Hyde Co NC

[duckplucker]

A big stink is going on up in Hyde Co NC right now. A couple of wealthy landowners are trying to create a 500 yard "Hunter Safety Law". They are trying to restrict hunters on public water in Pamlico Sound by keeping them 500 yards from property including blinds. Lots of hell being raised by the public water hunters up there on other forums, a county meeting for Monday March 4th is taking place for a vote on the law. I suspect the turnout will be huge.

[Bad Habit]

That could set a bad precedent.

[Palmetto Pride]

They already have a 500 yd rule in Dare County so it’s not out of the question and that would certainly help keep dumbass rubberheads a “safe” distance ...
just sayin

[duckplucker]

Dare, Carteret and Pamlico have this law. The problem is it has nothing to do with safety but does control miles of public water.
Everywhere there is a blind you cannot hunt within 500 yards occupied or not. Most landowners build dummy blinds out of tobacco sheets and sticks and put them up every 500 yards. Same goes for blinds built in the sound. They are forcing anyone who does not own property or a blind to hunt public lands in those counties where the law doesn't comply. Those landowners also hire local thugs to patrol and harass hunters who are to close to their property. Their favorite tactic in Pamlico Co is to threaten the hunters. If threat fail they dump corn in the water where they are set up. That is BS.

[gooseaholic]

Actually, Dare County has licensed blind sites and float blind permits (very difficult to obtain). Pamlico and Carteret Counties have the 500 yard "Safe Hunter Law" which basically states you cannot hunt within 500 yards of a blind. Hyde is trying to emulate Pamlico & Carteret Counties.

In order to block hunters from hunting close to their property landowners will drive 4 stakes in the hill. Magically there is a 500 yard buffer on either side of the "blind" which prevents anyone except the landowner (or landowner's designee) to hunt in the area. There is no language to designate "occupied" vs "unoccupied" so there are ghost blinds every 450 yards along the shoreline.

Interestingly enough one of the sponsors of the proposed legislation seems to be the father of a guide service owner (or is directly related in some way). Rumor has it that this guide service is losing some impoundments and will be adding more open water hunts next season. Seems like good timing if such a law were to take effect does it not?!

[Elcid_Fowler]

It's rather impressive or sad depending on which side you are on to watch the sheriff show up at the drop of a hat to a landowners call for a violation of one of these laws. Every Saturday morning...you talk about a good ole boys club. I've seen a lot of stuff but this arrangement takes the cake everyday. It's wild for sure...