15 shot shell limit HQ?

[MC37493]

I always thought there was a 15 shot shell limit at HQ but some one was telling me today that there is not one and i should have brought all my shells with me as i told him i ran out of shells while out, is there a 15 shot limit there? i read the regs and it says the south fork to freewater slough this includes hq wouldn't it?

[Oldguy]

Only the "Farmed Island" is under the restriction.

 

[h2ofowlr]

Only the "Farmed Island" is under the restriction.

Only the farmed island as mentioned.  Other 15 shot restriction area would be quality hunt units and Samish unit.

[MC37493]

was there today and almost got a ticket from the friendly warden it is a 15 shell limit, he said that hq is part of the "farmed island" since its from the south fork of skagit

[h2ofowlr]

was there today and almost got a ticket from the friendly warden it is a 15 shell limit, he said that hq is part of the "farmed island" since its from the south fork of skagit

The game warden needs to read the regs or they need to change them and post it as a restriction of 15 shells then.  Who was the game warden?  There are several new ones and they are still learning the regs as well. 

I think they are more apt to write tickets for what they don't know and shift the burden on you and the judge. 

[h2ofowlr]

Best advise one can get is read the state and federal regs on waterfowl hunting then find all the info you can on that spot.  You can head into the offices at HQ and they may also be able to help you.  On the hunting island it is clearly marked at each location about a 15 shell restriction.  At HQ it is not posted and not in the regs.  If they posted it, it would be from this season.  I was down their again yesterday and didn't see any signs for it.  If someone knows something different or say they recently changed those rules, please post.

[Netminder01]

Best advise one can get is read the state and federal regs on waterfowl hunting then find all the info you can on that spot.  You can head into the offices at HQ and they may also be able to help you.  On the hunting island it is clearly marked at each location about a 15 shell restriction.  At HQ it is not posted and not in the regs.  If they posted it, it would be from this season.  I was down their again yesterday and didn't see any signs for it.  If someone knows something different or say they recently changed those rules, please post.

H20 - doesn't seem like a change in the regs, right?  That would seem way over the top for HQ and surrounding waterways.

[aaronoto]

From this year's regs on 15 shell limit areas. 

Section 1. The farmed island segment of the Skagit Wildlife Area, between the south fork of the Skagit River and Fresh Water Slough in Skagit County.

HQ is west of, so all should be good.  Should at least....

[MC37493]

Hey everyone i was back up there today and met a guy up there and we read the reg description then looked at the map they had there right before you walk in on the dike and it is not 15 shell like you have all been saying, what the hell kinda world is it when i cant believe a warden when i ask them a question about the laws regarding what there supposed to be enforcing, i believe his last name was Langerhans? i dont know for sure though as i was not really looking for it and just assumed that the game warden knew what he was talking about guess not.. he was a younger guy and so was the warden he was with.

[h2ofowlr]

Just remember how many regs their are between fishing, waterfowl, big game etc.  no one in their right mind can know all the rules.  In due time and time spent in the field the wardens will learn the many laws of the area.  They always seem to place the burden on the hunter, fisher etc.  I imagine the non confrontational questions they ask and how you respond either escalates further questions or de-escalates them.  This is how they are trained.  If you don't know and they think they know, you may get a ticket or warning.  It's at there discretion.  When I see them, I try to ask them lots of questions.  I usually am referred to one of the offices and a specific contact to speak with.  Not always, but frequently.  Rich Phillips over sees the local state guys and may have answers for questions.  The first time I met him, he came across as a hard a**, but I later talked to him "out" of uniform and was very pleasant.

[RadSav]

They probably brought one of the Duvall guys up there to patrol.  Those guys just make up the rules as they go.  And don't bother filing a complaint.  Duvall guys are immune to harassment charges.

[MC37493]

That is very true the regs are confusing

[netcoyote]

I think they are more apt to write tickets for what they don't know and shift the burden on you and the judge.

I think this is becoming a trend with more and more LEO's these days. I experienced encounter that included this method. It' easier on the LEO, they don't have to think much, it brings in revenue and puts the burden of proof on the citizen rather than for them to use discretion. It's also expensive if you really aren't guilty of an "alleged" offense and don't want to have something on your record.

[LndShrk]

Hey everyone i was back up there today and met a guy up there and we read the reg description then looked at the map they had there right before you walk in on the dike and it is not 15 shell like you have all been saying, what the hell kinda world is it when i cant believe a warden when i ask them a question about the laws regarding what there supposed to be enforcing, i believe his last name was Langerhans? i dont know for sure though as i was not really looking for it and just assumed that the game warden knew what he was talking about guess not.. he was a younger guy and so was the warden he was with.

More importantly WTH kinda world is it becoming when you  need more than 15 shells to kill 7 ducks.. 

[full choke]

Hey everyone i was back up there today and met a guy up there and we read the reg description then looked at the map they had there right before you walk in on the dike and it is not 15 shell like you have all been saying, what the hell kinda world is it when i cant believe a warden when i ask them a question about the laws regarding what there supposed to be enforcing, i believe his last name was Langerhans? i dont know for sure though as i was not really looking for it and just assumed that the game warden knew what he was talking about guess not.. he was a younger guy and so was the warden he was with.

More importantly WTH kinda world is it becoming when you  need more than 15 shells to kill 7 ducks.. 

I think its the new generation. I do not know how many times I have seen/spoken to new guys in waterfowling who ask "Do you think three boxes of 3 1/2's will be enough today?". If you are doing it right, 15 shells over decoys is all you need.

[MC37493]

Hey everyone i was back up there today and met a guy up there and we read the reg description then looked at the map they had there right before you walk in on the dike and it is not 15 shell like you have all been saying, what the hell kinda world is it when i cant believe a warden when i ask them a question about the laws regarding what there supposed to be enforcing, i believe his last name was Langerhans? i dont know for sure though as i was not really looking for it and just assumed that the game warden knew what he was talking about guess not.. he was a younger guy and so was the warden he was with.

More importantly WTH kinda world is it becoming when you  need more than 15 shells to kill 7 ducks.. 

I think its the new generation. I do not know how many times I have seen/spoken to new guys in waterfowling who ask "Do you think three boxes of 3 1/2's will be enough today?". If you are doing it right, 15 shells over decoys is all you need.

I like to have shells for geese and eurasian doves as well i agree 15 is enough for shooting over dekes

[MC37493]

having a couple to swat ducks that may potentially dive is nice too have as well.

[h2ofowlr]

Ideal situation would be 10-20 yards back peddling over your decoys.  With high hunting pressure, lots of shooting going on around you, wind, groups setting up in your back pocket or groups shooting at decoying birds over your set, it isn't the same game.  If you can get private fields you can have easy shooting.  The public spots around here are not that.

We had big flocks sucking into our set on Saturday and were the primary shooter at our spot.  Before we knew it guys were picking up there sets and moving in on us to try to get some of our action.  It was some of the craziest stuff I had seen for a while. 

Common curtesy is a thing of the past in the Skagit flats.  Since I got off topic, guys will bring 4-5 boxes to get a limit these days.  It is not unusual to see them shoot that many.  I couldn't afford to do that at $25 a box.

[MC37493]

Ideal situation would be 10-20 yards back peddling over your decoys.  With high hunting pressure, lots of shooting going on around you, wind, groups setting up in your back pocket or groups shooting at decoying birds over your set, it isn't the same game.  If you can get private fields you can have easy shooting.  The public spots around here are not that.

We had big flocks sucking into our set on Saturday and were the primary shooter at our spot.  Before we knew it guys were picking up there sets and moving in on us to try to get some of our action.  It was some of the craziest stuff I had seen for a while. 

Common curtesy is a thing of the past in the Skagit flats.  Since I got off topic, guys will bring 4-5 boxes to get a limit these days.  It is not unusual to see them shoot that many.  I couldn't afford to do that at $25 a box.

     Saturday was insane with the people out there.

[LndShrk]

The past 20 years have been insane with people out there.

Skagit (Other than the food being gone) has not changed much. The 15 shell limit was put in for a reason. 

I think its the new generation. I do not know how many times I have seen/spoken to new guys in waterfowling who ask "Do you think three boxes of 3 1/2's will be enough today?". If you are doing it right, 15 shells over decoys is all you need.

Let's put a limit on shell size too.. 2 3/4" #2's Max shell size for ducks.

[jeepster]

Wasn't the 15 shell limit put into place on fields where there are also pheasants released? That's the only spot where I ever saw em.....

[full choke]

Wasn't the 15 shell limit put into place on fields where there are also pheasants released? That's the only spot where I ever saw em.....

I think the shell limit was put into place to discourage skybusters and cycle people through the hunting units quicker- thus allowing more people to use the space. I don't think it intentionally targeted pheasant in any way. I know the Spencer Island place used to have a 15 shell limit and they didn't release birds there. Of course, 15 shells didn't deter skybusting at that place. I do not think that they actually enforced the shell limit either. I was checked three times by a gamey and never once did he ask to see how many shells I had.

[ghosthunter]

Wasn't the 15 shell limit put into place on fields where there are also pheasants released? That's the only spot where I ever saw em.....

I think the shell limit was put into place to discourage skybusters and cycle people through the hunting units quicker- thus allowing more people to use the space. I don't think it intentionally targeted pheasant in any way. I know the Spencer Island place used to have a 15 shell limit and they didn't release birds there. Of course, 15 shells didn't deter skybusting at that place. I do not think that they actually enforced the shell limit either. I was checked three times by a gamey and never once did he ask to see how many shells I had.

Yep that's what I was told years ago. But a lot of guys shoot more than 15 at Samish.
Three years ago I was walking the corn row trail into the lot last minutes of the day.
At the spot where you could see the lot, I could see a agent at the gate checking hunters.
To my right just three rows in the corn was a pile of shot shells 2 ft high. Where guys had come down the trail,saw the agent and dumped there extra shells.

Sky busting is rampant . Ruins it for all concerned.

Off topic.....My favorite grip is the guys wh cannot get their tail up in the am,show up late and want to move in on you.

[Jonathan_S]

Threads like this make me thankful I don't waterfowl hunt anymore   

[MC37493]

Threads like this make me thankful I don't waterfowl hunt anymore   

I guess for some reason people like to argue and stir the pot to provide them entertainment.. fullchoke did they lift the 15 shell limit at spencer? The sign was still up there last time i was there

[full choke]

Threads like this make me thankful I don't waterfowl hunt anymore   

I guess for some reason people like to argue and stir the pot to provide them entertainment.. fullchoke did they lift the 15 shell limit at spencer? The sign was still up there last time i was there

I don't know. I assume it is still in place? The last time I was there was before they blew the dikes out. I keep telling myself I will go back, but haven't made it yet. I used to enjoy the place, but gave up on it because of the skybusting and dudes that would come set up on top of you. I literally had a guy come out and throw one decoy right next to my decoys and commence to shooting at birds at 70+ yards even though thy were locked up and coming straight in. I tried talking to him first thing in the am but he wouldn't converse. He just kept saying "I put my decoys out and I am hunting here" over and over again. Kind of like Rain man. He was actually kind of scaring me after awhile. That was it for me- there are plenty of other places a guy could go and not have to deal with that kind of a zoo.

[CP]

Maybe try reading the regs?

from page 30:

WAC 232-16-770 Shotgun Shell
Restriction Areas. It is unlawful to have in
possession more than 15 shotgun shells or
to fire (shoot) more than 15 shells in one
day on the following areas:
Section 1. The farmed island segment
of the Skagit Wildlife Area, between the
south fork of the Skagit River and Fresh
Water Slough in Skagit County.
Section 2. The Spencer Island Unit of the
Snoqualmie Wildlife Area in Snohomish
County.
Section 3. The Samish Unit (Welts West
90) of the Skagit Wildlife Area in Skagit

[MC37493]

Ya i read the regs right after posting that to check cp.