Post by: AspenBud on June 17, 2014, 04:03:36 PM
"It is unlawful to:
Possess in the field or transport game birds unless a feathered head is left attached to each carcass, except falconry-caught birds"
Uh, I don't know about you guys but I've had to wring some crippled birds' necks at times and on a couple of occasions the head popped off in the process. So I'm supposed to just leave the bird there if that happens? Whose bright idea at WDFW was this? Or am I reading this wrong?
Post by: Bob33 on June 17, 2014, 04:10:42 PM
Post by: bobcat on June 17, 2014, 04:14:12 PM
Post by: snowpack on June 17, 2014, 04:16:16 PM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on June 17, 2014, 04:18:34 PM
Duck tape.
:chuckle:
Post by: labsetters on June 17, 2014, 04:29:12 PM
Post by: AspenBud on June 17, 2014, 04:37:40 PM
This is primarily directed toward pheasants. It's so if you get stopped by the gamies, they can tell if you have a rooster or hen. Probably less of an issue in Western Wa with the release program vs Eastern Wa where hens are not legal, but I have been checked at Western Wa release sites and the birds inspected. In other states ie Montana/South Dakota etc, you either need an attached head or leg demonstrating the rooster's spur on all your cleaned birds. (exception is Kooches in Winner SD who has an agreement for processing the cleaned birds with the state). This goes for transport of your birds and states like Montana will check your birds, so follow their upland rules. Last year I believe you needed and attached head or leg with spur. Sometimes kind of makes for a mess with the frozen head/foot attached in your freezer and when you are getting ready to cook.
Not to be a smart*** but body color and tail feathers alone should be enough to identify a rooster versus hen pheasant. If this is for field dressed birds, okay, I'll buy into that. But they don't specify and I don't gut my birds in the field.
The other scenario that comes to mind is once in a great while heads get blown off when birds are shot. It happens.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 17, 2014, 04:42:43 PM
You don't need to buy it. Just comply, or take the consequence if you choose not to comply. Or don't hunt birds.
Post by: Bullkllr on June 17, 2014, 05:00:30 PM
This is primarily directed toward pheasants. It's so if you get stopped by the gamies, they can tell if you have a rooster or hen. Probably less of an issue in Western Wa with the release program vs Eastern Wa where hens are not legal, but I have been checked at Western Wa release sites and the birds inspected. In other states ie Montana/South Dakota etc, you either need an attached head or leg demonstrating the rooster's spur on all your cleaned birds. (exception is Kooches in Winner SD who has an agreement for processing the cleaned birds with the state). This goes for transport of your birds and states like Montana will check your birds, so follow their upland rules. Last year I believe you needed and attached head or leg with spur. Sometimes kind of makes for a mess with the frozen head/foot attached in your freezer and when you are getting ready to cook.
Not to be a smart*** but body color and tail feathers alone should be enough to identify a rooster versus hen pheasant. If this is for field dressed birds, okay, I'll buy into that. But they don't specify and I don't gut my birds in the field.
The other scenario that comes to mind is once in a great while heads get blown off when birds are shot. It happens.
The feathers are generally enough to identify the bird. The feathered head rule is for birds that are otherwise cleaned/plucked/skinned. If the head accidentally separated, I would try to keep it and leave as much other proof as possible:
ie) don't lose the head and then skin the bird, it will be difficult to identify.
Post by: AspenBud on June 17, 2014, 05:03:59 PM
Leave the head on the bird until you get home.
I'd love to do that, it's a bloody mess otherwise. But when they're crippled and flapping around looking at you with those beady little eyes, well, I like to get things over with quick and sometimes things happen. I've always found it rather unappealing to smother them with one's foot instead.
I just see a rule like this as a one way ticket to game wastage and/or for people to arguably shoot more than their "fair share." :dunno:
Post by: bowhunter on June 17, 2014, 05:07:26 PM
Post by: Special T on June 17, 2014, 05:37:23 PM
Just man up and bite thier head like i do then you wont have to loose any heads!
Post by: Bmcox86 on June 17, 2014, 05:37:59 PM
Post by: labsetters on June 19, 2014, 01:21:53 PM
Post by: wildweeds on June 19, 2014, 10:33:51 PM