Transporting of ducks

[Mark W]

I know this has been discussed previously but it was some time ago. Sorry for asking the question again.

In 2017 we purchased a cabin on a chain of lakes in Wisconsin. I plan to hunt there quite a bit this year and while reading the regulations on transporting ducks, I am not sure how to read the information provided. Here is what is written:

"Migratory game birds may be field dressed before they are transported from the field. However, the head or one fully feathered wing must remain attached to all migratory game birds while in the field or being transported from the field to the persons permanent abode.

Note: this includes birds being transported between a hunting cabin, camp, motel or other temporary abode to the person's permanent abode or preservation facility"

So, the cabin is not a temporary abode as I do live there a few weeks during the year. It is not a hunting specific cabin nor any of the other qualifiers listed above. It is not my primary residence either. The way I read this is I can fully clean and process the ducks at the cabin and then transport them to my permanent residence whenever I choose to do so. What is the definition of permanent abode. I live in my primary home most of the year but not the whole year. I also live in the cabin for a few weeks during the year and it too is not my permanent abode. I think they use the term permanent abode instead of primary residence for a reason.

I can foresee taking some ducks in WI but not eating all of them there in the weekend they were taken. Some may be taken back to MN later in the season.

Mark

 

[Rick L]

"Note: this includes birds being transported between a hunting cabin, camp, motel or other temporary abode to the person's permanent abode"

seems very clear to me

from your hunting cabin - which is not your permanent residence/abode to your house which is

 

[Mark W]

I don't think it is clear and thus the question. I'm not the brightest bub either so keep this in mind.

My definition of a hunting cabin is a place used just for hunting. We had one of those a long time ago and it was used just for hunting. The cabin we have now is a 4 seasons year round residence. If the regs wanted to say primary residence (which is the place where you legally reside for purposes of taxes, census, driver licensing, etc....)., why not use the legal term" primary residence" instead of permanent abode. Or use the other term "legal residence"

To make this even murkier, next year I'll be living in WI half the year and MN half the year. My primary residence will be wherever I stay 6 months plus 1 day. Does this them mean permanent abode is whatever location I stay the extra 1 day.

Or, suppose I kill the ducks in WI and clean them in MN. Then a few weeks later I want to eat duck in WI. Can I now transport them without the wing or head?

Or maybe the ducks killed in WI, get cleaned in WI and transported to MN after the season.

Sometimes, IMO, the rules written are not very clear but remember, I'm not the brightest bulb.

Mark

 

[Brad F]

I?ve seen this answered with the question ?where do you vote?? That?s your permnant residence.

When I?m away from my ?home/permanent residence/where I vote? I follow the rules as far as the specie ID requirements and possession limits.

That?s my take on it but I?m not a game warden nor lawyer.

 

[Mark W]

I?ve seen this answered with the question ?where do you vote?? That?s your permnant residence.

When I?m away from my ?home/permanent residence/where I vote? I follow the rules as far as the specie ID requirements and possession limits.

That?s my take on it but I?m not a game warden nor lawyer.

What if you vote early, often, and everywhere?

I like this explanation. Works for me.

Mark

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Just guessing, but if I am the warden in the field, your "permanent address" is the address on your license.

 

[Kevin B]

I think you can go a head and process the bird but the head and one wing needs to be attached until you get home. Breasted and de-legged in a cooler

 

[Buddy]

You will have to leave a head and wing attached to be legal.

If you have more than a days limit it will be tough to talk your way out of a ticket with just a cooler of meat.

Here in Oregon we are required to leave sex of animal on quarters and not just head when cutting up in field! Probably a good reason they had to do this law.

Pick your battles....

 

[Phil Nowack]

Don't dress at the landing. Dress them where you intend to eat them. That is the easiest way... on just disembowel... I typically don't clean mine for 4 days anyway.... just lay them on their back in a place in the 40's

 

[Carl]

Or just disembowel... I typically don't clean mine for 4 days anyway.... just lay them on their back in a place in the 40's

Yep, that seems like a better option, either age whole (or gutted) in a fridge/cooler until you get home.
If you have any that are tore up, eat those in camp.

 

[Ed L.]

Your legal address is the one on your hunting lic, drivers lic, vehicle registration, insurance card, watercraft registration...etc. I would not chance fully dressing any waterfowl if you don't intend to eat them at camp. Just MHO.

 

[Brandon Yuchasz]

Mark,
I travel to Canada each year and to several different states in a year.
The practice I have adopted after talking to local, and federal wardens in the US and in Canada is to freeze solid or on geese use a "hitch" to clean and leave wings attached then freeze any birds I am taking home. That is to my home in Michigan where I live.
Birds we are eating in camp get butchered and cleaned up for eating and put in the fridge. I don't go over possession limit in this process so if you counted all the breasts plus my birds in the freezer I would be at or below the possession limit. I was told by the federal warden in Canada that once they were in the fridge I didn't have to worry as they are food and don't count towards possession. But your in the US so it doesn't matter anyway.

I am comfortable with this process because I have talked face to face with the wardens in the area's I hunt.