Read the regs folks. Duck hunting is closed today & tomorrow!

[h2ofowlr]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.  I let him know he may want to read the regs as it is closed today and tomorrow for ducks.   

[scout/sniper]

That's a good reminder to put out there. 

[Curly]

Why the 2 day break?  Is it just to catch people not paying attention to the regs? 

[h2ofowlr]

They are only allowed X amount of days to hunt 104 or something close to it.  Due to the two day early youth hunt, they have to pull two days out of the package.  Pull them early prior to the migration as in most cases we are harvesting local birds.

[scout/sniper]

That's a good reminder to put out there. 
But it's tomorrow and Saturday closure.

Duck
Statewide Sept. 22-23 (Youth Hunting Only a)
Oct. 13-17 & Oct. 20 - Jan. 27

Nope, check the regs.  17 & 18th closure.  They are only allowed X amount of days to hunt 104 or something close to it.  Due to the two day early youth hunt, they have to pull two days out of the package.  Pull them early prior to the migration as in most cases we are harvesting local birds.

Sorry, looked at last year's pamphlet.
I deleted the bad info.

[lokidog]

her's the link:

[smdave]

Page 16 of the regulations say this.

Duck Statewide
Oct. 12-16 & Oct. 19 - Jan. 26, except
scaup season closed Oct. 12-Nov. 1

Even on page 18 the chart has a gap on those dates.

Looks to me like the 17 and 18th its closed.

[bigtex]

Just a reminder regarding migratory bird laws. ALL migratory bird laws are also federal laws, even though laws that are state only laws, such as motorized decoys (robo-duck) are adopted into federal law.

[scout/sniper]

Page 16 of the regulations say this.

Duck Statewide
Oct. 12-16 & Oct. 19 - Jan. 26, except
scaup season closed Oct. 12-Nov. 1

Even on page 18 the chart has a gap on those dates.

Looks to me like the 17 and 18th its closed.

Yep, I had last year's pamphlet labeled as 2013 on my PC.
Just made sure my Big-Game regs were correct...they are.

[hdshot]

Government opens and duck closes.  Oh well nothing new and remember the days when duck closed for 2 weeks about this time and closed mid Jan only leaving goose open for a week or two more. 

[hntrspud]

Nothing surprises me anymore. Was he proud of his ducks?  If you hunt, you should know the regs. Good reminder for some. 

[bigtex]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

[seth30]

 

[h2ofowlr]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

[Curly]

Good reasons in my book.

[seth30]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

Good on you for being a stand up guy

[hrd2fnd]

 

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

[bigtex]

Not trying to start an argument, but couldn't he just say it was a mistake? How many people knew they were speeding and get pulled over and say it was a mistake? The majority of the people who get ticketed, say "it was a mistake"

[h20hunter]

Valid point Tex....I'd say in THIS case the OP went with his gut based on the way the guy acted and what he said....Other situations....who knows?

[rtspring]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

Great job! Too many rent a cop waanabees this day and age!!!   Call the law Call the law!!!! Whatever. Its four lousy ducks, he had a fellow hunter help him out. Thats what we are suppose to do!!!  Not call him a poacher! People believe it or not make mistakes!!!!!

[JCClement]

I agree with the actions of the original poster as well.  The hunter obviously wasn't blatantly trying to break any laws.  I looked at the regs online just a couple of weeks ago, and thought I read then the closure was for the 18th and 19th.  Could have just been an honest mistake.

Way to help someone out!

[singleshot12]

It is easy to forget about the 2 day duck closure. Heard alot of shooting this morning, they musta been shooting at geese Anyways you can usually read an intentional law breaker at first glance,and I'm sure H20 saw that the guy was NEW and didn't know better. But at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if more than half of the guys shooting ducks today did know and will always get their kicks knowing they did break the law

[Wenatcheejay]

Not trying to start an argument, but couldn't he just say it was a mistake? How many people knew they were speeding and get pulled over and say it was a mistake? The majority of the people who get ticketed, say "it was a mistake"

 Any posting of any illegal activity should not be posted on this board. It is heavily monitored by WDFW and LE. Total adherence to all laws are expected and supreme ethics are expected. Anything short of that is unacceptable. If the story does not end with, "I called WDFW" it should not be posted. Or, there will be drama. 

[Prime Time]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

Great job! Too many rent a cop waanabees this day and age!!!   Call the law Call the law!!!! Whatever. Its four lousy ducks, he had a fellow hunter help him out. Thats what we are suppose to do!!!  Not call him a poacher! People believe it or not make mistakes!!!!!

eh it's only 4 lousy ducks..or a couple native fish..or one 2 point buck..so what right?

[bigtex]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

Great job! Too many rent a cop waanabees this day and age!!!   Call the law Call the law!!!! Whatever. Its four lousy ducks, he had a fellow hunter help him out. Thats what we are suppose to do!!!  Not call him a poacher! People believe it or not make mistakes!!!!!

eh it's only 4 lousy ducks..or a couple native fish..or one 2 point buck..so what right?

 

[Shoffy]

That's a WAY easy one to miss.... good thing you didn't call the guy in... If it was an honest mistake, like it sounds like it was, the guy doesn't need to be raked over the coals

[furiouzgeorge]

Would have made the same call. 

[rtspring]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

Great job! Too many rent a cop waanabees this day and age!!!   Call the law Call the law!!!! Whatever. Its four lousy ducks, he had a fellow hunter help him out. Thats what we are suppose to do!!!  Not call him a poacher! People believe it or not make mistakes!!!!!

eh it's only 4 lousy ducks..or a couple native fish..or one 2 point buck..so what right?

Yep so what!! How many deer are killed in roads in a 24hr period in this state?? Dont tell me about ethics! How many elk are wounded and never found?? How many crippled waterfowl are never recovered??? So again , nice jab with the two point thing but it dont shed any weight anymore!!

[rtspring]

Just out scouting and talked to a guy coming back with 4 ducks.

Did you call it in? If not, why?

Nope!  He realized his mistake after the fact.  Given that it is closed it probably would have cost him $150-$175 per bird.  Then a mandatory court appearance, etc.  Not the road or experience I would encourage for an honest mistake.  If the dude is shooting them with a .22 and way over limit and total disregard.  It would have gone another way.  Or if he would have been a total d**k because I explained it was closed, I might have extended the favor back.  Sometimes people just need to have it explained to them and the lesson is hopefully learned.

Great job! Too many rent a cop waanabees this day and age!!!   Call the law Call the law!!!! Whatever. Its four lousy ducks, he had a fellow hunter help him out. Thats what we are suppose to do!!!  Not call him a poacher! People believe it or not make mistakes!!!!!

eh it's only 4 lousy ducks..or a couple native fish..or one 2 point buck..so what right?

Your the same type that breaks the speed limit!! Maybe I will call that in,, oh oh wait a minute! No ten points for that!!! Pathetic is the best word I can find!! Internet cops are just above poachers...  Points for what? So you can brag about some big bull you shot cause you called a guy in who made a mistake?? Good on you sir...

Poaching is poaching!!! We hunters get that, four ducks is not worth calling a gamie to come out and cite someone who made what looks to be an honest mistake!!!

I bet very few onhere have obeyed every game law to a tee, the regs are about as unreadable as a japanese book sometimes... 

[Prime Time]

I totally agree that people make mistakes..but people also need to be held accountable for their mistakes. I'm not saying people need to be run through the ringer if they slip up..but too many people these days just expect to be let off for their mistakes. The examples you gave about animals not being recovered and getting hit by cars have absolutely nothing to do with poaching so I'm not sure what point you're trying to prove. Just the attitude of..its only 4 lousy ducks or one illegal buck..or spike bull here on the west side will add up a lot quicker than you think. But hey..what do I know?

[Prime Time]

I have no problem and agree with how the OP handled the situation since he believed it was an honest mistake. It's your "4 lousy duck" attitude towards the situation that caused me to respond. If that makes me a "pathetic internet cop" so be it I guess.

[Shoffy]

I totally agree that people make mistakes..but people also need to be held accountable for their mistakes. I'm not saying people need to be run through the ringer if they slip up..but too many people these days just expect to be let off for their mistakes. The examples you gave about animals not being recovered and getting hit by cars have absolutely nothing to do with poaching so I'm not sure what point you're trying to prove. Just the attitude of..its only 4 lousy ducks or one illegal buck..or spike bull here on the west side will add up a lot quicker than you think. But hey..what do I know?

Ethically speaking I don't think shooting 4 ducks "out of season" during a 2 day technicality that few people even know about is in the same ball park as shooting a illegal buck.. It's not even in the same ball park as poaching.... poaching is someone willingly going out of their way to illegally take game or fish.... I read the regs front to back to be I didn't even notice it was closed 2 random days in the week only during the opening week... that's a stupid rule... why not just close it 2 days early?? Or open it 2 days late??

[92xj]

Because they want the hunter to have a opener on a Saturday so you can enjoy it without week day obligations, as well as the season ending on a weekend.  This isnt a new rule.  It happen likes that almost every duck season.  Why are hunters only getting it now?

[jackmaster]

i like the way the op handled it, way to go man  ya dont always gotta call the law in, hell a friend called ina poached 2pt that a kid shot after hours in the dark, gamie didnt do sqaut, saif there wasnt enough proof, i asure you there was... the op handled the best way and the guy was probably very thankful, sounded like an honest mistake

[Curly]

When I used to duck hunt regularly, we didn't have a break in the season.  Then shortly before I pretty much quit duck hunting, they went with a 2 week break.  Personally, if I had a say in it and if I were to get back into duck hunting, I'd rather have a 2 week break in late October, then extend the season into February. That is why I forgot about the 2 day break. 

[hdshot]

That's a WAY easy one to miss.... good thing you didn't call the guy in... If it was an honest mistake, like it sounds like it was, the guy doesn't need to be raked over the coals

I don't know about today but it was not that big of a deal many years ago.  Back when I was well under 18 I went duck hunting with some other new hunters themselves and they knew the season was opened by word of mouth but didn't hear about the 2 week closesure while not knowing what a reg book was because hunters ed said nothing it to them or even in mine.  Anyways we hunted the 1st Saturday and had an awesome hunt and on Sunday just about limited out and the warden shows up.  The warden takes the birds and all our info and tells us season is closed.  Then gives the 18 year old a $100 ticket.  Warden asked us if we were the ones here Saturday and we said yes and that was it, no other fines.  Didn't even get our shell checked for lead and was told ok to continue hunting only for geese. 

Few years later I remember the guy who got the ticket joking about how people pay more than a $100 plus tip for just one day of club hunting while he got 2 days with no tips. But he would of not been hunting if he knew about the closure.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

Ever realize you forgot your license after you've bagged birds?  That's poaching.  It is impossible to legally prove to the Feds you had a duck stamp at the time of hunting as there is no electronic tracking.  I assume most on here would expect or at least hope for leniency.

[hdshot]

Ever realize you forgot your license after you've bagged birds?  That's poaching.  It is impossible to legally prove to the Feds you had a duck stamp at the time of hunting as there is no electronic tracking.  I assume most on here would expect or at least hope for leniency.

If you kept the receipt to prove purchase to the judge would be the only thing.  Then you would hope he would take your word that you had it signed.  But would not be the end of the world as if a lead shell got mixed into your steel load bag.  WA has a mandatory $1000 fine and loss of small game hunting for 2 years.  To stiff on the loss of 2 years SG hunting because that means you can't hunt upland birds either when lead shot is legal.  Might as well write a law on J walking, $1000 fine and loss of cross walk privilege for two years.