question for all

[DUCKJ]

If im fishing and only running my trolling motor, is it legal for me to have a loaded shotgun in the boat to shoot at some ducks? Or if im just sitting in the boat and its not running?
Thanks for your help.

Happy Hunting
Duck

[BDR]

I must correct my first response after checking the regs.

From the handbook: Waterfowl may be takenfrom a floating watercraft that is drifting,beached,moored.resting at anchor,or is bieng propelled by paddle,oars or pole.

[This message has been edited by BDR (edited 10-07-2003).]

[Benny]

The weapon must be unloaded and cased if your under power by any type of motor.
If your waiting for a wounded duck to surface you must be completely stoped.
Now as far as under drift, that one could be legal.As you can drift and jump shoot rivers, you just can not have a loaded uncased gun while under any type of motor power.
Benny

[DUCKJ]

thanks for the help guys. looks like i might find some reed to sit in and maby throw some deeks out. ill be judging the PMTT on cass and need somthing to do.

Happy Hunting
Duck

[jiggy8974]

we got stopped by a warden last year at weaver doing that exact thing!! we were using an electric trolling motor on a canoe and were just creeping along fishing. we had our guns uncased and loaded on the floor of the canoe. the warden pulled up and explained that what we were doing was VERY ILLEGAL. even if it's just an electric trolling motor, your gun must be case when it is on. he said that if we were just paddleing we would be fine, but not with a motor going. luckly he was nice enough to let us off with a warning. we ended up just paddleing around the rest of the time and actaully shot a few ducks that day.

[Borch]

Duckj,

I'll be up on Cass starting today for fishing eyes and a bit of duck and grouse hunting. I'm staying at the Birch Villa resort, cabin #11. Otherwise I'll be in a beat up blue lund predator with a 60 hp merc tiller. If you see me stop by and say hello.

Jeff Borchardt

------------------
I bad day of fishing??? I honestly don't know what you're talking about!

[bigdog]

Here is a clip from the regs. You cannot hunt from the boat unless you are somewhat blinded, i.e. you cannot be shooting non-crippled birds from a boat that is floating or anchored in open water.

Taking in Open Water
A person may not take migratory waterfowl, coots, or rails in open
water unless that person is:
a) within a natural growth of vegetation sufficient to partially
conceal the person or boat, or
pursuing or shooting wounded birds (while in compliance
with the watercraft restrictions listed below).
Watercraft
• A person using watercraft to take migratory waterfowl must comply
with the provisions for “Taking in Open Water” specified above.
• Migratory waterfowl may be taken from a floating watercraft if
the craft is drifting, beached, moored, resting at anchor, or is
being propelled by paddle, oars, or pole.
• Migratory waterfowl may be taken from a watercraft propelled by
motor or sails only if the motor is shut off and the sails are furled
and the watercraft has stopped.
• A person may not transport any firearm in a boat or other
watercraft being propelled by motor or sail unless the firearm is
unloaded and contained in a case. (See pages 24-26 for complete
arms restrictions.)

[DUCKJ]

Borch, will do. ill be in a tan/blk 1750 FH with a 115 Johnson on the back.

Bigdog, thanks for the info. looks like all ill have to do is pull into some reeds and wait.

with any luck i wont practice to much shoot and release.

Happy Hunting
Duck

[Bogsucker]

Now the question becomes, what is "Open Water"?