Opening day Musings

[bloc004]

"Same here! These ppl are just trying to bend the rules because it's poorly worded."

[Ray Esboldt]

I too wish this one would be clarified. I have always went with counting lost birds in my bag. I know the rule says otherwise, but that's just the way I do it.

Seems kind of funny that waterfowlers as a group would take such pride in not shooting hen mallards and still be so insistent on having a limit worth of carcasses in hand. I am guessing the vast majority of us count lost cripples in the bag. Right?

[jblabsnduck]

Just got off the phone with the DNR office.

You MUST include non retrieved ducks/geese as part of your daily bag limit.

Feel free to call them and ask yourself.

(651) 296-6157

(888) 646-6367

Like a buddy said, you going to let some poor shot stay out there and cripple birds all day long? crappie shot could cripple 50 birds in a day with out picking ONE up.

[mwal]

I was hunting a controlled goose zone and wounded a bird that made it back to the refuge. 5 minutes later a state and a federal game warden come check my gun license. I asked permission to cross the line to go get the bird and they said I could not. Neither could they unless a crime was being committed. I then said I would stop hunting as the goose limit was 1 and I could not

retrieve it and would count as my limit. They told told me to walk to the fence and look for the bird. Then then told me to continue hunting and shoot another goose as every effort was made to retrieve and reduce it to bag. Ever since if you can't find after a reasonable effort then I shoot another one. They said you have to make an effort to retrieve or recover the animal. If you do not make an effort then that when the wanton waste law goes into effect.

Mwal

[jblabsnduck]

I am just posting what I was told by the DNR.

I guess it comes down to if you want to roll the dice and see what kind of mood the CO is in.

Good luck to whatever you choose to do.

I will stick with counting it in my bag limit.

And NO I don't think I am any better than anyone else. We ALL make our own decisions.

[TylerS]

That's about the grayest rule I've ever heard, and really the ONLY way to enforce it would be if you were being watched by the CO (as a former poster's story suggests). Very odd regulation.

And I wonder if it really is interpreted as such. We were checked by federal wardens a couple of years ago. They'd watched us all morning, they said. We had a limit, and admitted a couple got away because we didn't have a dog.

They just laughed and said "well, it happens."

I'm guessing since they were feds, they must have had a pretty good interpretation of regulations...

[PierBridge]

Quote:

i've always thought that a lost bird counts in your bag limit. never thought twice about it.

Always have always will.

A lost/shot bird is a dead bird eventually and counts in your bag limit according to the DNR and just about any CO I've ever encountered and more importantly myself or any body I hunt with.

Frankly I'm a bit stunned on this one with some of the responses or perceptions here..

[LightningBG]

Always have always will.

A lost/shot bird is a dead bird eventually and counts in your bag limit according to the DNR and just about any CO I've ever encountered and more importantly myself or any body I hunt with.

Frankly I'm a bit stunned on this one with some of the responses or perceptions here..

Personally I tend to count lost birds. Wait, no I dont. Depends. I'd count a goose or a duck, but wouldn't count a pheasant. For all I know that pheasant popped back up and we shot him again. Who knows. This is just my personal choice of limiting myself more than the law does.

But legally, I don't think it has to be counted. There is a reason we have courts and its to interpret the law and determine if it was broken. The LEOs don't always get it right and trusting their word is taking a small leap of faith. Also keep in mind, the DNR cant even press charges, the DA or whoever determines if charges will be pressed.

I want to hear if anyone has burned a tag on a tracked deer that was never found?

Or who has got a nice walleye/northern/musky up to the boat after a nice long fight and have it flip the hook? Anyone count that in their limit? Might die after all...

[seasock]

Those counted and not retrieved seam to taste better, I don't count them and never will, now if one sails away I'll ignore it and say it just landed and keep killing. Problem solved.

[Musky Buck]

Poor in our Ottertail county area, saw 2 hen mallards and 2 woodies that both appeared to be hens, 4 ducks hunting near a non-hunted refuge of sorts is kinda poor compared to the hundreds that used to be there all season long years ago. Forgot had 1 teal burn by us, so no drakes no shots fired, got some honkers though, good luck guys.

[PierBridge]

To each is own!

Personally I'll contnue to count the Duck or goose that I know is down in the field dead or dying.

I suppose like many rules and regs it is vague enough inspite of what the DNR and Co's have told me/us over the years that you probably won't be cited or convicted of the offense.

And as always this is just my opinion!

Enjoy the Hunt!

[lawdog]

Also keep in mind, the DNR cant even press charges, the DA or whoever determines if charges will be pressed.

Not technically right either. A CO (or any cop) can charge a misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor by citation. A gross misdemeanor or Felony has to come to the County Attorney's office for consideration. The county attorney's office (or a city attorney's for a citation inside city limits) can also decide to dismiss a CO's (or any cop's) citation after they issue it though.

[B. Amish]

pier,

i liked your post better before you edited it.

[hollerman]

What is the rule on a wounded deer, do you count it. Don't see any difference.

[Polarisx54r]

Those counted and not retrieved seam to taste better, I don't count them and never will, now if one sails away I'll ignore it and say it just landed and keep killing. Problem solved.

I would really love to believe you're being sarcastic br trolling but I don't. There's no room for political correctness here. Go ahead, ban me, bar me, lock down the post but I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. I can tell by your choice of words you weren't raised well and have no respect for the game you "hunt." GET THE HECK OFF THE WATER AND HANG UP YOUR GUN. YOU DON'T BELONG ON THE SAME WATER AS US.

[Bryce]

Gotta love the snivelers on this site. There, that should lock it up. Don't count lost birds here. I'll watch my bobber, you watch yours and we'll all have a good time out there.

[BrdHunter01]

I would rather not roll the dice w the CO as they usually prevail.... The law can be taken 2 different ways.... It doesn't state that u should "make a reasonable effort to include in your bag" it says u need to "make a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird and include it in the daily bag limit" u honestly think they mean u have to make a reasonable effort to include it in ur bag limit. Go ahead, test ur luck. I also know guys who have gotten tagged for this. Good luck!

And no I don't think i am "holier" I'm ethical and I'm not willing to take the chance. JMO