Hybrid- bag limit question

[Jeff Reardon]

I was thinking about last night while googling Montana air fares and rental houses for next year's Yellowstone trip.

A similar situation exists with rainbow trout/cutthroat trout hybrids in western rivers where cutts are native and rainbows are introduced. This is a major conservation issue in some native cutt strongholds, and in some cases there is no size or bag limit on rainbows, or even mandatory kill.

In Yellowstone, within the "Native Trout Conservation Areas", you are required to kill any rainbow trout. This raises the need to distinguish between rainbows, cutts, and hybrids. Their clear rule is that any fish exhibiting a "slash" under the jaw is counted as a cutt and must be released. Those that don't have this are to be killed.

Now all we need is development of shot loads that allow catch-and-release duck hunting and we can have the same clarity for blacks and mallards. LOL.

 

[Bo Hanson]

I think you answered your own question in the way you worded the bird. Is a Hybrid Black Duck .....

If you call it a Hybrid Black Duck to a game warden I'm guessing that he will also count it as a Black Duck.

 

[jode hillman]

I think that Tod has it right. It's kind of ridiculous. That's why I don't really worry about it. Judges have better things to do than hear a case about a black duck/mallard hybrid.And game wardens have better things to do than prosecute same. I disagree with you Jode, and have also discussed this with a local game warden in South Jersey, who laughed it off.

It is ridiculous I agree, but you know firsthand what it can be like when a Warden decides to be a jerk. I rather not leave it up to them. I rarely shoot 2 black ducks anyway, but a clear definition would be nice. At least CT tries.

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[jode hillman]

I think that Tod has it right. It's kind of ridiculous. That's why I don't really worry about it. Judges have better things to do than hear a case about a black duck/mallard hybrid.And game wardens have better things to do than prosecute same. I disagree with you Jode, and have also discussed this with a local game warden in South Jersey, who laughed it off.

It is ridiculous I agree, but you know firsthand what it can be like when a Warden decides to be a jerk. I rather not leave it up to them. I rarely shoot 2 black ducks anyway, but a clear definition would be nice.

And actually it was someone on here a few years ago that had exactly that happen to him. If I recall he went to court and lost. Maybe it wasJim G?

 

[Craig F]

Same two birds, darker black on the left.

View attachment 26904786_10101119497739532_4692292935105186204_n.jpgView attachment IMG_0174.jpg