Unfortunately, it's real.Just saw this posted on the FB, is it for real?View attachment 1097454
They sent out a survey and the majority of the people on the survey stated that they wanted an early morning opening day like every other day of the season. That is what people got. As far as stopping at noon on opening day on WMAs, anyone who has ever been to one of the “managed” fields knows it typically a zoo on opening day, so agree or not I understand the reasoning. You have people get there early and hunt and then a continuous train of people in and out of the field all day on top of each other. Have just the morning hunt and people get in the field before daylight and everyone is out at noon. From a safety standpoint it makes sense. If they don’t fly until the afternoon, then go the next day in the afternoon and wear them out. Or find a clear cut on one and hunt the afternoon of opening day. I don’t understand why this is such a big deal to people.
Ms. Johannsen's comment to me was that they chose to close the fields at noon to preserve the quality of the field and to not have it shot out on opening day. So let's penalize public hunters for the slight chance the 2nd weekend might be better.
Across the River, you obviously don't hunt doves on WMAs on opening day. How is setting up in the dark safer?
Least the sign didn't state
Crowds will be there regardless so I see no difference. Actually, based on my experience, the second weekends can be worse safety wise when people set up before daylight and don't see others around them.
For the hunt the next day comment, just about every WMA dove field that I know of is Saturday only until much later in the season.
They made the changes based on hunter feedback, so I don't get all the complaining, even if it didn't go the way you voted in the survey.