because I was lucky to draw a blind? I stated that if anyone wanted to hunt it let me know a date and they could go. Crickets on takers.

That's absolutely crazy man.

 

[Tennessee280]

Like anything else now, especially politics. I support what TWRA is trying to do. I hope they can find a happy medium where hunters can meet and be somewhat satisfied. I hate the fact that people have "lost" traditions and have bad feelings over the changes. Can't please all and never will. People calling my house and threatening to "beat my ass" because I was lucky to draw a blind? I stated that if anyone wanted to hunt it let me know a date and they could go. Crickets on takers. The new attitude expressed in the US is troublesome enough without it spilling over into our recreational outdoor pursuits. Sorry for the soapbox...Good luck to all this season, wherever you choose to hunt. I truly mean this...

dang, i need to hear more on this story!

 

[Crappie Hunter]

Thanks for the clarification. As stated, I haven't kept up with this, so i do not understand the "tier" designation. The fact that anyone thinks that this is the right way to do things is beyond me. You can't make it right no matter how you twist it. It's just a way to keep folks from killing ducks, and write tickets. I honestly don't see how they are keeping any blinds at all with these rules. If a group of guys hops an empty blind and gets a ticket for it, I could see that turning into a fire real quick. Just when you think they (TWRA) can't possibly screw anything up any worse than they have Reelfoot, there's this. Some of the most memorable hunts I've ever been on have been when we just dumped the boat in and hopped a blind. The fact that the oportunity to make memories like that is gone is unacceptable. More government over reach and pocket lining.

 

[cmn]

Thanks for the clarification. As stated, I haven't kept up with this, so i do not understand the "tier" designation. The fact that anyone thinks that this is the right way to do things is beyond me. You can't make it right no matter how you twist it. It's just a way to keep folks from killing ducks, and write tickets. I honestly don't see how they are keeping any blinds at all with these rules. If a group of guys hops an empty blind and gets a ticket for it, I could see that turning into a fire real quick. Just when you think they (TWRA) can't possibly screw anything up any worse than they have Reelfoot, there's this. Some of the most memorable hunts I've ever been on have been when we just dumped the boat in and hopped a blind. The fact that the oportunity to make memories like that is gone is unacceptable. More government over reach and pocket lining.

don't not go...still many blinds can be hopped. Very few that can't

 

[younggun308]

Thanks for the clarification. As stated, I haven't kept up with this, so i do not understand the "tier" designation. The fact that anyone thinks that this is the right way to do things is beyond me. You can't make it right no matter how you twist it. It's just a way to keep folks from killing ducks, and write tickets. I honestly don't see how they are keeping any blinds at all with these rules. If a group of guys hops an empty blind and gets a ticket for it, I could see that turning into a fire real quick. Just when you think they (TWRA) can't possibly screw anything up any worse than they have Reelfoot, there's this. Some of the most memorable hunts I've ever been on have been when we just dumped the boat in and hopped a blind. The fact that the oportunity to make memories like that is gone is unacceptable. More government over reach and pocket lining.

Not true that they made season-long blinds (which are the overwhelming majority at a place like Reelfoot) "unhoppable;" someone told you wrong.