Pick 'em up, or leave 'em lay?

[USAFpj]

I'm getting to the point where I'm dumping ringnecks pretty good these days.  What's the etiquette if you don't have a dog to retrieve them after they're downed?  If there's no danger in them drifting away, can they be left on the water until you're done hunting, or does it give a pretty detailed warning sign that this is a 'no fly zone' to follow on ducks?

[jbeaumont21]

I think its always best to retrieve downed birds as soon as possible.  I have seen eagles and hawks swoop down and take them. I have seen them look dead as can be and then suddenly snap out of it and dive under and never come back up.  Just too many unpredictable things that can happen. As far as them spooking other birds I think its quite the opposite. On several occasions I have had birds hold up out of range and land next to a dead floating bird. Another good reason to pick them up right away.

[ICEMAN]

Go get em as you shoot em, less game wasted this way. You owe them this approach.

[Fishnclifff]

You are supposed to make an effort to retrieve any game you shoot, per the regs.

Lot of this happening at Ridgefield. They are gettin on every one about this.

[ICEMAN]

Plus, you need to confirm what you think you shot. Hard to do this as they float off...

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

[Odell]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

[h2ofowlr]

Up here if you don't grab it quickly the eagles will snatch them up quickly.  I always retrieve them quickly after shooting them.

[JLS]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

Not true, you just have to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird.  No mention of time frame, just before you leave for the day.

I've left ducks for a while, knowing it would take me a while to get my dog around to where they were at.  As long as you know what it was and where it's at there's no issue.

[Special T]

I would say the sooner the better even tho there is no LEGAL requirement to do so. 

[Mfowl]

In my experience, if a warden observed you doing that it would create a lot of "suspicion" on thier part. You always seem to be guilty of something, they just haven't figured out what yet. No reason to fuel the fire. On a personal level, I like to have my birds in the bag and accounted for. Plus I like to watch my dog at work, he'd go crazy if I didn't let him in on the fun!

[sakoshooter]

If retreiving your birds is only affecting your hunting, I'd pick them all up as I shot them. If your retreiving your downed birds is affecting other hunters close by, you might want to combine trips since you don't have a dog. Just my 2cts.

[waoutdoorsman]

Last Monday I shot a bufflehead drake and a minutes later as I was getting ready to push the boat out for the retrieve a bluebill drake came in and attempted to land 10 yards from the downed buffie, it didn't seem to notice its fellow diving buddy belly up, ended up with two birds down, and I went for them immediately, and in the process I flared a small flock that was cupped and commited, but for me that's what makes it fun-Murphys law keeps it a challenge, but I always retrieve right away.

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

This is not the law. Maybe it should be, but wounded game that gets away is not part of your legal bag limit.

Lots left to interpretation of legal bag limit.  Does not state at all that your legal bag limit is what is in your possession only.  I could be wrong but can't argue because there is lots of grey area that can be used against the hunter.

Warden sees a hunter knock down 10 ducks and that hunters has 7 when checked?  Then what?  I can see the Warden  accuse that hunter shooting over limits and wasting.     

[hdshot]

The law makes the hunter retrieve the bird right after you down it.  No letting them float or lay around until you are ready is how I understand. Also if the bird gets away wonded the hunter has to count it towards the limit.

Not true, you just have to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird.  No mention of time frame, just before you leave for the day.

I've left ducks for a while, knowing it would take me a while to get my dog around to where they were at.  As long as you know what it was and where it's at there's no issue.

What may be reasonable to you may not be reasonable to the officer.