got to love Game Wardens

[RiverDuck]

Some, if not all of you guys have totally missed the boat.

The law is written too vague.

Some of you guys are saying tough luck, you are guilty. WRONG. If that was the case every one of us would be guilty. You can buy/make shells as small as 1 3/4" in length pretty easily.

ARE WE ALL hunting with illegal guns? The way the law states, yes.

I have plead not guilty to this exact offense and it ended up being thrown out of court. The gun and the shells in yours or your hunting party's possession go hand in hand. If I wasn't on my own I would get a little more in depth.

Where are you at Wingman? What are your thoughts?

[Wildfowler]

I measured my 3" shells = 2 3/4"

I measured some 2 3/4" shells = 2 1/2"

So I agree that different shells could be different sizes. I used royal blue if you don't believe me go buy some a check... That's what I had to do to check 2 3/4" shells because I don't use that size ammo.

FYI: The "call out" measurement of a shotshell has always referred to as the after fired length.

[DUCKAHOLIC]

You write the ticket based on what exists in the present situation, not based on woulda coulda shoulda.



Prima facie evidence....look it up

Here is a scenario for ya......a man comes out with a limit of duck and has shot all his shells....he said he was shooting 3 inch...and his gun is plugged that way....but it will hold 3, 2 3/4 inch....what then.

By the letter of the law....he broke it plain and simple......its to the discretion of the officer to write the ticket or not.

[Down South Gratton]

I know this won't ever happen but get rid of the plug... Your only allowed 6 ducks so why does it matter how many shells you can hold... Say you can hold 6 and 6 ducks fly in and you kill them all your done.. End of story... Say you've already killed 4 ducks and more then 2 come in you need to be able to make your shots to ensure you don't kill over your limit. Just my crazy idea that won't ever come true

[Smoke68]

You write the ticket based on what exists in the present situation, not based on woulda coulda shoulda.



Prima facie evidence....look it up

Here is a scenario for ya......a man comes out with a limit of duck and has shot all his shells....he said he was shooting 3 inch...and his gun is plugged that way....but it will hold 3, 2 3/4 inch. The officer said he is going to write you a ticket because you may have been using that same gun last week shooting snipe with 2 3/4" shells.

By the letter of the law....he broke it plain and simple......its to the discretion of the officer to write the ticket or not.

Not going to disagree, but I think you missed my point by a little bit. Change your scenario a bit and see if you understand what I mean. If it's illegal to be using a gun that holds 3 shells, fine. But don't say it's illegal because you might have been using it to hunt illegally last week. It's just illegal or it's not, plain and simple.

That's a nice big word you used though

FWIW, I'm with RiverDuck. The way the law is written, either it's legal to have a gun that won't hold more than 2 in the mag of whatever shell you have on your person OR the only legal guns are double barrels and single shots. I'm gonna get some of those 1-1/2" shells and slip em in my buddy's dove bucket just to see what happens next chance I get

[Blake Williamson]

I had something very simiular to this happen in Tx duck hunting 3 yrs ago.

Tx law states all hunters must have hunters Ed card with them at all times while hunting....... Had a guy that went with us that didn't have one with him left it at the house. WHICH at the time we didn't know that we had to have one either but got lucky and had them. We got check by 2 Feds at the boat ramp on the way back in on our last day of hunting. He searched the truck(inside and out even the tool box), checked all of the boat, checked the regstration on the boat, life jackets, checked the plugs in all the guns ran our shells throught the box, went through the birds we had, searched our blind bags waders, and then checked our license, and hunters ed card. Welll ol boy got wrote up $280 ticket. He tried to tell the guy that "Hey I'm sorry I left it at the house and I can fax it to you whatever" he didn't want hear it. This guy was out for blood! We gave him no reason to check us like he did.

The way I look at this situtation is the same as that one and that is that chit happens man you get caught and you don't plan for it and your unaware of it. It's happen to me before and I'm sure it will it happen again. THE LAW IS THE LAW!!!! He got 3 - 2 3/4" shells in your gun man!!! I'd pay the dam thing and move on.

Oh an back to your friends that boy that got that $280 ticket we split that 4 ways in the truck before we got home.

[LODI QUACKER]

I certainly dont know the specifics or if that was the case

Holy God!!! I just dropped my drink!!!

I guess you better pick it up!!!



You never have to wonder whats on my mind, I dont have a problem telling you. you meaning the forum.

[MemphisStockBroker]

3" shells are not 3" long when loaded and crimped

[the tree]

double barrel

[MudHog]

3" shells are not 3" long when loaded and crimped

Understood, but 2-3/4" or 3-1/2" aren't either. So for arguements sake, if every size was 1/2" shorter loaded and crimped, then the formula would still be the same, just 1/2" shorter on the final dimensions across the board. Same principle, just different numbers.

My point is that if a 3-1/2" chambers shotgun could load three 2-3/4" shells with the plug for 3-1/2", the shotgun would have to be supplied with two plugs (one for 2-3/4" and 3" and another for 3" or vice versa) and the owner would have to change out the plug depending on what is being shot. I don't own a 3-1/2" shotgun, but I have NEVER heard anyone talking about having to change their plugs out just to shot a shorter shell. Nor have I seen any plugs in the stores that referenced "FOR 3-1/2" SHELL" or "FOR 2-3/4" SHELL".

[Wildfowler]

. I don't own a 3-1/2" shotgun, but I have NEVER heard anyone talking about having to change their plugs out just to shot a shorter shell. Nor have I seen any plugs in the stores that referenced "FOR 3-1/2" SHELL" or "FOR 2-3/4" SHELL".

I have a couple different 3.5 inch guns. The factory plug handles are three sized shells the same. The plug is long enough so that it just barely allows two 3.5" shells to fit. And not quite long enough to allow a third 2 &3/4 to fit.

[Down South Gratton]

Yea I'm paying the ticket tomorrow ill post how much it runs me... With the government not working right now I hope it's not to much lol... But it's a tough lesson learned and I hope this helps prevent others from getting hit on this rule. I'm very new to duck hunting in the big picture and I'm learning new things every day and trip about water fowling... I just wish GW would give warnings...

[LODI QUACKER]

What is the length of the ready made piece that the Fed officials use to judge this?

What is it called?

Is that device the standard by which these determinations are made?

I mean Really, How do you know what the length of the three shells he stuck in there were?

Plenty of tickets are written that the officer knows full well will not stand up to scrutiny, most will just pay the ticket and be done.


Lane, I dont agree with you. They carry short shells to be able to write this ticket.


One thing I know, I dont have to worry about this particular ticket. I just shoot 2.75 in shells.

[the tree]

Down South, Tallahatchie had a gw named Pilgreene. Think every duck hunter should have had an opportunity to share an after hunt chat with him.

[randall25x]

Down South, Tallahatchie had a gw named Pilgreene. Think every duck hunter should have had an opportunity to share an after hunt chat with him.

Wasn't he a fed? Either way, he was definitely "special".