It was an act that could have caused injury or even death, nine holes drilled in a pontoon boat which is used as a blind on the waters of Roanoke Rapids Lake.

For Darrell McAuly, a guide who runs Carolina Water Fowler, the crime represents jealousy from other hunters at the success and money he has made over the past nine years in Halifax County.

For local hunters, the crime represents revenge for what they allege are unethical hunting methods McAuly uses and a Boss Hog attitude that he runs the lake.

For the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, it is a crime classified as hunter harassment where not only a blind was sabotaged, but corn was found thrown in the lake.

Sergeant Carl Hatcher, an enforcement officer with the commission, says he is investigating a hunter harassment case because it is illegal for anyone to interfere or intervene with a person who is lawfully hunting. That means driving waterfowl away from a lawful hunting area by using boats or guiding boats through decoys.

The extreme case, Hatcher said, is sabotaging or tampering with a motor boat, a crime McAuly says occurred sometime between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Then there is another method of hunter harassment, which is the responsibility of the hunter to look out for. That method is done by throwing corn or other morsels in the water so ducks will flock to that area in their search for winter food.

It is the hunter's responsibility to not hunt in a baited area, Hatcher says. "If they're careful and observe, they would have known or should have known (they were hunting in a baited area)."

Hatcher says spotting baited areas is as simple as shining a spotlight in the water or looking for signs of it during daylight hours. Anyone who sees bait in the water should call Wildlife enforcement at 1-800-662-7137. "Personally, I don't understand it," he said today at the boat landing. "Obviously, unlawful hunters do it. A true sportsman won't."

The Atlantic Flyway

A Canvasback decoy, with red head, in McAuly's boat.

Roanoke Rapids Lake is part of the Atlantic Flyway, a migration route for ducks, and a popular spot for the Canvasback duck. "The Canvasback is hard to find and hard to kill," Hatcher said.

The lake is also a flyway for Ringnecks, Scaups, Mallards and Gadwall.

Plentiful grass and lack of development make Roanoke Rapids Lake a popular hunting spot and on opening day of the third season, which began December 18 and ends January 29, there were 35 rigs at the boat landing, Hatcher said.

With the popularity of duck hunting on the lake, there appears to be the temptation to bait, which Hatcher said is a violation of the fair chance law. Ducks are susceptible to the bait. "It's real obvious to the duck when flying where the corn is. The duck will imprint on that source. Instead of being wary, they lose their fear to access to the food."

Anti-baiting laws have been on the books for more than 50 years, Hatcher said. That's why hunters can't use live decoys or electronic duck calls.

Baiting by use of corn does not present danger to hunters but it does affect the sportsmanship of the hunt. When reports are received, however, they are investigated. "It's a matter of interviews and regular investigation."

The solution is simple, he said. "Cooperation is the key."

McAuly

McAuly knows the resentment he faces from other Roanoke Rapids Lake duck hunters.

He says some hunters resent him because he runs two crews, uses hundreds of decoys and makes good money. He says they are jealous of his work ethic. "We stay here and are out before they are."

While he is often painted as selfish, McAuly says during downtime he often goes out with other hunters to show them the best spots and doesn't charge them anything. "I say let's go out there and kill some ducks."

McAuly has been coming to Roanoke Rapids Lake during the split duck season for nine years. He enjoys it because of the grass and the ducks, especially the Canvasback, for which his clients pay him to take them to one of the Meccas of the breed, Roanoke Rapids Lake.

This is the first year McAuly has experienced alleged sabotage at the lake. "It only takes one person to ruin it for everybody," he said, explaining the animosity could lead to limits on the number of days for hunting.

There were few rigs — trucks and boat trailers — at the landing today while McAuly and his party were out early. "Everyone's complaining they ain't killing birds but you can't kill them at the house."

Now McAuly says he has been the victim of sabotage, discovering nine three-eighths inch holes drilled in his pontoon boat. When he and a party launched the boat they saw it was leaking. "If we had got the boat out in the middle of the channel we might not have made it back. It could have hurt or killed someone real easy."

Another view

A longtime hunter on Roanoke Rapids Lake, however, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said McAuly hogs the lake and doesn't practice hunting ethics. "I have seen him jump ducks to his clients and do unethical hunting practices to benefit his pocketbook."

While the hunter doesn't condone drilling holes in boats, he said apparently McAuly made the wrong person angry. "I believe someone took the matter in their own hands. You can't be rude and think you own the whole lake."