WATERFOWL HUNTING

DIRECTORS IN CHARGE OF WATERFOWL HUNTING

The Executive shall appoint one Director of waterfowl hunting for each waterfowl farm.

SEASON

The first day of the Club season on each waterfowl farm shall be determined by the Director of waterfowl hunting for that farm and shall fall on or subsequent to the start of the government season when in his opinion conditions are conducive for hunting including whether there is sufficient water on the fields.

DOGS

Members are strongly encouraged to have a retrieving dog with them in the blind; however this is not a mandatory requirement.

WATERFOWL OPTION MEMBERSHIP AND FEE

Waterfowl Option membership shall only be made available to existing full members of the Club.

The current Waterfowl Option annual fee is $200 over and above the annual cost of a full Club membership.

WATERFOWL OPTION MEMBER LIMITS

The Executive may when necessary set the maximum number of members eligible to hold the Waterfowl Option at any time. Limits are to be based on the best interests of the Club and are entirely subject to the discretion of the Executive.

WAITING LIST

The Executive may when necessary establish a waiting list of those full members who wish to become holders of the Waterfowl Option.

Full members not holding the Waterfowl Option but wishing to do so may ask to have their name placed on the waiting list.

Only full members are eligible for placement on the waiting list.

TWO HUNTERS PER BLIND MAXIMUM

Only two hunters may hunt out of a blind.

To accommodate a dog handler, a maximum of three persons are allowed in a blind during a hunt.

DIRECTOR MAY DIRECT THE SHARING OF BLINDS

Where a blind has been booked by a single member the Director of Waterfowl hunting may in his discretion direct that the booked member share the blind with another member.

If the booked member is unwilling to share the blind with another member when directed to do so by the Director, he must either move to an unoccupied and less desirable blind or forfeit that day’s hunting and leave the field.

The requirement to share a blind will arise in circumstances when the farm is heavily booked or in circumstances where available blinds are unproductive.

TEMPORARY OR MAKESHIFT BLINDS

Temporary or makeshift blinds may only be used when the blind the member is booked into has been rendered unusable through flooding, damage, being tipped over etc.  In such rare cases the member may use a temporary or makeshift blind in near proximity to the unusable blind, situated so as not to interfere with the hunts of other members.  The member must inform the Director of duck hunting about the unusable blind after the completion of his hunt.

HUNTING DAYS

Hunting days for the Club’s waterfowl farms are restricted to Tuesdays and Saturdays in Comox and Wednesdays and Saturdays in Cedar throughout the provincial season, with the exception that hunting is permitted on each farm on the last five consecutive days of the season.

All hunting days must be pre-booked with the Director of waterfowl hunting for the applicable farm.

SHOOTING TIMES

No waterfowl shooting shall take place before sunrise.

All waterfowl shooting shall cease at sunset.

Members should consult the National Research Council’s sunrise/sunset calculator on the Internet for actual times.

BLIND BOOKINGS

Blinds shall be booked anytime after 5 pm on the shooting day prior to the next shooting day.

The same blind shall not be booked on two consecutive shooting days.

ATTENDANCE RESTRICTED

The waterfowl farms are working farms, therefore members shall attend these farms only on days when they are booked to hunt or for work parties organized by the Directors of waterfowl hunting.   Members shall not attend these farms on any other occasion.

The Directors of waterfowl hunting shall have access to the farm(s) as required.

DUCK HUNTING ETIQUETTE

In order to preserve and enhance “The Duck Hunting Experience” members and guests shall make a concerted effort to be “set up” and in the blinds by legal shooting light (sun rise).

Arriving late and “setting up” late to take advantage of anticipated late flight times is considered to be in poor form and the practice is discouraged.

Movement and activity during the hunt should be kept to a minimum in order to prevent flaring birds headed to other blinds.

BLINDS TO BE KEPT CLEAN

Members shall keep the blinds clean and pick up and remove all expended shells and trash.

SHOTGUNS AND SHELLS

On the waterfowl farm(s) the largest shotgun that can be used is a 12 gauge.

12 gauge shells shall be no larger than 2 ¾ inches.

Magnum shells in all gauges are prohibited.