Lets have a discussion.
Big group of teal come in during the September Teal season. You roll a bird out, dog brings it back and its a hybrid cross - Teal x Shoveler.

What do you do?
Take it back to the launch willing to argue with the Game Warden?
Stomp a once in lifetime trophy in the mud?

Is it a legal bird during teal season? During big duck of course legal.

I've asked this same question about mallard x pintail hybrids. With the teal x spoonie it might be tough to convince anyone you thought it was just a teal since its got a big ol boot lip too.

I would stuff it in the decoy bag as always.


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That one would ride home in the top secret removable floor panel

Seriously though. Id be willing to chance a ticket for a bird like that. I haven't been checked by a GW in about 3 years... Id definitely take my chances...

You have to apply for the tags for a teal x shoveler they're limited and only given out by priority points.


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I would make the argument and site the reference below. In the rules for Texas it says that a hybrid of a black duck, mottled, or Mexican like duck counts as a dusty duck. I also think any decent GW would congratulate you. If you were caring lead, had unplugged shotguns, or attempt to hide something he would probably push the issue.

"1 "dusky" duck (Mottled duck, Mexican like duck, black duck and their hybrids)" TPWD website.

Not sure if it's yours but beautiful bird BTW.

Nice!

It all depends on your local warden and your history with them. I'd personally keep it and state my case, hiding it is only going to make it worse- coming from a guy who gets watched via spotting scope as often as not (we've been checked for drinking/drugs more than game violations, as the warden figured we were drunk falling down in the boat and missing so many birds, but that's just us). Call your local warden during the off season and strike up a conversation, ask some questions and get to know them a little. It goes a long ways in these situations, especially if you let them know they can contact you in an emergency if they feel they could use your boat. It also can speed things up to drop their name when being checked by another officer. You'd be amazed how great they can treat you after consistently dealing with liars and those who don't want to own their actions. They can be a valuable source of information (those guys who just got in a lot of trouble this morning for over-limits probably won't be in that spot in the morning!) Treat them well and they'll be there quick when you need a little help with trespassers too.

I would hide it somewhere and avoid confrontation, although in teal season it's just gunna be a drab uncolorful bird anyway.

Put that bitch in your waders and go home like nothing happened

Put it on the deck pull up to the dock like its a 12 point trophy buck.

That is why I always keep tin snips, a file and duck bill touch up paint on the boat

Well the regs say a any hybrid of a dusty counts as a dusty so I would assume It's illegal the first 5 days. Still up in the air about the mallard.

IMO I would not be heart broken if I killed 4 mallards and had to pass on the 5th because of that hybrid. Just putting it out there for the sake of discussion.

I wouldn't hide anything , just be strait about it , if stop by the man. I would lay that bird down next to the others and say I left my glasses at home Sir, now give me my ticket so I can take him to the Taxidermist. Seriously I highly doubt they would ticket you. But if you did hide it and and they went through your boat and gear, and found it you would be on there shit list , and every time they seen you , your gonna get the shake down.

It would be nearly impossible to prove its not a small juvenile spoonbill in the field during teal season when they are all drab colored. Short of a expert biologist dismantling him there's really no way of knowing

He'd prolly get the lacrosse shuffle from me

I wonder how many hybrid hens have been killed & over looked.

Hell when I first started coming to this site some jackwagon posted a truck bed full of teal with about 3 spoonies in the pile. Then got bent outta shape swearing up an down those bootlips were blue wings lol

When I hunted Pointe Aux Chenes a lot you would watch the mottles get slaughtered during teal season. Would try getting the GWs involved but i think they had their hands full at the time. Sad.

Just go to the WAX during teal season no bird is safe woodies mottled nothing but a bunch of ASS CLOWNS the game wardens could fill quotes for the year opening day.

Haven't you met your quota for once in a lifetime birds...

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In my mind there is a big difference between an honest mistake and shooting just cause a bird is passin through the decoys... Id think you'd stand a better chance just rolling up to the ramp and being questioned about it than trying to hide it and getting caught in the act... especially if you end up having to show up to court and the judge has to decide on what your intentions were; better to be up front from the get go than to let someone else make that call for ya...

If you wanna get technical, I believe that bird is neither
New Zealand shoveler

No way you can't argue that bird doesn't look like a blue wing though. He comes into my decoys his shits getting fuked up real quick.