who gets the band?

[R OTTER]

Just wondering how other groups of hunters handle this.

I only hunt with my 13 year old daughter, so there's only two of us. But when there is three, four or more hunters shooting at the flock and a banded bird falls who gets the band?

I shared a field with a couple friends last fall and four of us shot at the same birds and one was banded. One of guys went out to pick up the geese and said he got a band. Later my daughter said she was shooting at the same goose ( there was only four geese in the flock) granted my friend is a really good shot and has many bands to his credit. I didn't say anything to him and told my daughter that when you get your first band it wil be that much more special. this is the only time since she has started hunting that we had other people with, i felt bad for her, if i wouldn't have the other guys with she maybe would have got her first band.

[jlm]

Personally, I think all the hype about the bands is just that, hype. I would have no problem offering her the band if I shot the bird.

[IceHawk]

If there is a youth hunting with us we definately give it to them to add to their lanyard usally brings a big smile. Our youth hunters is what it's all about how else are we going to keep our sport alive. You never want to give a sour taste to our up and comeing hunters. I feel bad for your daughter the guys in your group should of stepped up and gave it to her! Now if it's a group of adults only we all flip coins at the end of the hunt winner gets the band, that way there is no hard feelings and everyone's happy.

[SSCHOPSHOP]

Thats some friend that will take a band from a 13 year old boy or girl. I would not take him with again when your daughter is hunting...

[Quackaddict9]

what an one-who-thinks-I-am-silly. I'd give it to her, it'd be special for her. I love seeing banded birds shot down but I don't like selfish people who said they shot it when they really did not or anything like that. We usually do a coin toss between two people who shot at it, or if it was a bigger flock with 5 guys shooting, we do name drawings. But heck, I would have gave it to your daughter. I can feel how she feels!

[Scott Stein]

Kind of like one year when we were deer hunting. We were making a drive, my cousin was sitting to my left about 150yds,this doe comes hauling out from behind me,my cousin waits til its past me,then empties his Remington 30-06,I shoot once at it while its running away and hit it in the back hip. I took the deer home,but he told everyone else he shot it. And I know I got it because when I pulled the trigger,it dropped and when I shot he was trying to reload!

[sig]

Typical band hound, running out of his field blind to the downed birds to get a band. Yea buddy u shot it your a great shot!

[B. Amish]

The two bands that I claim as mine, I have no idea who shot them. It wasn't until we were leaving and we gathered up the ducks that I noticed the bands. Since I noticed them first, I kept them.

Same thing happened last fall. We were hunting and we didn't notice a band until we were leaving. My buddy who found it, kept it.

[gundy89]

Wow, lots of hate for your buddy. Does he actually know that your daughter was shooting at the same bird? He may have no problem giving her the band if he knew. Just thought I'd mention it.

[Musky Buck]

Insane, give it to the girl, she can learn much about waterfowl and life lessons by her having it and not some guy who probably has turned in many bands. Let her do the research on it and get the certificate if they still mail those out, she'll learn much from the process. Bands are neat, but don't let a band or an antler get in the way of what really matters when you share a duck blind or deer stand.

[knucklehead]

I think you need to clearly share the fact that she was shooting at the same bird and then the adult needs to buck up and give it to the kid. Look at the numbers of hunters lost each year....a little gesture of kindness goes a long ways and keeps the future of our sport alive. If he was hunting with me and was given all the facts and he insisted on keeping the band.......it would be his last hunt with me.

[onlydrakes4me]

We usally flip a coin or draw names. last year after a duck hunting trip, while cleaning the birds the other guys noticed a banded bird so we decided to draw names. other times when more one person shot at a banded bird we gave it to the person who had permission to hunt the field. without permission we would not have hunted that field and therfore would not have shot the banded bird. your buddy should have given the band to your daughter.

[slabbin@thecabin]

Honestly, whoever retrieves it gets it. At least when there is a good volly of shots and the action is fast and furious. It is hard to keep track of who shot what when there is birds coming in from everywhere. I know for a fact I lost one on a nice blue this way, but whatever. I got a neck collar next weekend, so I am not complaining.

[Quackaddict9]

Quote:

Honestly, whoever retrieves it gets it. At least when there is a good volly of shots and the action is fast and furious. It is hard to keep track of who shot what when there is birds coming in from everywhere.

So if I never shot a round during a volley of shots with other guys, I get out of the blind/boat and pick up a few birds, two of them have bands... I keep em? Sounds good, I'll do that next fall

But really that's why we wait til after the hunt and we flip a coin if its between two guys or name drawings if its 3+ guys. We don't decide that during the hunt...no time for that shat.

[norm25]

What, now bands are like antlers? A duck shot is a duck harvested.

Do you want the band to prove she harvested a duck?

I have shot many ducks, but I have never shot a band. Is your daughter upset about the band, or are you? (no disrespect meant here) But are you making a big deal about the band or is she? You may be surprised she may just think that pic of you and her was better than any band. I know it would be for me.

Just my thoughts.

[dan z]

coin toss every time we are in a group of two or more. if its just two of we call our shots so its a no brainer then

[riverrat56]

I don't think R OTTER was making a big deal out of it, just asking what others do.

If the older guy who shot the bird truly thought he was the only one who shot at it then I don't feel he should feel the need to give it to anyone else, even if she is only 13. Now if he does offer it to her it is a very nice gesture. From the story it doesn't sound like it was made clear till after the hunt that she shot at that bird, maybe she did, maybe she didn't.

[R OTTER]

Thank you riverrat56, and thank you to everyone else.

She is only 13 and I didn't say anything to him because I'm not sure if she hit the bird or not and I didn't want open a can of worms over a band. I'm not a band hunter I just think they are special.

I've learned alot, I need to ask everyone what we should do if we get a banded bird before the hunt starts when we hunt with other hunters.

Thanks agian to everyone.

[Joe15]

What a jerk...Definatley give it to the girl I mean come on...is a little piece of metal really THAT big of deal

[Raider4ever]

R Otter's "buddy" should of coughed that band up post haste. C'mon, we all know that guy isn't going to follow through, he's just going to hang it on his call lanyard so every sharp-eyed bird will see the glint and flare off at 80 yards. In contrast, R Otter's daughter would probably be go to the computer and check out where that bird had been.

It's a shame that this guy couldn't realize just how few girls hunt, let alone continue hunting later into adulthood. Hopefully, this guy didn't wreck it for her.

Yeah, he probably isn't a bad guy, but every hunter knows you gotta keep the kids in the sport regardless of what you have to give up (bands, good tree stands, first shot at a drake mallard, etc.). Even though he didn't realize it, he may of just taken part (albeit small part) in the downfall of his sport.

You have to think out there people. There is no sport in this country under so much pressure to have it abolished than hunting. They are looking for reasons and diminishing numbers of hunters leads to diminishing pull in Congress and state legislatures (bodies important to the continuation of hunting). There are well-heeled groups of anti-hunters out there waiting for the tide to turn.

Just my $0.02

Paul

[grizzald]

Thats the absolute craziest thing related to hunting that i've heard in a while. I agree with raider4ever, not many girls hunt, and when they do and have a chance at the success of harvesting a banded bird (or any bird at that) with dad sitting next to them makes it even more special... I cant stand hunting with people that ALWAYS PUT THEMSELVES in the best position, or claim that they "shot it", especially while hunting waterfowl..

[DuckDog]

If the guy goes out with you next time make the statement... the next band should go to your daughter...

Actually, I do not think I would take him out with your daughter again - I would say - I am going to hunt with her until she gets a banded bird; last year she was disappointed that she did not get one.

[folke2000]

Just my opinion, but I don't care who shot the bird with the band. Give it to the girl, help her research the band. What a great learning opportunity lost for her. The opportunity to see a smile from her would be 10 times the satisfation of the band itself.

I'm not saying the guy was a bad guy, maybe just had a brain fart. As Otter stated he was hunting with "friends". I would have gotten him off to the side, and asked if she could have it and explained why. If he hasn't done the research, maybe he could come over and the 3 of you do it together and reminisce about the hunt.

Anyway, Otter, It's great to hear a dad introducing kids to this sport.

Folke

[tracker x-2]

ya he must have had a brain fart lol. I shot two geese when i was fourteen that where banded. I hardly new what they where I brought them home to my dad who showed me what to do with it and how and why they put them on birds. It was a great learning expereince and fun to see where they came from. which makes me think where i put them papers