Pintail Possession

January 25, 2018

Question: When I was hunting ducks at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area last weekend, a guy who was hunting nearby shot a pintail and it came down right in my decoys. My dog Charlie, doing what labs do, was on it in an instant and within seconds delivered it back to me. I quickly euthanized it. I looked up and the hunter was coming my way. I gave him the bird and he was thankful. I am just curious, what does the law require in that scenario? (Michael)

Answer: You did the right thing, legally and ethically. Fish and Game Code (FGC), section 2011 sums it up succinctly. It is unlawful for any person to take, mutilate or destroy any bird or mammal lawfully in the possession of another. Section 2011 further states a bird or mammal shall be deemed in possession when he or she physically possesses it or when it is wounded or otherwise maimed and the person who wounded or otherwise maimed it is in hot pursuit. The other hunter clearly shot the bird and was in hot pursuit. You did the right thing by quickly euthanizing it, then giving it to your fellow Gray Lodge hunter. You can tell Charlie he’s a good boy!