One Great Week!

[steen]

I thought I'd show you a weeks worth of duck hunting my husband and his crew did one year.  It was one of those weeks with alot of rain and perfect conditions for calling in ducks.  I had this picture enlarged and framed for our living room.

This was a 4 day hunt in a blind in 3 different setups.  There was a flood and then it froze and during their hunt it started to thaw, perfect conditions for a great hunt.  In one of the setups they set up 24 decoys with one wind decoy.  They had two callers, in an hour and a halfs time they killed 24 green heads and 4 pintail drakes.  They never had more than one person shooting since there were so many coming in.  They had widgeons landing in the decoys which they let go and only shot when green heads came in or pintails.  They figure it was a once-in-a-lifetime shoot and I am glad we got the photo to prove it.  In 4 days with 4 hunters they limited out every day and could pick and chose the ducks they shot.  This was a local  do-it-yourself hunt.  One of the shooters had surgery on his knee during the deer season, ( remember this cause my husband had to help him ind the deer he shot) hence he is not on both knees.  The dog was an 11 month old lab and retrieved all the ducks to hand.  There is is in a nutshell.
 


Here is another from our son and nephews a good day this year.

[gaddy]

i dont mean to be rude but shouldent some of those birds have been cleaned & preped for consumpsion? I dont like to let mine go a day without prepping/cleaning. taste better that way, in my opinion.

[Buschingc]

    Not to mention, I'm pretty sure that's illegal due to possession limit...

[Stickerbush]

wow. looks like some great shoots!

[sirsnap]

Looks like a lot of shooting.  Is this from Washington?

[Bigtine96]

seems like a waste, Whats with the buck in the background? find him on the side of the road and cut the antlers off? seems a little fishy

[singleshot12]

Congrats and a nice whitetail to boot, a week to never forget

Never mind all the negative comments we used to hang our ducks at least a week in cold weather, made them taste better and tenderized them..

[Stickerbush]

internet police all over here , the buck looks like it has a tag on it I don't see anything wrong with these pics

seems like a waste, Whats with the buck in the background? find him on the side of the road and cut the antlers off? seems a little fishy

.

   Not to mention, I'm pretty sure that's illegal due to possession limit...

I'll leave ducks out for days sometimes before I process them as long as they stay cool enough. Possession limits, do they apply once you get home? looks like a residential yard with all the ducks stacked up, unless something is blatantly illegal then why would you say anything? do you need to automatically speculate illegal activity?

[AKBowman]

Wow some of you people need to get off of your computer and get out and hunt...a little jealous are we?!?!?

I think the pic with the buck in the background is awesome. Has a tag on it plain as day.

Nice pics and thanks for sharing.

I'm thinking of not sharing as much as the internet police are out more and more on this site with false accusations.

[Buschingc]

 Dont get me wrong, that looks like it was alot of fun. I would love to kill a ton of ducks like that, but i feel that there are a couple problems. First of all, waiting an entire week to clean ducks doesnt seem right.. (But thats just my opinion).. Secondly, there are alot of "Law Enforcement" on this website and posting a picture that depicts "possible" illegal activity on the internet probably isnt a good idea. Maybe I'm wrong or just reading it wrong, so you tell me.

Field possession limit:
No person shall possess, have in custody, or transport more than the daily bag limit or aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies, of migratory game birds, tagged or not tagged, at or between the place where taken and either:
a)   His automobile or principal means of land transportation; or  
b)   His personal abode or temporary or transient place of lodging; or
c)   A migratory bird preservation facility; or
d)   A post office; or e)   A common carrier facility.

Now I understand that it states "Field Possession Limit." I was unable to find anything different in the game laws. Nowadays, the laws have become extremely difficult to understand. It always seems that they are changing the laws or adding new laws. Im constantly trying to make sure I am following the laws, so that I dont get into any trouble.

So, if I'm wrong and there's nothing illegal about it, Im sorry. But, if I'm right, then hell yes Im going to call you out on it..... Or.. Am I just way off? Im not trying to be the internet police.. Just merely offering my opinion..

[Stickerbush]

Dont get me wrong, that looks like it was alot of fun. I would love to kill a ton of ducks like that, but i feel that there are a couple problems. First of all, waiting an entire week to clean ducks doesnt seem right.. (But thats just my opinion).. Secondly, there are alot of "Law Enforcement" on this website and posting a picture that depicts "possible" illegal activity on the internet probably isnt a good idea. Maybe I'm wrong or just reading it wrong, so you tell me.

Field possession limit:
No person shall possess, have in custody, or transport more than the daily bag limit or aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies, of migratory game birds, tagged or not tagged, at or between the place where taken and either:
a)   His automobile or principal means of land transportation; or  
b)   His personal abode or temporary or transient place of lodging; or
c)   A migratory bird preservation facility; or
d)   A post office; or e)   A common carrier facility.

Now I understand that it states "Field Possession Limit." I was unable to find anything different in the game laws. Nowadays, the laws have become extremely difficult to understand. It always seems that they are changing the laws or adding new laws. Im constantly trying to make sure I am following the laws, so that I dont get into any trouble.

So, if I'm wrong and there's nothing illegal about it, Im sorry. But, if I'm right, then hell yes Im going to call you out on it..... Or.. Am I just way off? Im not trying to be the internet police.. Just merely offering my opinion..

well by that legal definition that would mean I cant legally have more than the possession limit in my freezer at home or personal "abode" if this is true then I and a lot of other hunters are breaking the law constantly. But thanks for sharing!

[Bigtine96]

Do you keep your birds whole and not cleaned in your freezer? I believe there is a big difference from a bunch of frozen "meat" from a weeks hunt. And a bunch of birds collected over the week whole and hanging ona fence in the non freezing elements.

[fair-chase]

Well I don't hunt waterfowl that much but isn't the posesion limit 14?

So if you have 4 guys in front of the camera and one behind it that makes 5 people. You take 5 times 14 and you get 70 legally possessed birds. I see a lot of birds in that photo but unless someone can see more than 70 birds there, whats all the fuss about. Maybe there was another guy in the crapper while the photo was shot, who knows. I sure don't. I bet we would see a lot more photos of everyones success if we didn't condemn every photo posted on here.

[Bigtine96]

Legal limit is 7, and the whole fuss is about these guys keeping their ducks for a entire week, it is illegal to have more than your legal possession, they can get in as much trouble as if they went out and shot all those ducks in one day.

[Stickerbush]

Do you keep your birds whole and not cleaned in your freezer? I believe there is a big difference from a bunch of frozen "meat" from a weeks hunt. And a bunch of birds collected over the week whole and hanging ona fence in the non freezing elements.

to answer your first question, no I don't keep whole birds in my freezer just the meat. But what I was trying to point out is that the regulations posted don't seem to specify a difference. It would seem practical that meat in the freezer doesn't count toward a possession limit but does the law say otherwise?

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

Great shooting!  Looks like tons of fun.

For what its worth, I recently called the WDFW and this is what I was told from the WDFW Migratory waterfowl expert:
The term possession limit is a term specific to the field-nothing else, and applies to where you harvested the birds and to your home or temporary dwelling.  Once the birds are at your dwelling, they are no longer considered part of your possession limit.   He said that WDFW is not, nor do they want to be in the business of inspecting freezers...  

I know there are others on the board who will verify this info.  I encourage all those concerned to call the local WDFW and have them explain the rule.

[Bigtine96]

Do you keep your birds whole and not cleaned in your freezer? I believe there is a big difference from a bunch of frozen "meat" from a weeks hunt. And a bunch of birds collected over the week whole and hanging ona fence in the non freezing elements.

to answer your first question, no I don't keep whole birds in my freezer just the meat. But what I was trying to point out is that the regulations posted don't seem to specify a difference. It would seem practical that meat in the freezer doesn't count toward a possession limit but does the law say otherwise?

True and my guess would be there is more to that law, but does it seem ethical to you to hunt ducks all week not clean them all to take a picture of all the ducks together not minding the fact that it is warm and the meat will spoil? That's what gets me, when I kill a animal I get back and take care of the animal as a responsible ethical hunter. That's all

[Stickerbush]

snow on the ground seems cold enough to me! but yea I get what you are saying. You shouldn't compromise the meat for a week just to stack up a nice photo shoot

[Buschingc]

Well *censored*, then if once you get to your house, the birds no longer apply to the possession limit then I have been cutting my hunts short.. lol.. If I would have known that, I wouldnt stop hunting after a morning of shooting my limit of 7 ducks.. I'd go back for the mid evening hunt and then again for the late evening hunt.. lol.. Im just messing around.. Look this doesnt really need to turn into a huge deal. That is a bad @$$ picture and it really looks like it was a blast.

[Stickerbush]

Well *censored*, then if once you get to your house, the birds no longer apply to the possession limit then I have been cutting my hunts short.. lol.. If I would have known that, I wouldnt stop hunting after a morning of shooting my limit of 7 ducks.. I'd go back for the mid evening hunt and then again for the even hunt.. lol.. Im just messing around.. Look this doesnt really need to turn into a huge deal. That is a bad @$$ picture and it really looks like it was a blast.

[sirsnap]

Can't believe nobody commented on the second picture it says 2 guys one day and there are 9 geese.

[Buschingc]

Can't believe nobody commented on the second picture it says 2 guys one day and there are 9 geese.

Darn Internet Police! 

[sirsnap]

I'm just jealous.  It looks like a very fun shoot.  I wish I could get into birds like that especially this year.  It's been rough.   

[Widgeondeke]

Looks like a lot of shells were shot during that week. Yes, I would be jealous. Just because there are only 4 guys shown doesn't mean more weren't shooting. Quit jumping to conclusions.   

As for not cleaning the birds the day they are shot. It appears to be plenty cold outside. I know people who will hang their ducks outside (when cold enough) until the heads seperate from the body. I have let my ducks sit outside in the cold for a few days before processing and they taste better than the ducks I clean the day of being shot. The key is cold temps.
Funny how guys think a bird needs to be processed immediately, yet they'll leave an elk or deer hanging in the woods for a week or more without a second thought. 

Congrats and yeah that'd be an awesome pic to have on the wall.

[C-Money]

Thanks for sharing, Congrats to the hunters.

[Whitenuckles]

Can't believe nobody commented on the second picture it says 2 guys one day and there are 9 geese.

In September we are aloud 5 birds. She didn't clarify when the birds were taken!




Steen, great hunt! One of these days I might be lucky enough to have a week like that!

[Buschingc]

I wonder how high of elevation they are in because if you look at the picture closely, there is snow on the license plate and in the yard on the second picture.. Im just saying.....   

[Bigtine96]

There's snow in my backyard right now and its 55 degrees out and has been all week

[Ellensburg]

HAHA this thread is full of sketchyness.

[steen]

Without reading all the replies, every duck was made into jerky and usually lasts about a week or so in our house.  No they were not   spoiled.  As far as the bag limit, it was over the week.  This picture has been seen by the game warden and checked out.  These are the 4 hunters that posed for the picture.  I can't believe all the complaining that comes on this forum over a picture, like you can see everything from one picture.  It was a great weeks hunt and we have a beautiful picture to proove it that extra effort was taken to get.  How many of you clean your ducks as soon as you get in from the field?  If the weather is right they can sit for a few days easy without spoiling.  EVERY DUCK WAS EATEN!!!!  I enjoy getting these pictures and I'm not a duck hunter.  Honestly I don't need to prove anything.  Thanks to those who where suportive!!  Probably someone worth hunting with.  I'm just the picture taker and don't know exactly how many days theey hunted, I'm not in a court of law here.

[quadrafire]

Steen
You gotta remember this is on the waterfowl section of Hunt Wa. It seems things heat up over here really fast.
Just blow it off. And keep posting them up.

[Ellensburg]

Ya, half the stuff I post gets chewed over by the e-wardens. (people who think they patrol the internet for people breaking laws)

Post a successful pic on this section and someone is gonna think you were trespassing, shooting lead, pulled ur plug, shot them during non-shooting hours, or something else.

People always hatin' on the best.

[goober]

Great shooting!  Looks like tons of fun.

For what its worth, I recently called the WDFW and this is what I was told from the WDFW Migratory waterfowl expert:
The term possession limit is a term specific to the field-nothing else, and applies to where you harvested the birds and to your home or temporary dwelling.  Once the birds are at your dwelling, they are no longer considered part of your possession limit.   He said that WDFW is not, nor do they want to be in the business of inspecting freezers...  

I know there are others on the board who will verify this info.  I encourage all those concerned to call the local WDFW and have them explain the rule.

Here's the rule....quite simple and thoroughly investigated with both the state (not all states though) and the feds. As far as the state is concerned it is 7/14, until you reach your house, they won't check your freezer.

As far as the Feds are concerned, it is 7/14, INCLUDING your freezer, jerky, duck sticks, burger, whatever and they WILL check your freezer. State law cannot make a federal law less restrictive, but can make a federal law more restrictive.

[Viszla]

What a bunch of jealous girly men!!

Nice shooting, btw.

[seth30]

I clean every duck when I get home, guess I dont want to take any chances of getting sick Nice shoot!  Where you in a blind, a boat?  how many decoys did you put out?  Give us a little bit of story, some of us are not that good to have a moutain of ducks and geese behind us, and would love to here from the pros

[TwoFeet]

Great pics of some epic shooting.  Way to go guys.

[steen]

Have to ask the husband, it will be over the picture.