Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Ignorance is no excuse

Over the years, there have been some interesting interpretations of game laws, most pertaining to waterfowl, that have presented themselves in field or blind (or at Beer Camp, or Kuneytown). I have just perused for fun and kicks the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting regs...which may not be as strict, but are at least as strict, as state laws. This may be useful as openers are fast approaching.

Some interesting excerpts:

§ 20.34 Opening day of a season.
No person on the opening day of the season shall possess any freshly killed migratory game birds in excess of the daily bag limit, or aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies.

Ok, you know who you are on that one.

Migratory birds on which open seasons are prescribed in this part may be taken by any method except those prohibited in this section. No persons shall take migratory game birds:
(h) By means or aid of any motordriven land, water, or air conveyance, or any sailboat used for the purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of any migratory bird;

In other words, no booting the geese off of neighboring fields by driving a 4 wheeler in hopes that they will fly up and come to your perfect spread where your buddies are honking and flagging their hearts out to freaked out birds. Its a no-no. Myself and others- guilty but reformed.

§ 20.24 Daily limit.
No person shall take in any 1 calendar day, more than the daily bag limit or aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies

Ok, so for the guys who keep telling me its ok to shoot a limit in the morning, "reduce them to possession" at lunch (in other words, breasts in freezer bags sans heads & feathers) and then go shoot more birds "because my daily bag limit has been re-set," I say, knock off the bullshit. Once again, you know who you are.

Finally,

§ 20.33 Possession limit.
No person shall possess more migratory game birds taken in the United States than the possession limit or the aggregate possession limit, whichever applies.

Note that it does not say "...unless the birds are in your freezer."

...feelin' Cagey today...

Back to your regularly scheduled programming. Over and out.

4 comments:

Jim T said...

awesome post dude . . . still laughing my ass off.

"you know who you are"

good one. strong work.

Eric said...

Interesting post we all now these to be the true law. We must now convince ourselves to folow them not so easy when all the geese are passing by your perfect spread and going over to the neighbors empty field.The two bag limits in a day is easy that is obviously wrong.
See You In The Blind Eric

Anonymous said...

Not so fast Eric! It is legal, if you have permission to be there, to walk over to the neighbors feild that all the geese are landing in. After all you are hunting, not concentrating, rallying,etc. as Keith indicates. This would also require that you have your gun with you and your back tag and licence as well. You can then tell the game warden you are hunting and not hearding. How is he to say different?

Eric said...

Yes you would be correct anonymous Ernie if you have permission and you are hunting however I believe Keith is referring to the chasing of waterfowl with a 4-wheeler not legal even if you own the property.