If you have not already heard, Mayor Hembree's wife has petitioned the city council of Guntersville to add more area to the "No hunting" zone. The reason being that it is in close proximity to her house. I am all for safety and all for respect, but I am opposed to this issue. It has nothing to do with safety. It is totally about not liking hunting and the sound of gunfire. The hunting was there way before the lake homes were. I never hunt in the area in question, but once they start allowing people to get areas zoned out because they do not like the noise then other areas will soon be to follow. Guntersville has a very large area that they can control with zoning. http://www.waalex.com/webgis/GUNT_gismap.html
Although this will only effect duck hunters, deer hunting areas will be next simply because it will be easier to make it happen. You may not hunt public land or water, but respect for the ability to do so should trump how often you use the resource.

If you feel that protecting hunting rights is of great importance then I would ask that you get involved with this issue and express your concern to the council and mayor.

If you feel that this is a non issue then so be it...., but infringements on the rights of once group of hunter will soon lead to infringements on the rights of all hunters.

Thanks, JEJ

This has been coming for years and unfortunately, the duck hunters can lay a lot of the blame at their own feet. I've duck hunted Guntersville from the time I was old enough to go with my dad. In that time, I have seen duck hunting on Guntersville go from avid hunters willing to help each other out, to nothing but a pissing match between fellow duck hunters and home owners be damned. Guntersville Lake has become a cesspool of how hunters shouldn't act towards each other and the lack of respect for homeowners and their rights to.

http://ducksal.proboards.com/

Several of the concerned duck hunters are posting on this issue on this forum if you would like to join in the discussion.

Jeff I hope they can stop these anti's. Whats next ? Too many bass tournaments with boats running up and down the lake ?

Perch, this has very little to do with anti's and ALOT to do with disrespectful duck hunters. Not all but ALOT of them that frequent Guntersville lake. Both locals and OOSERS.

Guntersville is always having problems. Not too long ago it was gill netters keeping bass.

From a bream and crappie fishermen's standpoint , you're damned right there's too many of 'em. 75mph cocksuckers coming by 50 feet from where you're trolling or anchored.

You got that right except it should have been...Any fisherman that's just out to have a little relaxing fun!!

It wasn't so much the netters keeping bass, which was rumored but never confirmed, but the netters setting sprawling and often-unmarked nets in shallow spawning areas.

The waterfowl issue has been an ongoing problem, for much of what ICOT described.

Just because Hembree's wife doesn't like hunting isn't a reason to add more no hunting zones. Unless there is a clear safety or biological reason then enforcement and education should be the solutions.

I'd like to know how a city can override TVA's regulations, too. Yet it's done all the time with "bird sanctuaries" and no one says boo about it. It's BS.


And yes, Perch, the next thing will be boat speed limits, more no-wake zones and minimal-speed zones. That's already being pushed like hell on Lake Jordan by homeowners.

But a lot of the problems bitched about by hunters and anglers are caused by the rogue elements who give everyone the bad name.

And instead of good anglers and hunters calling them out, calling the LEOs and saying "No more" ... they stand idly by until the SHTF and then start squawking about how their rights are being trampled by do-gooders.

If you see bad chit happening, report it. We talk about "taking back" the U.S. and schools and such but won't call out a fellow hunter for poaching or baiting.

Spot on Clem.

Hunters tying off and hunting from peoples piers

Hunting in no hunting zones

Leaving piles of dead coots,beavers and even ducks at boat ramps

Shooting at fishermen

Burning others duck blinds

Shooting from moving boats

I've witnessed most of these over the years on the G. It's just sad. The previous game wardens didn't do a very good job at keeping this under control and its so far gone now, the new wardens, which are fantastic, are fighting a losing battle.