Bird limits

[Bassin]

This evening, I was able to flush 2 roosters and drop them both. But unfortunately lost one in the thick cattails. I think the bird may have ran off and the pup couldn’t catch up to it. Anywho, I came back to the truck at 330 as another hunter pulled into the parking lot. I told him I was done with two shot and 1 recovery. This is where we got into an interesting conversation. He told me I should still be able to keep hunting since I only recovered 1 bird. I told him a situation I had over a decade ago waterfowl hunting.

I was with a group of 6 guys that day and we happen to hit a nice migration of ducks. A buddy hit two ducks that sailed a few hundred yards into thick cattails. We all watch the ducks drop but knew the recovery was next to impossible. The guys decided to keep on hunting until he gets his 2 birds. As we were packing up, a boat approached us and we knew right away they were COs. They came and checked our limits. We had the exact limit for 6 guys. This was when one of the COs brought up the two birds that sailed several hundred yards into the cattails. He asked who was the shooter(s) and my buddy answered. He was issued a two bird over limit citation but the CO was nice enough to not take his “gun” from him. . Granted we were all LEOs. Honest truth was we felt like the COs could have handle it better but it is what it is. My buddy tried to contest it at court and loss.

We later ask another CO who worked in our area and he agrees with what the CO did. He said if you as a hunter knew you hit your target and more than likely the animal/bird is going to be dead, err on the safe side and count it towards your limit whether you recover it or not because if a CO witness it, it’s on their discretion. And more than likely the court will be on their side. I asked him what about a deer? Bear? And his answer was it depends!

So this brings me back to my chat with the hunter today. He said BS, if the CO brings him his dead bird than he will own up to it otherwise he keeps shooting away.

So do you guys keep shooting away or do you count loss bird towards your daily limit?

 

[Goosemaster]

No. You don't count lost birds.

 

[Munster927]

I'd like to see a game warden show me in the regulations where a unrecovered bird counts as a bird for your bag limit.

That said, as hunters we have at minimum a moral (possibly legal? I'd have to check the rules on that) obligation to attempt recovery of game. That may have been where your buddies duck hunting pissed off the game warden. Had they made an attempt and came up empty, it would have been one thing, it happens to everyone, but if he watched you shoot ducks that clearly were shot and landed somewhere and no recovery was even attempted, they were probably miffed (I would be too, honestly).

Now as for your scenario today, it's December 1st now so even if you recovered that downed bird you lost, you could still keep hunting as the daily limit is 3 starting today. That may have been what guy was referring to.

 

[remy3424]

I agree, it was the lack of not even attempting to recover the shot birds, that was the issue. Not hard for me to understand, he saw them get shot and no one attempted to find them...really, you think that is OK?

 

[Springer22]

I personally do not count lost pheasants towards my limit. But I would make every effort to find said bird.

Nooowv waterfowl is a bit of grey area when you got ducks sailing a few hundred yards and still swimming around, diving on ya, or folding them in a mess of cattails. Thats kind of on a case by case basis for me.

I lost a huge buck last year, made every effort to find that deer including two days with a blood trailing dog out there. I didn’t notch my tag, but I stopped deer hunting for the year. I actually took that quite hard and was pretty depressed haha.

So no, if I lose a pheasant I do not count it. Same with anyone I’ve ever hunted with ever.

 

[Springer22]

I agree, it was the lack of not even attempting to recover the shot birds, that was the issue. Not hard for me to understand, he saw them get shot and no one attempted to find them...really, you think that is OK?

Yeah that’s exactly it. If I saw guys dropping birds and not even trying to get them I would be pissed too, even if probably not going to find them

 

[Bassin]

I'd like to see a game warden show me in the regulations where a unrecovered bird counts as a bird for your bag limit.

That said, as hunters we have at minimum a moral (possibly legal? I'd have to check the rules on that) obligation to attempt recovery of game. That may have been where your buddies duck hunting pissed off the game warden. Had they made an attempt and came up empty, it would have been one thing, it happens to everyone, but if he watched you shoot ducks that clearly were shot and landed somewhere and no recovery was even attempted, they were probably miffed (I would be too, honestly).

Now as for your scenario today, it's December 1st now so even if you recovered that downed bird you lost, you could still keep hunting as the daily limit is 3 starting today. That may have been what guy was referring t

I'd like to see a game warden show me in the regulations where a unrecovered bird counts as a bird for your bag limit.

That said, as hunters we have at minimum a moral (possibly legal? I'd have to check the rules on that) obligation to attempt recovery of game. That may have been where your buddies duck hunting pissed off the game warden. Had they made an attempt and came up empty, it would have been one thing, it happens to everyone, but if he watched you shoot ducks that clearly were shot and landed somewhere and no recovery was even attempted, they were probably miffed (I would be too, honestly).

Now as for your scenario today, it's December 1st now so even if you recovered that downed bird you lost, you could still keep hunting as the daily limit is 3 starting today. That may have been what guy was referring to.

It was not the attempt of recovering the bird. The COs knew it was impossible and understood why we weren’t able to cross the marsh and through several hundred yards of cattails. According to the COs, it was two dead birds whether recovered or not and it should have been counted towards the buddy’s limit.

If the buddy was just blasting birds to be blasted, I would have whooped his behind and left him at the marsh. As a retired LEO hunting with all LEOs that day, I would have never let that pass.

As far as today, I forgot that it’s already December.

 

[carptom1]

So a few years ago on here there was a thread that talked about a similar issue. It involved the owner of a hunting operation and the fact he had a group of guys hunting one of his properties without dogs. They shot many birds that they could not recover. Eventually they reached their limits but left many that they couldn’t find. I find that to be deplorable at best. I would never tell someone that they couldn’t hunt without a dog, but shooting pheasants in heavy cover with a good dog is iffy at times, I have watched guys drop multiple birds in cattails before finding the first one. I simply won’t do it. I think in the above scenario I probably would have written a ticket also due to the lack of any effort

 

[benelli-banger]

With pheasants, shooting only males, and also, legally being able to party hunt, I stop when the group has their daily limit, if we should get there…I don’t believe hunting hurts pheasant populations. I did hunt solo this past week, and lost 2 birds, as well as putting pellets into 2 others that kept flying pretty strong and eventually landed. I searched for the birds I knocked down and put pellets into…searched carefully. Brought home 9 birds…hunted an hour the day I arrived, and a few hours before leaving on day 4. The lost birds occurred on days 2 & 3, when I ended up with 3 in my bag each day. In theory I could have possessed 12 after the 4th day. Like I said, pheasants are unique in that we only kill the males…I know how many roosters there are late season, I am a fan of thinning them out to the extent possible. I’ve been checked a lot, never been asked about lost birds. Do the regs discuss? Not sure. Just checked SD regs, could find no mention of this topic.

 

[Glock]

Everyone in my group would consider the lost bird as part of their limit.

 

[Goosemaster]

With pheasants, shooting only males, and also, legally being able to party hunt, I stop when the group has their daily limit, if we should get there…I don’t believe hunting hurts pheasant populations. I did hunt solo this past week, and lost 2 birds, as well as putting pellets into 2 others that kept flying pretty strong and eventually landed. I searched for the birds I knocked down and put pellets into…searched carefully. Brought home 9 birds…hunted an hour the day I arrived, and a few hours before leaving on day 4. The lost birds occurred on days 2 & 3, when I ended up with 3 in my bag each day. In theory I could have possessed 12 after the 4th day. Like I said, pheasants are unique in that we only kill the males…I know how many roosters there are late season, I am a fan of thinning them out to the extent possible. I’ve been checked a lot, never been asked about lost birds. Do the regs discuss? Not sure. Just checked SD regs, could find no mention of this topic.

I lost 2 today because I was shooting a 28 guage.

 

[benelli-banger]

I lost 2 today because I was shooting a 28 guage.

Choked how? I spend lots of time on Upland Journal…many 28 gauge shooters there, most will advise tighter chokes on the 28 gauge, especially for pheasants. My Parker Repro is choked IM/F…may have it opened a bit, but I would hunt it a good deal as it is first to see how it performs. I killed about 10 pheasants 2-3 weeks ago using a 20 gauge O/U choked skt1/LM….1 oz of #5 lead, 1200 fps…similar load to what I’d use in a 28….

 

[Wind River]

A workman never blames his tools.

 

[Bob Peters]

many 28 gauge shooters there, most will advise tighter chokes on the 28 gauge, especially for pheasants.

I wonder how many of those shooters would honestly report an increase in lost cripples shooting a 28 gauge on wild birds? I don't know for fact, but guessing a similar percentage of gambling addicts that tell you about the night they lost their pants at the casino. But of course they always tell everyone about their big jackpot at the hot slots....

 

[Goosemaster]

Choked how? I spend lots of time on Upland Journal…many 28 gauge shooters there, most will advise tighter chokes on the 28 gauge, especially for pheasants. My Parker Repro is choked IM/F…may have it opened a bit, but I would hunt it a good deal as it is first to see how it performs. I killed about 10 pheasants 2-3 weeks ago using a 20 gauge O/U choked skt1/LM….1 oz of #5 lead, 1200 fps…similar load to what I’d use in a 28….

Choke IC and full.1 oz 7.5, and 7/8. 5 shot.30 yard shots. One flew off, one ran off.

 

[benelli-banger]

I wonder how many of those shooters would honestly report an increase in lost cripples shooting a 28 gauge on wild birds? I don't know for fact, but guessing a similar percentage of gambling addicts that tell you about the night they lost their pants at the casino. But of course they always tell everyone about their big jackpot at the hot slots....

Not implying that they’re shooting many pheasants with 28 gauges, most aren’t suggesting that, sorry if I implied that. They’re simply suggesting that a 28 should be choked tighter for it to be effective, regardless of what your quarry is. Most over there will outright advise against using 28’s for pheasants, but if you do, use over pointers and keep your shots within 30 yards and be choked M/F, and be a good shot. There’s a lot of ruffed grouse and sharpie/hun hunters over there…certainly some pheasant hunters…but again, they’re generally advising that 28’s be choked more tightly. FWIW, this place is like being in a bar at midnight much of the time, and that place is like being in a university lecture hall…check it out, some VERY learned people use that board.

 

[benelli-banger]

Choke IC and full.1 oz 7.5, and 7/8. 5 shot.30 yard shots. One flew off, one ran off.

Just me, I’d be patterning that gun to see how it does, and also, probably using 5’s in both barrels if I was gonna pheasant hunt with it. I have brought a 28 with on my last 2 trips, haven’t used one yet…did shoot 20’s on those trips and did fine with them…shooting an oz of lead #5’s, skt1/LM out of a double, and IC out of an auto.

 

[Chestle]

"probably using 5’s in both barrels"

Totally agree.

 

[Goosemaster]

Just me, I’d be patterning that gun to see how it does, and also, probably using 5’s in both barrels if I was gonna pheasant hunt with it. I have brought a 28 with on my last 2 trips, haven’t used one yet…did shoot 20’s on those trips and did fine with them…shooting an oz of lead #5’s, skt1/LM out of a double, and IC out of an auto.

Yes, the gun came with 5 chokes.It feels great,like all upper end Italian. I have a 20, but I really like this little 28. Very lightweight, and a cool little shotgun.Ive always used full in the second barrel.

 

[Goosemaster]

Not implying that they’re shooting many pheasants with 28 gauges, most aren’t suggesting that, sorry if I implied that. They’re simply suggesting that a 28 should be choked tighter for it to be effective, regardless of what your quarry is. Most over there will outright advise against using 28’s for pheasants, but if you do, use over pointers and keep your shots within 30 yards and be choked M/F, and be a good shot. There’s a lot of ruffed grouse and sharpie/hun hunters over there…certainly some pheasant hunters…but again, they’re generally advising that 28’s be choked more tightly. FWIW, this place is like being in a bar at midnight much of the time, and that place is like being in a university lecture hall…check it out, some VERY learned people use that board.

Maybe modified,full. I really dumped one, and he flew off well.I should have reloaded,I could have gotten him close.I thought he was done. The other bird I put a giid hit on at 30 yards into the wind, he ran into thick brush,where my dog could not get to.