Cool or Not Cool?

[moosehead]

Was going to file this story as unsolved, but what the heck.

Our family was cruising to home port after a sunset run, and we had it throttled back through some shallows. It was dusk and visibility was poor, and a nearby pontoon either didn't see us or didn't care.

So we're about 50 yards off his bow when the pontoon captain sends a retriever into the water after a goose that is just casually floating. He then pulls a shotgun and takes out the goose, which the dog dutifully retrieves. We couldn't tell if the goose had taken flight or not, but he was definitely cooked.

We're not hunters, but we are carnivores and all of our neighbors hunt to put food on the table. Is this legal, safe, and at all sportsmanlike?

 

[ocod]

I say not cool only bc your family was so close..

 

[RFoster130]

dunno about legality but i agree...Def not cool.

 

[moosehead]

Given how close we were, it was pretty disturbing at the time, especially for Mom and 3/9 year old kids. I was pissed but figured a fast boat was better than a confrontation.

It was grandma who was not as phased and simply stated that sometimes people gotta eat. My daughter replied that if they could afford a boat, no matter how tattered, then they at least could hunt properly.

 

[kustomkarl]

I'm thinking that's not only not cool, but against the LAW. I'm not a hunter, but it doesn't seem right to be that close to people on a public lake, and in season now either...

Karl

 

[fskcramer]

That's pretty sketchy. I'm not 100% sure but I thought fowl had to be off the whater before you could shoot them.

 

[Dr Honda]

I am a hunter... and I've hunted in a bunch of states... and there is no way he would have been able to be hunting on a "Recreational" lake. With that said... every state is different, but most laws are biased off of safety, and someone firing a shot close to someone else, isn't safe.

You should have gotten his registration number, and had his butt arrested.

Last thing... I've never hunted in a state that it was legal to hunt water foul after "Civil Sunset." That is the time the sun breaks the horizon, so it would still be light out. (typical twilight boat ride time)

 

[flyingarmy]

Definitely an a'hole manuever....illegal and danger close for another boat. Hope a flock covers his boat with guano!

 

[moosehead]

I let it be after putting a call report into Colorado DOW and not hearing back. The boat had no visible registration numbers, and was pretty beat and old. Looked liked a recycled marina rental. We took a photo but it came out crappy due to poor light and I had also put some distance between us by the time the camera came out.

Agreed, it is a serious safety breach to have live fire on a rec lake at sunset on a summer weekend.

This also looked like a well-practiced repeat affair and was just plain spooky. If the goose had taken flight, it couldn't have been more than 1-2 feet off the water. My 3 year old thought the guy shot his dog.

EDIT: Per CO State Parks which governs boating waters in the state, both firearms and hunting in season are permitted. This could have been disorderly conduct or wreckless endangerment, and it was out of season. I'm going to assume the guy didn't see us and chaulk it up to a cheap lesson learned.

 

[josepherjames]

I dont think it was necessary for him to do that. He could have at least shown all of you some respect and did that on his own time. Maybe he was just trying to show off, either way i think its wrong.

I am not a hunter or have i ever gone hunting so its hard for me to say if its legal or not. I guess you could assume that since he is a hunter he knows the rules and he would want to follow them.