http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=1931


MISSOULA, Montana (AP) — Rock musician Huey Lewis and several of his Stevensville-area neighbors are feeding ducks along a slough that runs through their property, effectively closing the area to duck hunting.

It’s the latest twist in the story of the slough, which the Montana Supreme Court has ruled a public waterway, subjecting it to the state’s stream access laws. Owners along the 15-mile tributary to the Bitterroot River argued it was a man-made feature and not subject to the state’s public access law.

Lewis said he and others started placing feeders along the slough about two months ago. Mitchell Slough has had bait stations for quail and pheasants for several years.

“I’m feeding ducks all over my place — many of us neighbors are,” Lewis said. “The reason is the Supreme Court decision has changed everything here, and now we have public access. And most of us believe the Mitchell is unsuitable for duck hunting.”

Lewis said the waterway is too close to homes for safe hunting and he argues wading hunters will hurt the slough’s fish population.

The feeding stations surprised Missoula duck hunter Ron Pence, who saw Lewis’ feeders as he was wading up the slough between Victor and Stevensville recently.

“It’s attracted every duck in the area,” Pence said. “Legally, if I know where a bait pile is, I can’t hunt around there or I’ll get cited. Now you’d have to do an aerial survey before you can ever hunt around there again.”

It is legal to feed game birds and waterfowl, but it is not legal to hunt in an area where such birds are baited.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden Capt. Jeff Darrah said the agency was aware of Lewis’ feeders.
“Federal law says you can’t hunt a field that’s been baited,” Darrah said. “That’s his way of saying you can’t hunt here.”
Another area landowner, Ed Hebner, noted that any hunters would have to get permission from landowners to retrieve a duck.
“There’s not a landowner along the Mitchell that will allow any duck hunter to retrieve a duck on his property,” Hebner said.

Other landowners along the slough include Charles Schwab, founder of the investment firm Charles Schwab Corp., and Ken Siebel, managing director of Private Wealth Partners, which provides financial planning services to wealthy clientele.

Darrah said MFWP officials have been meeting with landowners and public access advocates to work out rules for passing through the slough, but he said the duck hunting question had not come up before.

“We’re going to take a look at waterfowl hunting on Mitchell Slough,” he said. “There may be places where it’s not appropriate. But some areas may be appropriate. We’re not willing to say its closed yet.”

Sounds about right.

OK so I guess I should ask if its chicken shit or not?

Well, any responsable hunter wouldn't be huntin so close to someone's house that a duck could possibly fall on their property, but if we're talkin about lots of acreage, then this is kinda like hunter harassment. Don't know bout there, but that's illegal here in TX. Regardless of the legality, it's definately chickensh*t. Used to like Huey Lewis (back in th day), sux to know he's one of those PETA a**holes.

Im not so sure he in a PETA prick as he is a concerned home owner. I dont see where he says he is doing it for the ducks.


On the other hand he is bringing all the ducks to him which is luring the hunters closer.

That's what I was sayin. If it's that close to a house, shouldn't be huntin there anyhow, but if he only put the feeder up to make it illegal to hunt in the general area, he might as well be in a boat runnin circles thru their dekes all day.

I have actually hunted that slough. It is pretty close to home. I have been involved with this issue for a while. First let me tell you that the hunting on the slough is fantastic without bait. There are certainly unsafe places where no duck hunter in their right mind would ever try and hunt. However, there are places where the slough is very wide and shallow and losing birds is no more common than anywhere else.

Huey is not a PETA douche. He is a hunter who has several permanent blinds on his property. It just so happens that there is public water flowing through his property and he would rather shut down all hunting than have to share the public resource with anyone else. If you go on duckhuntingchat you will find some threads in the Montana forum about the issue, some of them are pretty hilarious.

We feel that we should have the same rights there that we enjoy on all public waterways. It is looking like duck hunting will continue on the slough. Glad to see it's getting some attention elsewhere.

Here is a good spot to duck hunt. The guy in the frame was actually harassing us while we were legally hunting:


Illegal and heavily electrified fences aim to keep the public out. This is not a good duck spot but a spot that one must walk through to get in at one of the access points:

I will agree with the DeadAnimal on this. I would say .. oopps .. tho !!

On the secound photo ... Ifin' thats public rite-of-way and you say electric fence ...
I would sugest rubber handel nippers.

As far as Lewis feedin' the DuckByrds .... I say Great .... cuts mines cost !!!!

All i know is that if Huey puts all of his "heart and soul" into feeding these duckbirds on his property then he's "walking on a thin line"...Maybe he's just "doing it all for my baby"...because, seriously, "if this is it" then he may have to whip out "the power of love"..."Do you believe in Love?"
Woody

Happens around here all the time. The Potomac river that flows through DC is home to millions of douchebags that think waterfront means ownership of the water. Hey dumbass did you see those 47 duck blinds when you bought the place? Opening day they get a rude awakening and start all kinds of shit. One lake here actually has signs that say "Baited Cove No Duck Hunting. We will call the VDGIF" I've got one guy that has enough footage of me on another part of the lake shooting birds that I could start my own TV show. We've spoken with the game warden about pursuing charges if the corn is dumped on the ground after Sept 1. (illegal in VA) and he says he'll do it.
My problem is with the possum cops. They get a call and when they show up, their procedure is to shake down the hunter. Not to determine if the situation is illegal. If you are doing nothing wrong, they just leave. They don't go to the caller and inform them of the law. Screwed up system and enough of these lake lice yankees know enough to keep hunters harrassed by the game warden.
If I was a warden, I'd be busy every Saturday until about 10 and then I'd go check the river. If you can't get your limit before then, shame on you and hand me your paperwork there sport.