Canada Duck Hunt

[ILS]

Yes, talking about possession limit and I don't see the reason for a five day hunt. Not interested in ending up in Canadian court either.

The possession limits for ducks is sixteen and canadians & specks is sixteen as well. Snows is much higher at 60.

[Anatidae]

I do not post here much, but thought you could answer this for me. I went to Canada last year for three days and had a great hunt. Our guide was strict on possession limits, so once we had it on ducks or geese, we could not shoot anymore.

Well, that's the law. And it'll cost the outfitter his license and he'll be charged with game violations if he allowed his clients to break the laws. Do you need someone tell you when it's time to quit shooting? If so, then that shows a blatent lack of respect for and consideration of the privilege you've been extended.....i.e. the opportunity to hunt in Canada as a non-resident.

I have heard some guides give them to local Indian tribes or allow you to ship back your birds.

Check the regulations......both issues are spelled-out clearly. 'Gifting' is not illegal if game is properly tagged, however this practice is highly frowned-upon by Canadian resident hunters and it is prudent to be sensative to their position on issues like this, because we are, in fact, their 'guests' in a foreign country. You don't want anyone to resent your presence there.......it has lead to the most recent proposals in changes in the regulations as they pertain to non-resident hunters (freelancers, in particular).

Go ahead and try shipping birds home.......then bringing more across the border at Customs. Everything is documented.....everything is accounted for........and nothing crosses the border without either......until the person who's name appears on the documentation is present to get 'cuffed'.

Do not see the need for a 5 day hunt if all guides are strict on possesion limits as you can fill them in 2-3.

What do you think?

Well there's 2 issues going, in that statement......

1)It's not always so cut and dry......OH, it is, if the outfitter is trying to make a strong 'sell' before he gets your money. But, it takes a lot of work on their part to line-up everything where you can go-out and kill your possession limit in 2-3 days. I guess it would depend on what you're after. Ducks not a problem. Geese are different........depends on timing of the migration, access, and competition. Upland depends on weather, and hatch. Some guides located in drought-stricken areas will not be as successful as those in areas with plenty of water. Then if you have plenty of water (or too much), there could be problems with accessing fields that are too wet. It's just not that simple.

2) You're suggesting that if you could find a guide that wasn't so strict on possession limits.......and would allow you to shoot until your arm fell off.....you'd do it. I withold comment ......... 'cause that's your business, and if I said anything, I doubt it would make a favorable impression. I will add that I have not personally seen or have reason to believe that licensed outfitters practice mass-gifting for their clients.....but it makes you wonder when they are hammering the birds everyday for 5 days straight. 'Rogue' guides, maybe.......but licenses can be revoked for minor infractions and most outfitters won't risk their license to satisfy one 'client's greed........there's plenty of folks that can take the clients' place next year, if they prove to be obnoxious. I HAVE seen one client 'refused' by a guide. He hunts with someone else, now.

Yes, talking about possession limit and I don't see the reason for a five day hunt.

Due to the disregard for local customs, and residents' concerns, there is a proposal to limit non-res hunters to one 6-day permit for the year. If you want to hunt at a 'frantic' pace, run over everybody who stands in your way to get what you went up there for, and fill your cooler fulla proof that you're the 'real deal' in 2-3 days......have at it. You're not likely to get 60 snows (legally) in 3 days. Maybe in 3 hunts, but you have to have a bunch of geese in the area at that time....and they get smart, quick.

But personally, it's not all about filling your 'quota'. There's different perspectives on what folks get out of it and how they define 'the Canadian experience'. Mine's obviously different than yours.....and that's alright.

Not interested in ending up in Canadian court either.

'Better know your regs, then.........your statement below shows you don't know what the possession limit for specklebellies and pintails is......(in SK, for instance)........or maybe that you're not a stickler for 'accuracy' when you make such a statement.

The possession limits for ducks is sixteen and canadians & specks is sixteen as well. Snows is much higher at 60.

The regulations allow for a possession limit of 16 dark geese, no more than 5 specklebellies per day (of your 8- dark goose daily limit). Same thing with ducks.......8 ducks per day, of which no more than 3 can be pintails.
Then there's the regulation that only allows afternoon hunting of dark geese after October 15th (in SK). So if you're trying to help someone by giving them information......they'll only benefit from it if it's accurate.

So the best advice I can give to folks interested in hunting in Canada.......don't rely on heresay..........know the laws, regulations and local customs, and remember that you have been extended 'privilege' of hunting as a guest of the Canadian people.......be respectful and courteous, and never take that privilege for granted, lest you give the rest of us who appreciate the opportunity to hunt up there, a bad name. Greed hasn't ruined it up there, yet.......but it might not be long unless folks become more informed about critical issues that may impact future hunting opoortunities for non-res hunters (freelancers).

Oh yeah.......welcome to MSDucks
.....and Yes, I'm having a bad day. 'Hope I answered your question.

[MemphisStockBroker]

USDA's website... importing large game from Canada:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pdf/trophies-from-can.pdf

I can't locate the regs about waterfowl

[ILS]

Yes, I do read the fine print, but thanks for the explanation; and no, I am not an outlaw looking to shoot way more than my limit and past or before shooting time.

I had a great trip to Canada and will go back.

[Bankermane]

How about somewhere that does just hunting. I do not really care about all the fancy lodging and food. Just want to hunt.--Ace

I was also on the hunt with Don Miller. Yes, there was a lodge, and the food was good, but the total cost excluding airfare was $1800.00. A motel room and food would have cost $150 per day or $900.00 for 6 days. Pretty reasonable trip.

[Anatidae]

Well, back to your original question.......

Do not see the need for a 5 day hunt if all guides are strict on possesion limits as you can fill them in 2-3.

It sounded like you had good luck, your outfitter put ya'll on birds, and you came home, happy

But would you have felt the same way if you had booked a 3-day hunt, didn't have such good luck, and it's time to go home (without meeting your quota or expectations of taking home a full possession limit)?

Therein lies the answer to your question, perhaps.

I think it depends on your expectations. I don't know what folks do when they book a 5-day......and kill their game in 2. You don't really want to go home, but you can't legally shoot anymore birds. But that's the risk you run. It isn't likely you get a refund if you limit-out early, 'cause the guide still has expenses to meet and only a certain number of groups he can book on the chance that it will take the full 5 days to get close to his clients' possession limits.

Hell, we had the same thing happen to us. Plan to freelance for 3 weeks, but limited on waterfowl early, and weather turned too bad for productive upland hunting. So, we came home a week earlier than planned.......after videoing for 4 days. But that's freelancing. You can't EAT enough birds to get rid of'em. Maybe we need to take some folks with big appetites up there with us.

It is a good question, but I must have misunderstood the intent, at first.

[ILS]

Yes, had we not shot anything, it still would have been a great trip. The scenery was amazing, the canucks we enjoyable people, and it was not work.

That's why we call it hunting and not killing.

[Bankermane]

Never thought about a possession limit nor was it mentioned by the outfitter. Stayed within daily limits. I think the kill was given to injuns.

[Bankermane]

On second thought, we ate them. Never possessed more than we should have.

[Anatidae]

Uh.....yeah, I believe THAT! Oh yeah......Indians won't eat a snow goose......or a honker, for that matter.....only ducks.

We ate fried duck on our Cheerios every morning, had fried duck sandwiches for lunch, and fried honker breast for supper every night........and leftovers for bedtime snack. We didn't stoop to feeding any duck meat to the dog, though. I've got my limits. Truth is....you can't eat'em as fast as you kill'em.......without getting just down-right sick of it.

I WAS resourceful enough to take my Fry Daddy over to supper at one of our local farmer friend's house......(he grilled some elk and beef steaks)....but I took some milk-marinated goose breast cut-up in 1/4" strips and battered like chicken, and popped'em in the Fry-Daddy for appetizers........(trying to get'em hooked on goose meat.....for next year). They got 3 kids and the fried goose didn't last 5 minutes. It was enough to feed 8 normal sized people.

Before it was completely gone, he wanted to give me the money to buy a Fry Daddy and bring it up there, next year. Ours was brand new, so I just gave it to them. 'Think I'll take a few 'new-in-the-box' Fry Daddy's up there next year......'got several more folks that might put'em to good use......

[tunica]

Well, back to your original question.......

So, we came home a week earlier than planned.......after videoing for 4 days. But that's freelancing. You can't EAT enough birds to get rid of'em. Maybe we need to take some folks with big appetites up there with us.

Hey Randy, I got expertise in both videographics and appetites plus the wife speaks Canadian english and French. She makes a mean fried goose sandwich....How many grips and make up people do I need to bring for Next Years Movie
"Bubba Does Canada"

[tunica]

Uh.....yeah, I believe THAT! Oh yeah......Indians won't eat a snow goose......or a honker, for that matter.....only ducks.

They be picky Canucks for sure...try and get one to eat greens well try and eat greens after they sit down and say "oh boogers I wondered what you meant by greens"

Now its really hard to drink with them too.

[Anatidae]

I tell ya what.......'progies' is some of the vilest vittles they have on the supper table up there.......ya have to develp a taste for them, I guess.

Your wife would fit-in especially well at the second location we hunt.

'Went to a communitiy 'Fall Supper' ( I love those things) at the only building in the 'community' (other than the few houses around it).......the Catholic Church. We met some of the folks there, (from our previous trips) and they invited us to come to the Fall Supper, this year. In fact, I use to schedule our hunts dates according to the Farmer's Almanac?....forget that, I'm going to be in #%&(*@#$!, Saskatchewan the last Sunday in October, from now-on!!! I would miss a day of hunting to attend their Fall Supper.........(good thing most of'em occur on Sunday......when you can't hunt)......names like Dube', Marquette, Patenaude, Choquette, Greavette, Bosse, Bebault, Beaumont, Bernier, Plante, Langlois, Denis......Hey, I might be related to that one. But they all speak French and English.

There's a joke around town about the Marquettes.......they had 7 children and a couple of them had 7-8 children themselves......the saying is, "if it hadn't been for the Marquettes, there wouldn't be but 10 kids in the town school". (Actual enrollment for grades 1-12 is about 200).......so it's perty funny to hear a local make comments like that about their neighbors. They are great folks and I always look forward to seeing them every year.