QUESTION....on Plugged shotguns

[Woody Williams]

Why is there such a thing in force for waterfowl hunting?

I understand that this is a federal and not a state regulation.

Is it an outdated holdover from market hunting days or is there a REAL reason for it?


TIA...

WW


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[firstwd]

I see it as a way to keep from wounding birds now rather than keeping people from killing too many. The advancement in "non-tox" shells lately has been tremendous, but birds are still wounded. You've been in the deer woods and heard someone rip off 3,4,5, even 6 shots at a running deer, now imagine that on flying game.

As for the idea on the deer hunting post, I am one of those guys that think slug guns should be plugged. I'm fine with it either way. I just see that 3rd, 4th, or 5th round is usually not the best shot and at spooked deer. Unless, of course, a hunter is fortunate enough to get several deer in close enough to take 3, or 4 at the same time.

Do you waterfowl hunt Woody? It's a fantastic time. I'm sure we could get a great group of guys from here together to take you if you don't.

[Woody Williams]

I can see it both ways on the wounding. Shooting that 4th or 5th shots ats departing duck/geese that could be too far out of range could end up wounding the birds. However is that not still a call when and when not to shoot no matter how many shells are in the gun?

But what happens if you all wound one with your third shot and he is fluttering away?

Could that not be applied to a wounded deer that is limping away too?

I just cant see restricting a hunter to X amount of shots because what some others might or might not do.

Safety wise- I dont think it matters if the first or fifth shot is errant - it is still a bad and unsafe shot.

I never tried waterfowl hunting. I might give it a go someday, but right now I have enough vices.... according to the Mrs.

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[bsutravis]

I think that 3 is a good number of shells... Usually after getting off that 3rd shot the birds are out of range anyway. There are occassions where you COULD shot a 4th or 5th shot, but really...the shell limitation helps extend the day on the water so it's not that bad. I don't think I've ever heard any waterfowlers really moan about the 3 shell limit (unless the CO is checking their plugs and 5 shells are dumped out of the gun ...lol) so I think that generally the law is accepted among the waterfowling community. It's certainly not a heated topic of debate such as OBR or DST. In my case, if I WERE shooting that 4th and 5th shell, for the costs of those 2 extra 3 1/2 magnums I could feed a starving child in Zimbabwe for a week.

[Woody Williams]

bsutravis said:

.................. I don't think I've ever heard any waterfowlers really moan about the 3 shell limit (unless the CO is checking their plugs and 5 shells are dumped out of the gun ...lol) so I think that generally the law is accepted among the waterfowling community..............

Do you think that is because that is the way it has always been?

At least as long as most waterfowl hunters have been hunting?


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[911]

I would say that is because that is the way it has always been. Not real sure though im not a seasoned veteran.

My question is why can you shoot a half hour before sunrise but you have to quit at sunset?

[pigeonflier]

Here is a question,,, Do you think more deer hunters wound deer with the extra shots,, or are more wounded deer saved with the 4th and 5th shots. I would guess more are wounded,,,, PLUGGED SHOTGUNS FOR ALL!!

[Woody Williams]

pigeonflier said:

Here is a question,,, Do you think more deer hunters wound deer with the extra shots,, or are more wounded deer saved with the 4th and 5th shots. I would guess more are wounded,,,, PLUGGED SHOTGUNS FOR ALL!!

IMO--

Since the first shot we get at a deer is 9 times out of 10 the best shot we get at the deer isn't it logical to assume that this is the shot that we will most likely hit the deer with?

Now "hits" don't always mean kills but......hopefully that shot will be in the boiler room and he/she will do an on the spot flop.

Since we are most likely to hit and kill him/her with the first shot then the odds are that we will most likely wound him with that shot too.

If he/she is walking, limping, running or crawling away I want as many shots as I can get to put him/her down for the count. Not every deer is walking, limping, running or crawling away in wide open spaces and at distances where shot are easily made.

I would hate to see my wounded deer go over a rise and out of site as I was fumbling in my pocket to get some more shells out after shooting three times.

I see this as another restriction for no reason.

[pigeonflier]

Out of the 5 shot volleys that you hear,, how many are killing the limping and how many do you think are the hailmary's?

[911]

Two shots dead deer after that probably not.

[Woody Williams]

pigeonflier said:

Out of the 5 shot volleys that you hear,, how many are killing the limping and how many do you think are the hailmary's?

Are saying that the shooter missed his first three times and is shooting Hail Marys with his last two shots?

Which shot do you think was his best opportunty to shoot the deer?

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[pigeonflier]

I know in the Sept season I sure would like to have 5 shots ready to go. Once I have them on the ground,,, 5 shots would be great

[firstwd]

I think nobody complains because that is how it has always been for most of us waterfowlers. Yes Pigeon 5 would be nice during the September Goose Season. That may be a good reason for the 3 limit. With the ever-changing bag limits on the different ducks more shells would make it easier to over bag. Woody I agree in having all the rounds needed to keep a deer from getting away wounded, but that is the exact reason I switched to hunting with just my muzzle loader a few years ago. I HAD to make that one and only shot count. The same goes for me on waterfowl. I know there is only 3 rounds and I have to make them count. When I feel I have gotten sloppy I get the single shot 10 gauge out and deafen my blind buddies.

I have pulled a triple a time or two. I even did it once with the single shot on geese, but not often at all.

The "Light Goose Conservation Season" offers waterfowlers a chance to hunt with unplugged guns and NO game limit. I just don't know how much of a difference it makes.

[indianagooseman]

admin said:

I can see it both ways on the wounding. Shooting that 4th or 5th shots ats departing duck/geese that could be too far out of range could end up wounding the birds. However is that not still a call when and when not to shoot no matter how many shells are in the gun?

But what happens if you all wound one with your third shot and he is fluttering away?

Could that not be applied to a wounded deer that is limping away too?

I just cant see restricting a hunter to X amount of shots because what some others might or might not do.

Safety wise- I dont think it matters if the first or fifth shot is errant - it is still a bad and unsafe shot.

I never tried waterfowl hunting. I might give it a go someday, but right now I have enough vices.... according to the Mrs.

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Heck Woody, some state properties limit you to 15 shells period!

[mbogo]

With the ever-changing bag limits on the different ducks more shells would make it easier to over bag.

IMO, that is the main reason the shell limit is kept in place now. From what I understand of the genesis of the "plugging" regulation the purpose was to limit the number of ducks taken out of each flock by each hunter. I don't think it had anything to do with wounding fewer ducks.

As for deer, anyone who has ever had a downed deer get up and take off at an inopportune time should know to keep shooting until the deer quits moving.

[dec]

mbogo's take on it is exactly how it was explained to me years ago. Not that it is right, but it is what I've been told. So that we don't take too many birds per flock.

I also agree that us as waterfowl hunters simply accept the 3 round limit because it is all we have ever known. Honestly, most of the time 2 rounds is all that is needed on an incoming flock. Usually that third round is the "wish and a prayer" round ... or is used to finish off a cripple.

As for the question on the 1/2 hour before sun rise, but stopping at sun set, as I understand it, that was established for I.D. purposes. The conservation goal has always been to primarily shoot drakes, also, in many instances you need to be able to I.D. the species of duck. It is assumed that in that first 1/2 hour, that you are filling a mixed bag and hen limits allow for some miss I.D., but the last 1/2 hour of fly back to the roost can be crazy and trying to pick out a drake mallard when you've already shot a hen limit, or picking our a mallard from a black or gadwall can be tough, if not impossible. That is kind of the rational behind not hunting the last 1/2 hour.

[hoyt1166]

Rumor I've heard is that with the states now taking control of the nuisance goose season in each respective state is that they may now allowed unplugged guns during nuisance goose. Just a rumor I heard.....not sure if there's any truth to it. Course I also heard they were going to open nuisance goose for the entire month of August as well which ought to be fun considering they won't be flying for about the first two weeks of that season. If true, I can just picture a bunch of guys riding up to some geese that can't fly in a golf cart and opening up on them. But, as I've said before, it's just a rumor and I can't get any ground truth on it.