crappy wardens

[BR549]

Two years ago three of us came out with three limits, they weren't separated. Two feds stopped us on the road and proceeded to count ducks. We had an extra drake, dont know how it happened, just miscounted I guess. Everything else was legit, shells, plugs, stamps, license. I volunteered to take the ticket for the extra duck cause they were hunting with me on my place. Fed said "dont worry about it, it'll be the minimum fine, you'll get the bill in the mail around the first of April". They were pretty cool about it. He also said that we should have our ducks separated and tagged but didn't write us for that because I think he knew we were trying to fly right. April 1st- ticket arrives, $525 for one drake. Lesson learned, count, recount and recount again.

No such thing as "one bird over" every bird in your posession was illegal. They can fine you for each individual bird too! That fine sounds about right from them! State law is the same way too! If you have 7 ducks you are not just one over but have 7 illegal ducks and can be fined for each!

[driveby]

Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 20—MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING
§ 20.36 Tagging requirement.
No person shall put or leave any migratory game birds at any place (other than at his personal abode), or in the custody of another person for picking, cleaning, processing, shipping, transportation, or storage (including temporary storage), or for the purpose of having taxidermy services performed, unless such birds have a tag attached, signed by the hunter, stating his address, the total number and species of birds, and the date such birds were killed. Migratory game birds being transported in any vehicle as the personal baggage of the possessor shall not be considered as being in storage or temporary storage.

I never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed but that last part tells me that birds being transported from the field in a vehicle do not have to be tagged if the posessors are present.

[mfalkner]

Just reading this thread - sorry you had to deal with an overeager CO. They are more the exception than the rule.

Back in the 80's I was deer hunting on a popular block of Weyerhauser land on opening day. Had my license checked three times within 2 hours, by the same warden...... I will say, he was new on the job then and has since matured into a resource for people who hunt around Upper Sardis.

[Don Miller]

So I would need "what" on my tote to make it legit: name, address, phone number, or more?

Also need your license number, blood type and a stool sample attached. These MS warden go strictly by the book.

[chevy01234]

[SWAG]

Easy thing to do is go by the local feed & seed store and buy you several leather dog collars with the name tags on them. Get the store to stamp the names you want on the collars. When you bring your ducks out just collar your bunch with your collar. Named, tagged, and seperated all at the same time. This reminds me that we do not have collars anymore and I needto go get some made up.

[btag601]

Even if you had the 5 woodrows by yourself, isn't the possession limit twice the daily bag limit of 3?

So correct me if im wrong, but you could still legally have 6 woodies in your possesion without getting into trouble?

[Jelly]

Even if you had the 5 woodrows by yourself, isn't the possession limit twice the daily bag limit of 3?

So correct me if im wrong, but you could still legally have 6 woodies in your possesion without getting into trouble?

not if they were all killed the same day, hince the DAILY BAG LIMIT

[Blackduck]

Better hope you don't go before Judge Campbell...he is an animal right activist and hates duck hunters. He prepared to bend over and take it like a women.

Is this the guy from G'wood who smokes menthol Cools and has a voice that is pure gravel. If so I dove hunted with him and ask him about the snake we put on his dove seat a few years back.

[Seymore]

I thought I remembered Scott having free tags once and a little search proved I was right. Don't know if the state still has the free tags but maybe Scott or Wingman can't let us know. If so then future problem is solved and the state even made it easy for us.

Yeah, he probably should have cut you some slack. By the definitions though you were in the wrong. Most people don't tag them because most times the officer won't write it up. Doesn't mean they can't and we all run the risk of getting a ticket if we dont' seperate and tag. Just another thing to keep in mind. Get a metal tag made up like a dog tag and put on your tote and you are good to go.

[quack_a_tack]

Glad this thread was posted I had forgotten you could shoot 3 woodrows, dang I cut myself out of two more ducks last weekend. I never thought to check on that.

[feather]

Dog tag on the strap sounds like a good idea but it looks like you also have to have the number of each species killed and the date they were killed on the tag. Might start carrying some index cards w/ a hole punched in them w/ some wire ties handy for travel...what a hassle. Last thing I need is a $500 lesson.

[novacaine]

Better hope you don't go before Judge Campbell...he is an animal right activist and hates duck hunters. He prepared to bend over and take it like a women.

Is this the guy from G'wood who smokes menthol Cools and has a voice that is pure gravel. If so I dove hunted with him and ask him about the snake we put on his dove seat a few years back.

Don't know who Don Miller is talking about but the gravel voice gentleman you are referencing is a very good friend of mine. He is a JP in Greenwood. My favorite quote from him.."Duck huntin ain't for #ussies"!

[Double R 2]

FYI

We maintain a PDF copy of Migratory Bird Tags at GetDucks.com Sporting Travel Resources

[billjohnson]

I guide out in OK and it is a royal pain in the rear but most necessary. I just have my clients fill out tags each hunt and we provide the tags and people bitch about it every day. One pop from the feds is all it will take. I know that everybody party shoots on ducks but you have to keep them separate even in the field. If the man walks up on you with a pile of ducks by the layout blinds or hanging in a tree or blind it's gonna be a bad day. Really was publicized very much when the requirment came out and most wardens that I've dealt with are pretty lenient on it if they think you are trying to stay within the rules. They're just doing a job! Believe it or not they don't make the rules. You're hatin on the wrong guy!