Originally Posted by
Sinker
A migratory bird is not a crippled bird. Big difference.
To shoot at a migratory bird you are hunting, retrieving a cripple, you are not hunting, you are retrieving. Two different scenarios with different definitions, and different regulations.
Anyways, you guys argue all you want.
I will add one thing, I heard of a guy chasing a cripple from a moving boat, fired the shot, got the duck, but didn't pick up his empty shell. He got charged with littering. Not a word about shooting from the boat.
I will chase cripples in my boat every time, and I have a very good track record for retrieving them. I can count on one hand how many get away over the course of a season. A lot more would be lost if I had to hit neutral and stop all forward motion.
The intent of the regulation is to stop people from running up to a flock of ducks and opening fire on them.
I guess you risk being charged with not using every reasonable effort if you don't chase them with the boat. Sometimes you only have a split second and they are gone under again. I don't know how many cans you guys have shot, but good luck getting a cripple without chasing them in the boat and shooting while under power. Its not gonna happen.
S.