Re: [Paddlewise] Surprises while Paddling

On Tuesday, February 03, 2004, at 2:06:06 PM PST, Rick wrote:

> First, I was paddling along in the marshes of a NWR, minding my own
> business, feeling entirely alone and safe, having a wonderful time
> watching the ducks and so forth. Suddenly, all hell broke loose with
> shot guns going off from about 3 different locations, forming a
> triangle of which I was in the middle.

I had a very similar experience. I was paddling down my local Copalis
River a couple years ago, admiring a grebe that was sitting on the
glassy water. The grebes get spooked pretty easily, and will dive when
alarmed, so I was trying to be as quiet as possible. The bird was just
at a sharp bend in the river, and I was about 15 meters up river of
it.

The tide was ebbing, so the water level was quite low, this being very
close to where the river meets the sea. Because of the low water, I
couldn't see over the banks...and I couldn't see around the bend. Just
then, a shotgun blast rang out, and I nearly capsized from the shock.
The grebe was dead, with feathers flying everywhere. I was very sad.

The shooter couldn't see me, so I shouted to let him know I was just
around the bend.

I'm always careful to avoid paddling in areas where hunters may be
during hunting season, but this wasn't duck hunting season. Also, the
grebe is a protected bird, and even during hunting season, it's
supposed to be off limits. As I came around the corner, I encountered
the shooters. Two adult males in their forties, and a young teenage
boy in a small fishing boat with an outboard motor.

I expressed my dismay at their act of murder (as politely as I could),
and they responded by telling me that the birds were eating "their"
fish. I didn't want to get into an extended and most likely futile
argument with them, but while we were talking, I memorized the license
number on their boat. I then paddled down river.

As I continued paddling, they passed me. Around the next bend, I heard
three more shots on my way back to the put-in, and I came upon two
more dead grebes and one dead Bufflehead duck...with shotgun shells
floating on the water near them.

As soon as I got home, I called Fish and Wildlife, and reported the
incident, complete with the boat license number. They told me that
they would get back to me and let me know the result of their
investigations. I never heard from them.

Regarding the herbal incident:

> I climbed down as best I could, what with all the laughter and all.
> When I got down, I destroyed the few items they dropped when they
> took off running, and left myself. I could barely paddle the rest of
> the day. I kept busting out in laughter.

Hmmm. To each our own. I probably would have disposed of the abandoned
bounty in a different way, considering the waterproof matches I always
carry "just in case". ;-)

-- 
Melissa
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