Another Immature Hunter

[StanwoodSpartan]

Went hunting on Tuesday morning, to Big Ditch in Stanwood, one of the states local hunting locations, and as I made my way out to my usual hunting location, I came across a large black garbage bag. I figured someone had been littering again. But as I approached it, a strong smell along with the side of the bag had been torn open, with duck wings and heads sticking out the side. I got a little closer (covering my nose and mouth due to the horrible smell) and used the boot of my waders to open the bag a little more. Inside was approximately four or five white garbage bags, stuffed with dead ducks. There were about three to four per bag, so that would equal out to about two people's limits on birds. They hadn't been breasted or anything, just shot, stuffed in a bag, then ditched at Big Ditch. Very sad and a huge waste of birds. Sad to see stuff like this happen.

[singleshot12]

It's amazing how many people hunt and shoot ducks just for the "sport" and don't eat them!!  really pisses me off! and makes us all look bad.

[telof latzi]

I've never hunted duck, but always wanted to till I heard duck isn't really that tasty.  Now I'm not as interested.  I'm not soley into in the "sport" of it.  Too bad that's the way some people see it.

[ICEMAN]

Here is the state law which speaks to the waste of wildlife.

The BS is that these crimes are only a Misdemeanor or Gross Misdemeanor.

In my opinion, there should be a code, another degree which is at the Felony level for this crime. For instance, the intentional wasting. Currently, 'reckless' waste is how they have written this law. Even if the Felony version was available, I am sure that it would be incredibly difficult to prosecute at this level and prove the mens rea for the case. How could you prove they intended to waste the ducks. Easier to prove recklessness...

Another thought is to up the penalty. Maybe if you could lose your hunting rights for like five years  for this type of violation more guys would think twice about tossing their game into the woods...



RCW 77.15.170
Waste of fish and wildlife — Penalty.  

(1) A person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife in the second degree if:

     (a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or wildlife and the value of the fish, shellfish, or wildlife is greater than twenty dollars but less than two hundred fifty dollars; and

     (b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or wildlife to be wasted.

     (2) A person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife in the first degree if:

     (a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or wildlife having a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more or wildlife classified as big game; and

     (b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or wildlife to be wasted.

     (3)(a) Waste of fish and wildlife in the second degree is a misdemeanor.

     (b) Waste of fish and wildlife in the first degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke any license or tag used in the crime and shall order suspension of the person's privileges to engage in the activity in which the person committed waste of fish and wildlife in the first degree for a period of one year.

     (4) It is prima facie evidence of waste if a processor purchases or engages a quantity of food fish, shellfish, or game fish that cannot be processed within sixty hours after the food fish, game fish, or shellfish are taken from the water, unless the food fish, game fish, or shellfish are preserved in good marketable condition.

[luvtohnt]

I used to hunt ducks until I tried eating them. They aren't my favorit table fare and so I quit hunting them. I still buy my stamp every year to support them as well as a committee member for DU. I wish more people would get caught for these types of things. You also have to remember Ice that on top of those penaties there are federal penelties when dealing with waterfowl.

Brandon

[ICEMAN]

Good point on the federal angle....

Another way to get guys to stop wasting, (especially duck) is to share many ways to prepare them. I had heard duck are crappy to eat. I found otherwise.

With duck...if you cook them like chicken, they will taste like crap. Treat them like steak, very good.

A duck is basically a flying steak. All red meat.

Marinated, cubed or sliced, shishkabobbed, stir fried, pan seared...etc.....  very good eats. 

[tank]

Ice how about littering???

Telof, you should give it a try, it's a long season,get a lot of shooting,don't spend a lot of money go with someone first.
 Get with an old fart like me that's more interested in getting people started then shooting. I would suggest going with someone with better hunting skills then I have
 I would start out early in the season when it's warmer. If my hunting party doesn't want the ducks I'll take them. Many people that don't hunt loves ducks.
 Face it it's sport, but it's a fun way to blow money if a guy wants to. Shotgun and shells is all that's needed to start then learn what you want.

[ICEMAN]

NO kidding tank. A guy tossing his ducks into the brush is probably breaking many laws, Federal, State and County ordinances.

Assclowns that toss game, should get tossed out of the game for five years. Why the hell even pick up your ducks if you are an assclown and cant take care of them...? WTF? 

[Gobble]

Their probably the same type of clowns who take limits of fish then leave them in the freezer all year long until there freezer burnt then throw them away at the end of the year with no intention of eating them 

[ICEMAN]

Their probably the same type of clowns who take limits of fish then leave them in the freezer all year long until there freezer burnt then throw them away at the end of the year with no intention of eating them 

Yep. Lets face it. It takes time and energy at the end of a day to preserve your catch/kill. I am usually totally wiped out after a day of hunting or fishing. I usually ice things down, and get to them a bit later, that evening, even the next morning, so I have the energy to do it right.   It is OK to care for your food later, if you ice things down now.... Ducks left in the boat all day are OK, as long as they are cool, in the shade...... Fish are another issue in my opinion. When I fish, I always have ice on board. Nothing nastier than a stringer of fish, sloshing thru the warm aglae and motor oil all day.....    Guys wonder why their trout taste like crap.... 

Ice your catch!

[dbllunger]

Exactly why I have only killed one duck in my life.  Killed it with a friend in College, tried to eat it, threw it away.  Never went duck hunting again!  I see more duck hunters trying to give away ducks then anyone combined.  I agree with giving it away, but you should have that taken care of before you shoot them.  They just need to be used intead of dumped.  Now problem snow geese and other areas with overpopulation they need killed.  It would be nice if there was at least something that could be done with them even dog food.  

[tank]

 Ice, I do as you do I've talked to people that swear that people like you and I make game uneatable, I tell um they aren't invited to dinner why do they care how my ducks taste. I have an old fridge outside in a shead just for those times. I get a little upset to find a blind that someone picked their ducks in. If they builded the blind go for it.
 I agree you should know what's going to happen to your game before shooting it. I've seen this on deer and elk too.
 Was out once and seen ducks laying on a thin island of ice. I ask them about and the guys said we can't get them and they won't go to waste because something will eat then. Yes, I loose some ducks, things happen but I sure as hell don't keep repeating myself. I don't care if the crows,magpies,hawks, coyotes and so on stare to death
tank

[WA_duck_Hunter]

I've never hunted duck, but always wanted to till I heard duck isn't really that tasty.  Now I'm not as interested.  I'm not soley into in the "sport" of it.  Too bad that's the way some people see it.

Blasphemy, them cute cuddly birds are delicious!

Why waste the shells/money if your just gonna stuff'em in a bag and not eat'em. Hearing this pisses me off.

[Antlershed]

There are 4-5 guys in my duck hunting party, and none of us really care for the taste of duck either, so we just freeze the meat and then at the end of the season we take it in and have pepperoni made.

[goosegunner]

    It really is amazing how many people  hunt waterfowl that  don't eat them. I over hear it in conversations all the time whether at sportsman shows, in line at game management areas,or at some party somewhere. Why waste all the time and money to do something your not going to fully enjoy. The guys in this catagory are not hunters or sportsman their just killers. Make pepperoni or summer sausage out of it,anything is edible in pepperoni or sausage