Plugged guns for Woodcock

Bobinmich · 09-18-2014, 04:14 PM

Does anyone know - for sure - that upland hunting in Michigan must be done with 3 shot limit guns (plugged autos and pumps) for woodcock. The rules are unclear. There is no mention in the upland rules but in the waterfowl rules it considers water rules to apply to woodcock even though you do not need a duck stamp. I get mixed answers even from the Michigan DNR.

gunjunkie · 09-18-2014, 04:29 PM

I know what you mean about getting a cut and dry answer from government agencies. I always thought that you only needed a plug for migratory birds, and that these also require a stamp.

Dennis H · 09-18-2014, 05:15 PM

Don't stake yer huntin privileges on it, but most upland species u dont. Tough to get 3 shots off on them little timber doodles anyway! Least for me it was, but they're sure fun to hunt!

gunjunkie · 09-18-2014, 05:39 PM

Up till just a few years ago Mourning Dove were not migratory, and you didn't need a plug or a stamp. White Wing were migratory, and you needed a plug and a stamp. Now you need a stamp for both. I think it's a revenue deal.

Dennis H · 09-18-2014, 07:30 PM

Thought u had the 28 double? That's about the perfect gun fer shootin holes it tree branches!

north country gal · 09-18-2014, 07:46 PM

Woodcock and dove are Federal Migratory Birds. You will need a plug. If it's classified as a Federal Migratory bird, no exception. Simple as that. No state can bypass this. Trust me, you do not want run afoul of a Federal game warden. Those folks are nasty. I know several hunters who made that mistake.

You do not need a Duck Stamp to hunt woodcock, but you are required to register with HIP. You do not have to use non-toxic shot for woodcock or dove unless you are hunting on Federal Waterfowl areas or in areas specified by your state. Just having lead loads in your pocket when hunting ducks and geese is a violation.

Dennis H · 09-18-2014, 08:55 PM

Look on page 17 of Michigan hunting and trapping digest. Pretty straight forward. Yes u need a plug

tx gun runner · 09-19-2014, 10:33 AM

I thought a 3 shot limit was for all hunting with a shotgun in all the states . I'm not a shotgun hunter so I don't know

north country gal · 09-19-2014, 11:46 AM

Depends on the state. Some states require a plugged shotgun for all hunting, but a great many do not. In Nebraska where I grew up, plugged shotguns were only required for federal migratory game birds. All other birds, as much as your shotgun could hold.

Bobinmich · 09-19-2014, 07:39 PM

NCG - yes that is what I thought too but I had a DNR - actually 2 - tell me it wasn't so. Got a formal response from DNR today and it is as you said, you need a plug. Yes Dennis, I do hunt with a S X S 28 guage but I bought a new 28 auto for my granddaughter.

Dennis H · 09-20-2014, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobinmich

NCG - yes that is what I thought too but I had a DNR - actually 2 - tell me it wasn't so. Got a formal response from DNR today and it is as you said, you need a plug. Yes Dennis, I do hunt with a S X S 28 guage but I bought a new 28 auto for my granddaughter.

Would u like an older grandson?

north country gal · 09-20-2014, 05:52 AM

Bob, not surprised that you got some wrong answers. More and more, state wildlife agencies are staffed with people that don't hunt or fish. Wasn't always this bad, but that's the way things are, today. Heck, I can walk into Cabela's and find the same thing, these days.

Bobinmich · 09-20-2014, 06:50 AM

Joint State-Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
No person shall take or attempt to take migratory game birds (including woodcock):
• With a trap, snare, net, swivel gun, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun,
fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance.
• With any firearm except a 10-gauge or smaller shotgun capable of holding no
more than three shells. Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells shall
be plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling
the gun, so that the total capacity of the shotgun does not exceed three shells

09-18-2014, 04:14 PM	#1
Bobinmich Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: Michigan Posts: 51	Plugged guns for Woodcock Does anyone know - for sure - that upland hunting in Michigan must be done with 3 shot limit guns (plugged autos and pumps) for woodcock. The rules are unclear. There is no mention in the upland rules but in the waterfowl rules it considers water rules to apply to woodcock even though you do not need a duck stamp. I get mixed answers even from the Michigan DNR.

09-18-2014, 07:46 PM	#6
north country gal Senior Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: northern wisconsin Posts: 6,001	Woodcock and dove are Federal Migratory Birds. You will need a plug. If it's classified as a Federal Migratory bird, no exception. Simple as that. No state can bypass this. Trust me, you do not want run afoul of a Federal game warden. Those folks are nasty. I know several hunters who made that mistake. You do not need a Duck Stamp to hunt woodcock, but you are required to register with HIP. You do not have to use non-toxic shot for woodcock or dove unless you are hunting on Federal Waterfowl areas or in areas specified by your state. Just having lead loads in your pocket when hunting ducks and geese is a violation. Last edited by north country gal; 09-18-2014 at 08:05 PM.

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Plugged guns for Woodcock

do you need a plug in shotgun to hunt woodcock

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using non toxic shot with a shotgun plugged not capable of holding more then 3 shells

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09-18-2014, 04:29 PM	#2
gunjunkie Senior Member Joined: Jan 2014 From: Texas Panhandle. Posts: 3,845	I know what you mean about getting a cut and dry answer from government agencies. I always thought that you only needed a plug for migratory birds, and that these also require a stamp.

09-18-2014, 05:15 PM	#3
Dennis H Senior Member Joined: Apr 2014 From: colorado Posts: 5,659	Don't stake yer huntin privileges on it, but most upland species u dont. Tough to get 3 shots off on them little timber doodles anyway! Least for me it was, but they're sure fun to hunt!

09-18-2014, 05:39 PM	#4
gunjunkie Senior Member Joined: Jan 2014 From: Texas Panhandle. Posts: 3,845	Up till just a few years ago Mourning Dove were not migratory, and you didn't need a plug or a stamp. White Wing were migratory, and you needed a plug and a stamp. Now you need a stamp for both. I think it's a revenue deal.

09-18-2014, 07:30 PM	#5
Dennis H Senior Member Joined: Apr 2014 From: colorado Posts: 5,659	Thought u had the 28 double? That's about the perfect gun fer shootin holes it tree branches!

09-18-2014, 08:55 PM	#7
Dennis H Senior Member Joined: Apr 2014 From: colorado Posts: 5,659	Look on page 17 of Michigan hunting and trapping digest. Pretty straight forward. Yes u need a plug

09-19-2014, 10:33 AM	#8
tx gun runner Senior Member Joined: Jun 2008 From: Ft Hood , Tx area Posts: 11,626	I thought a 3 shot limit was for all hunting with a shotgun in all the states . I'm not a shotgun hunter so I don't know

09-19-2014, 11:46 AM	#9
north country gal Senior Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: northern wisconsin Posts: 6,001	Depends on the state. Some states require a plugged shotgun for all hunting, but a great many do not. In Nebraska where I grew up, plugged shotguns were only required for federal migratory game birds. All other birds, as much as your shotgun could hold.

09-19-2014, 07:39 PM	#10
Bobinmich Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: Michigan Posts: 51	NCG - yes that is what I thought too but I had a DNR - actually 2 - tell me it wasn't so. Got a formal response from DNR today and it is as you said, you need a plug. Yes Dennis, I do hunt with a S X S 28 guage but I bought a new 28 auto for my granddaughter.

09-20-2014, 05:52 AM	#12
north country gal Senior Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: northern wisconsin Posts: 6,001	Bob, not surprised that you got some wrong answers. More and more, state wildlife agencies are staffed with people that don't hunt or fish. Wasn't always this bad, but that's the way things are, today. Heck, I can walk into Cabela's and find the same thing, these days.

09-20-2014, 06:50 AM	#13
Bobinmich Member Joined: Jan 2013 From: Michigan Posts: 51	Joint State-Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations No person shall take or attempt to take migratory game birds (including woodcock): • With a trap, snare, net, swivel gun, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance. • With any firearm except a 10-gauge or smaller shotgun capable of holding no more than three shells. Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells shall be plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so that the total capacity of the shotgun does not exceed three shells