40 Nebraskaland • August-September 2022
think we got a shot," said hunting
partner Todd Mills, peering
through grass on the edge of a
Rainwater Basin wetland as a
fl ock of pintails made a turn below the
tree line and were cupping their wings
in our direction.
"Eli, be ready," I told my 9-year-old
son. "Mills will make the call to shoot."
But when someone did shoot, way
out of our range and not even close
to their range, it wasn't us. Another
hunter had emptied his gun and not a
single bird had fallen.
We were devastated.
There are some common sense and
safety rules to the marsh that should
be followed. If you don't have any
rules of your own, I hope these help.
And if you already do, pass them on
to someone else. Hunting public land
doesn't have to be a nightmare.
First Come, First Serve
Many hunters aren't fortunate
enough to have private land to hunt,
and they will do whatever they can
to protect the places they hunt on
public land. Some arrive hours before
shooting time. Others go so far as to
spend the night in their vehicles. If
you're not this person, respect the
work they've put in and either look
for a diff erent spot or ask if they have
room. I understand it's public land
and you don't have to ask anyone, but
respecting others while hunting goes
a long way toward making everyone's
hunt a good one.
On a dove hunt two years ago, my
dad, Eli and I got very little shooting
early on a patch of public land. We
switched spots and listened to hunters
boom and bang for a couple of hours.
From afar, it sounded like there were
already more than enough hunters
on this particular sunfl ower fi eld.
So we hunted the fringe until they
began walking out. One of the hunters
approached us as he was leaving.
"You need to take your boy up to that
fi eld," he said. "It's got birds all over it."
"How many folks are still up there?"
I asked.
"No one. The fi eld is yours."
It turned out to be one of the best
shoots I've ever been on, and we didn't
pull the trigger for the fi rst time on the
opening morning of dove season until
after 9 a.m.
This Is My Dance Space
How much is enough room? Talking
to conservation offi cer Keith Jadlowki,
also a lifelong hunter, the answer
varies. "I don't think you can put a set
"I
Story and photos by Jeff Kurrus
Rules of
the Marsh
An ethical guide
to public hunƟ ng
