Daily Bag Limit/Possession Limit?

[Fishnclifff]

The punch card idea, according to USFW and WDFW doesn't nullify the possesion limit of double the daily limit.
Their interpretation is you can only have 14 anywhere.
Thats not what the rule says, but thats the way they are interpreting it as.

[sakoshooter]

I guess what they need is a punchcard to control the number of ducks each hunter takes. They could give you the first punchard free with the purchase of the usual licenses needed for waterfowl hunting, good for whatever the possession limit is for each species. Once you fill that one up you could purchase another one for say, $20. Would be a great money maker for the state, plus it would only be fair that those who take more of the resource, pay proportionally more. I think I'll send this idea to the appropriate people at the DFW.   

Some states do this. Some states also have transport tags for each duck/goose you shoot.

This has been in effect for years in western WA for the pheasant release sites. Since it was not policed, it became so abused by dishonest hunters that starting last year the WDFW simply more than doubled the pheasant license and did away with the punch card. No one was writing their birds down or being reported. Because of this, the number of birds released per hunter was cut in half this past season and there was less money overall for the program.

Waterfowl hunters already buy a small game license, state duck stamp and federal duck stamp. We DO NOT need a punch card to purchase. Many of us also belong to Ducks Unlimited and spend plenty at their fund raising auctions.

[sakoshooter]

Got an email today. It said to call. I'll call tomorrow. That answer makes me wonder.

[sakoshooter]

Well, I finally got my call back and it's not what we wanna hear.
The WDFW waterfowl dept says that 'technically' the possession limit includes what is in your freezer also. They did go on to say that they would never check your freezer as 1)they don't have the authority and 2)the law was not written to 'technically' include birds cleaned and frozen, it was written to prevent a person(s)from shooting limit after limit the same day and get away with it because he took the first limit home to his freezer, so on and so on.
I mentioned that a definition change was in order to exclude "cleaned or processed and frozen birds". I was told to contact Lt Eric Anderson - WDFW Enforcement - Waterfowl Division.
Upland birds never entered this discussion but they fall under the same regulation as far as possession limit goes. Hey upland bird hunters, we need you to jump on the bandwagon here!
I think we need everyone to send emails to Lt Eric Anderson(WDFW Enforcement)concerning a definition change, don't you guys agree?

[Fishnclifff]

I'm with ya. Researching a good e-mail address now.
Unless you got one.

[bobcat]

If birds possessed in one's freezer are not going to count towards the possession limit, then it also should be that birds at a person's CAMP (tent, trailer, motorhome, etc) should not count towards the possession limit either.

If I go on a bird hunt for two weeks and I'm set up in a campground with my trailer, I should not have to follow a different set of rules than the hunters who lives in the area and goes home every night.  

[Fishnclifff]

The fed rule in the book states-- at or between the place taken and automobile, temp or perm abode, or mail or processing center.
That seems simple enough, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut

There are some that are using the strict definition of possesion by the fed rule, as the way it is. It's confusing and really open ended.

Workin on that e-mail now.

[bobcat]

Fishncliff,  oh so you're saying a camp and a home would be considered the same under that law?

[Fishnclifff]

Temporary abode.

[bobcat]

So say you had two hunters, and you camped out for 14 days and each hunter killed a limit every day- I'd be a little nervous driving home with 196 ducks on ice in the cooler in the back of the truck. Wouldn't you?

However in the exact same scenario except it's someone who lives close to the same hunting area, and they drive home every night- they would have nothing to worry about with the same 196 ducks sitting in a cooler on ice in the garage.

[Fishnclifff]

I feel ya.
I did a 3 day once. got checked, had 2 days worth cleaned and on ice. They said i was good, but cautioned me that not all officers were that way.
If you limited the whole season, you could have 728 in your freezer. With the current wording of 14, imagine the ticket.

What we are hearing from officials, even at your house you would not be okay. Kind of an ace in the hole card for LE.

Thats why we are tryin to get some wording changed, to keep all of us from becoming unwitting criminals.

[h2ofowlr]

I'm sure the definition is also interpreted differently between officers as well.  The way it is written they just write a ticket and let the judge decipher what the rule should be.

[Fishnclifff]

There is so much vagueness, it leaves our a**es hanging out.
They have the power to confiscate our guns and gear, on a BS rule, that noone can agree on the true meaning.
Hopefully we can work out some thing.

[sakoshooter]

If birds possessed in one's freezer are not going to count towards the possession limit, then it also should be that birds at a person's CAMP (tent, trailer, motorhome, etc) should not count towards the possession limit either.

If I go on a bird hunt for two weeks and I'm set up in a campground with my trailer, I should not have to follow a different set of rules than the hunters who lives in the area and goes home every night.  

I believe it reads: a person's residence - so unless you're getting your mail at that tent or camper, it wouldn't count Bobcat.

I'm gonna try and come up with some one to contact concerning a definition change and better clarification for all bird hunting. If you guys come up with someone, holler at us.

[xd2005]

If birds possessed in one's freezer are not going to count towards the possession limit, then it also should be that birds at a person's CAMP (tent, trailer, motorhome, etc) should not count towards the possession limit either.

If I go on a bird hunt for two weeks and I'm set up in a campground with my trailer, I should not have to follow a different set of rules than the hunters who lives in the area and goes home every night.  

I believe it reads: a person's residence - so unless you're getting your mail at that tent or camper, it wouldn't count Bobcat.

I'm gonna try and come up with some one to contact concerning a definition change and better clarification for all bird hunting. If you guys come up with someone, holler at us.

Here's the federal language, which includes more than just personal residence:

Sec. 20.35  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.