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Need some help with the Barnegat Ducks

NJNewbie

By NJNewbie
in Waterfowl Hunting

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NJNewbie 4 pointer

NJNewbie

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Good morning,

I have bee trolling this site for some time now and I have just finally made an account. I recently moved back to nj from Charleston sc(about 2 years ago) and have been trying to get more into hunting here. I am 25 years old and do not come from a hunting family and would appreciate any advice. 

 

I will be doing some deer hunting in the fall with a bow(still deciding between township programs or just hunting publics land). In the last year I have become very interested with duck hunting. Some family members of mine have a place on Barnegat bay right across from the upper Barnegat WMA. 

 

In the past year, I have built a blind on a 14ft aluminum utility boat(Lund) that has a mercury 4hp on it(will be upgrading to 9.9 or 15). I would like to use this to hunt two location, the one in Barnegat that i previously described and sawmill on the hackey (15min from my house). 

 

My concern is not so much with the Sawmill location but the one in Barnegat. I have a map of the wma and  there are several very narrow creeks that run from the bay, west into the wma.

 

I know this wma gets hunted as there are a ton of duck boats at my marina this time of year. I have been up in those creeks on my boat a few times and saw a good amount of ducks. My real concern is how to scout it without ruining some other hunter day or putting myself in a unsafe position. I know everyone says scout on Sunday, however if people are not hunting on Sundays how will I know if I'm in someone's spot? 

I have a few spots that ive scouted (only in Barnegat not sawmill yet) but I am concerned that I am going to get out there in the pitch black and setup right on top of someone or be in someone's line of fire. I have about 4 spots right now that I think will be pretty good (still need to call the police department and confirm they are legal, but they are inline with the WMA maps I have found online). Do I just head out there and poke around to see if someone has already set up on that spot? then on to the next? What if I am in early and someone comes in later saying I'm in there spot, Should I move? 

I know a lot of people have been hunting here for years and have put there time in, so the last thing I want to do is

A. Ruin someone's hunt

B. Put someone else or myself in an unsafe position

C. Be that guys that steals someone's spot who been hunting that location their whole life 

 

Any help would be advice is appreciated. 

 

 

 

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rgw 9 pointer

rgw

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You can scout from a distance during morning or evening, take a cruise through in afternoon or Sunday, I will say that there is no place in there that doesn’t get hunted, basically first in gets the spot, if someone is in before you they will flash their light at you, don’t be going in right at first light 

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NJNewbie 4 pointer

NJNewbie

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Scouting from a distance is a good idea. I will also be scouting in the spring since there should be no one back there. 

Appreciate all the advice. 1 more question. I have seen a lot of permanent blinds near where I plan to hunt(maybe 4/5). Are these legal? 

 

I know there are some areas where you cannot leave a blind but in upper barnaget I do not see anywhere that says you cannot. 

I assume If it is legal, you cant claim the spot and anyone can hunt from them. I am not trying to use someone's blind, just asking if I can legally leave mine out there and should I expect to show up and have other hunters sitting in it? 

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rgw 9 pointer

rgw

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17 hours ago, NJNewbie said:

Scouting from a distance is a good idea. I will also be scouting in the spring since there should be no one back there. 

Appreciate all the advice. 1 more question. I have seen a lot of permanent blinds near where I plan to hunt(maybe 4/5). Are these legal? 

 

I know there are some areas where you cannot leave a blind but in upper barnaget I do not see anywhere that says you cannot. 

I assume If it is legal, you cant claim the spot and anyone can hunt from them. I am not trying to use someone's blind, just asking if I can legally leave mine out there and should I expect to show up and have other hunters sitting in it? 

If they are floating probably, or they are on private probably  legal, state or federal land probably not legal. Most land is private or federal, couple parcels of state 

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TroutandBucks 8 pointer

TroutandBucks

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1 hour ago, NJNewbie said:

As soon as I have access to PM I will send you one(think i need a few more posts first). Appreciate all the advice. 

Sounds good I have learned alot about ducks down there the last 3 years so will be happy to share with a new hunter. I will say having a boat like you said you do will open up alot of water for you

 

AWM #2

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mazzgolf 9 pointer

mazzgolf

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First off, if it's a WMA, no one "owns" the spot (this isn't Virginia :) ) First person to the spot gets it that morning. And no one should be upset about it. I've gone to spots where there are guys hunting it, I just move along to my plan B. There are plenty of places to hunt. Just make sure you have plan A, plan B, and plan C spots in case someone gets there first before you.

Second, SOME WMAs it is illegal to have permanent blinds set up, but not all. Check the digest.. page 65 and 69:

Page 65:

image.png.90a8d48c814a2ad6f4843b06df8e303f.png

Page 69:

image.png.085ce9156a6620b59bbf14ee21931ed3.png

If you find a permanent blind on a WMA where it is illegal, you can always call a  CO (or put a note on it and ask if you can hunt with them :) ) 

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