got to love Game Wardens

[Anatidae]

Anat, how many 1 3/4" shells will your guns hold? There has to be some discretion when enforcing this law...

I'm not going to disagree with that, Brooks. You make a valid point with the shorter shell offerings available these days.

Hopefully the judge will decide in Gratton's favor, but technically......a gun that holds more than 3 "standard-length" shells is not legal. Perhaps the law should be amended.

Happy Hunting!

[deltadukman]

...

[RiverDuck]

Anat, how many 1 3/4" shells will your guns hold? There has to be some discretion when enforcing this law...

I'm not going to disagree with that, Brooks. You make a valid point with the shorter shell offerings available these days.

Hopefully the judge will decide in Gratton's favor, but technically......a gun that holds more than 3 "standard-length" shells is not legal. Perhaps the law should be amended.

Happy Hunting!

Here is the way the law reads:


"With a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells"


So, essentially, if you aren't using a single shot or any kind of double barreled gun, you are more than likely hunting with an illegal weapon. There is no mention of "standard". I got a golden ticket for from a "federale" a couple years back for this exact thing. I pleaded not guilty and it ended up getting thrown out. I did have to take a day off of work and spend about $75 in gas to deal with it though. If a game warden wants to give you a ticket he can...

I'm with you Randy, the law needs to be amended...

[DUCKAHOLIC]

hell lets just go kill some gators

[deltadukman]

...

[woody]

Did we ever find out what County? Federal or State GreenWranglers?

[woody]

I've learned in game laws you're guilty until you can prove beyond a reasonable suspicion....

Do you feel that way about all or most charged offenses or just game and fish? Just curious, but legit question.

[teul2]

just shoot a O/U or side by side.

[deltadukman]

I've learned in game laws you're guilty until you can prove beyond a reasonable suspicion....

Do you feel that way about all or most charged offenses or just game and fish? Just curious, but legit question.

Let me preface this as to say I am not "bashing" game wardens, only stating what I have seen personally, with my own eyes. I have had no bad dealings with those on this web site, that interract with the board, both current and retired.

Never been involved in any other situation other than a onetime game and fish issue so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But when you walk in a courthouse and all the game wardens are flirting and joking around with the judges and other personnel you kind of get the feeling you're not on an equal playing field. And when presented the question as to whether the evidence presented by the state was able to convey that we were guilty beyond a reasonable suspicion the judge answers "It's not my place to interpret law"....you kind of get this feeling the deck is stacked against you.

That is where my annimostity comes from. After going through a whole ordeal, and talking to alot of hunters, the general consensus is that we are not losing hunter numbers to video games, or sports. We are losing them because people are tired of buying 50-11 permits to go into the outdoors and have fun and if you slip up once, and dont know or forget to buy just one, someone is waiting to find a reason to write you a ticket. There are also many who have the same feelings I have, who are just not going to say anything for fear of "retaliation" for speaking about it.

[woody]

I gotcha. Like I said, just curious.

[Sdelta]

I have to ask...Where did he get the 23/4" shells to check your gun with?

[Down South Gratton]

I got the ticket in louisiana as a state warden in Saint Bernard parish.... I can not read the officers name and if I could I wouldn't publish there name.... Being a law enforcement officer myself I treated the officer with respect and had my gun unloaded and ready to be checked and my license ready to be read. I called the officer that's is in charge of the area I was stopped at and talked to him today. He said I'm guilty and not to waist my time going to the courts and just pay the ticket... He said it should just cost me about $50. After reading the law I know my gun in black and white was illegal but with that being said I truly thought in my mind and in my heart I was good because I checked it with my ammo 3" shells. But I've used the same setup for the last 2 years with waterfowl and dove hunting and I haven't changed anything until this happened... I ALSO LEARNED FROM THE GW CAPT TODAY EVEN IF YOU HAVE STANDARD PLUG AND IT GETS WORN DOWN OVER TIME AND YOU SHOW THE OFFICER THE PLUG RIGHT THEN AND THERE YOUR STILL GUILTY... So just keep this in mind. I also didn't post this trying to bash GW but more as a friendly heads up to fellow hunters.. Good luck to everyone with big ducks

[Down South Gratton]

I have to ask...Where did he get the 23/4" shells to check your gun with?

From his pocket I believe

[Down South Gratton]

I've learned in game laws you're guilty until you can prove beyond a reasonable suspicion....

Do you feel that way about all or most charged offenses or just game and fish? Just curious, but legit question.

Let me preface this as to say I am not "bashing" game wardens, only stating what I have seen personally, with my own eyes. I have had no bad dealings with those on this web site, that interract with the board, both current and retired.

Never been involved in any other situation other than a onetime game and fish issue so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But when you walk in a courthouse and all the game wardens are flirting and joking around with the judges and other personnel you kind of get the feeling you're not on an equal playing field. And when presented the question as to whether the evidence presented by the state was able to convey that we were guilty beyond a reasonable suspicion the judge answers "It's not my place to interpret law"....you kind of get this feeling the deck is stacked against you.

That is where my annimostity comes from. After going through a whole ordeal, and talking to alot of hunters, the general consensus is that we are not losing hunter numbers to video games, or sports. We are losing them because people are tired of buying 50-11 permits to go into the outdoors and have fun and if you slip up once, and dont know or forget to buy just one, someone is waiting to find a reason to write you a ticket. There are also many who have the same feelings I have, who are just not going to say anything for fear of "retaliation" for speaking about it.

I truly agree with your post. I wasn't trying to knowingly break the law. And now my name is in the system and I'm sure if I get stopped again this season they are going to look harder into my stuff looking. I promise they won't get me on the gun again... Also I have truly lost 2 hunting buddy's now because they are afraid to hunt with me because I am in the system with the GW's

[Wingman]

Oh. LOUISIANA!!!

I knew you weren't bashing, DSG. I was talking to Lodi "Angel Eyes" Quacker. You have really ruined his day with this not being a Mississippi incident.

P.S. If you wear down a plug from shooting, you're shucking more shells than three Tom Knapps.