Migratory birds for training

[brent]

Anyone know the legality of using shot, wild migratory birds for dog training???

[jobbershunting]

Its a pretty grey area. I do use some shot migratory birds (mergys and the odd goose) but prefer to use farm raised ducks instead...just on the off chance of a CO confrontation. I imagine they would be understanding but it still makes me nervous.

Some HRC folks may be able to shed more light on the topic.

[Cass]

I'm sure a lot of people use birds they shoot for training. Lot easier and cheaper.

[Sharon]

I could be wrong but I'm pretty using birds you have shot for retriever training is common. That may mean the bird won't be edible later which would bother folks who believe in eating everything they shoot(reasonably so). , but I see no law against it.

http://www.ec.gc.ca/rcom-mbhr/?lang=en&n=99FDEC59-1

[krakadawn]

Brent,
Here is some information, you'll note for the purpose of training retrievers. I did not find but also know that retriever clubs can hold up to 250 legally taken ducks for the purpose of training/trialing.
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Migratory Birds

Environment Canada


Last Verified: 2006-12-07

Act: Migratory Birds Convention Act, S.C. 1994, c. 22
Regulation: Migratory Birds Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XI, c. 1035, p. 8143, as amended
Related Reading

• Environmental Acts, Regulations and Agreements

More Information

• Migratory Birds

To Whom Does This Apply?

Persons whose activities risk causing harm to birds need to be aware of required permits and regulations prohibiting certain activities. Affected persons and businesses include:

• hunters and users of migratory game birds
• taxidermists
• aviculturalists
• businesses training retriever dogs
• businesses using eiderdown
• researchers studying birds

Eligible Activities

Hunting, trafficking or commercialization of migratory birds.
Summary

The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and its Regulations protect migratory birds, their eggs and nests. The Act and Regulations regulate hunting, prevent trafficking and commercialization, harm to birds nests and eggs, harm to birds by pollution. They also control the uses of migratory birds through permits.
Harmful substances may not be deposited into areas frequented by Migratory birds.
Migratory birds may not be sold or used in commercial trade unless authorized by a permit.
Aviculturalists may buy and sell captive-bred birds to other aviculturalists, with the authorization of a permit.
Hunters can give away their birds for the purposes of mounting or human consumption, or for training dogs as retrievers. Hunters are not allowed to give away their birds for the collection of feathers, a commercial activity.
A person may sell the feathers of migratory game birds for the purpose of making fishing flies, bedding, clothing or other similar uses if the feather used is obtained under the authority of a valid migratory game bird hunting permit.
A person may collect, possess, sell or transport eiderdown with the authorization of a permit.
Permits

Scientific Permit	No charge
Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit/Conservation Stamp	$17
Avicultural Permit	$10
Taxidermist Permit	$10
Eiderdown Permit	$10

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permits can be purchased from Canada Post as well as from provincial vendors in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.
Any other permit can be obtained from a regional contact listed below.
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.
Manitoba Contact(s):
Ms. Lorraine Tomkewich
Wildlife Enforcement Division
Environment Canada
115 Perimeter Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4
Telephone: 306-975-5042
Fax: 306-975-6061
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html

---

National Contact(s):
Ms. Hélène Lévesque
Migratory Birds Conservation
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-953-1419
Fax: 819-994-4445
E-mail: Hélène.Lé[email protected]
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.
LINKS POLICY
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.


© 2012 Canada Business

The Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre

[Dythbringer]

Anyone know the legality of using shot, wild migratory birds for dog training???

Hey Brent,

I really think this is a grey area because on one hand you will be letting the meat spoil (freezing and thawing repeatedly will make the meat bad) but I am not 100% sure if migratory birds fall under the FWCA spoilage rule or not. The FWCA has the spoilage law but mentions migratory birds fall under the Migratory Bird Act and Regulations which has no spoilage law which I can find. Probably best to contact the MNR and check up on the matter. Personally, I would simply contact a local farmer and purchase a dispatched domestic one because it is much easier to get and you would be 100% in the clear legally (probably not best to argue whether it is moral or not to use legally shot migratory birds as training aids).

Dyth

[crackerd]

Since Jobber's cited a "gray area" and Kraka's mentioned Manitoba, this might be a good cautionary tale before you go using wild birds for training. I told Kraka yesterday we have no possession limit on snow geese in my precinct in the first place but many of the snows I've used for training down the years were cripples shot by other hunters and recovered by dogs from a large body of water in "my backyard." That wasn't really training, throwing them as dead birds later was, however. Thing is, if there were possession limits or strictly-enforced "wanton waste of game" laws hereabouts, all bets would've been off.

[krakadawn]

Dyth,
According to the above section, this is clear re purposes of dog training.

"Hunters can give away their birds for the purposes of mounting or human consumption, or for training dogs as retrievers"

[Dythbringer]

Dyth,
According to the above section, this is clear re purposes of dog training.

"Hunters can give away their birds for the purposes of mounting or human consumption, or for training dogs as retrievers"

I didn't know that. The Mountain Valley Retriever Training Club website is incorrect as they state in the club rules it is illegal (Club rule 12).

[jaycee]

I didn't know that. The Mountain Valley Retriever Training Club website is incorrect as they state in the club rules it is illegal (Club rule 12).

Re. the above , I think that you will find this to be " A Club Rule " to ease every ones mind, it prevents outsiders , people that do not know from complaining that " hey you are using migratory birds to train with " , also there would be a possibility of some unethical hunters donating their unwanted birds to the club and going out and shoot some more because they can claim the "we do not have any in our possession " so we can go and shoot some . Or those that would cull their birds , donating well shot up birds or the hens .
I think you can read between the lines and see what I am getting at , the MVRTC is just trying to prevent any possible problems by purchasing their birds for training purposes and the hunt tests as do most other clubs .