Do cooked dove count towards the possession limit? I was thinking they may not based on the fact that they are "fully processed."

Does an individual need a wildlife resource document for fully cooked dove if they were not taken by the individual?

By the wording in the annual TPWD guide it seems that cooked meat may not count towards possession.

Taken from the TWPD website...

"Possession Limit:
The maximum number of a species that lawfully may be in one person's possession at any time after the first day of a hunting season, except for deer, antelope, and turkey. On the first day of any open season, the possession limit is the same as the daily bag limit. After the first day, the possession limit becomes twice the daily bag limit (except for quail and some migratory birds). For all wildlife resources taken for personal consumption and for which there is a possession limit, the possession limit shall not apply after the wildlife resource has reached the possessor's permanent residence and has been finally processed."

So...sounds like the question is - has the dove reached it's permanent residence yet?

Hmm. Interesting question... Birds are supposed to retain a wing until they reach their final destination, camp doesn't count technically... But obviously you don't want to cook them with a wing on...

How many doves are we talking about? 30 raw 10 cooked?

For dove I thought the wing retention only applied during special WW season.

I think that "camp" would apply to permanent residence if that is where you are cooking and consuming them. If that's not where you are cooking and consuming them, then leave a wing on while they are in the ice chest and you won't have a problem so long as you aren't exceeding the limit for the number of days you are there.

As far as the OP's questions - once they are at your house, your posession limit is wiped clean. You don't need any license if your buddy stops by and drops off a bunch of dove breasts as a gift for you.

You don't have to leave a wing on dove according to TPWD. It is only suggested that you leave a wing on for Eurasian Collared Dove and Rock Dove.

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Species Identification: Except for migratory game birds processed at a cold storage or processing facility, or doves, one fully-feathered wing or the head must remain attached to migratory game birds while the
birds are being transported between the place where taken and the permanent residence of the
possessor. Note: Migratory game birds may be dressed for immediate cooking at a place other than a permanent residence (e.g., hunting camp). This does not include placing dressed birds in a cooler/refrigerator for later consumption while at a place other than a permanent residence. Hunters are encouraged to leave plumage on all doves other than mourning dove, white-winged dove, and white-tipped dove (e.g., exotic collared-dove) for species identification.

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Proving you innocence by leaving a wing on is easier than proving your innocence by testing the dna of the bird breast in your cooler... if it came to that... just saying.

You still can't have over the max possession limit no matter how many days you've hunted, unless someone else has filled out the game transfer paperwork.
5 days of hunting = 2 days limit in most cases, to be completely legal on the drive home.

I had a buddy on opening morning tell me that you could only have 2 limits per license in your home at one time. Is this true? I am not one to break game laws but I would imagine there are many hunters who have more than 30 birds in their freezer at home.

Ag, I believe the way the laws read you are correct. Techincally in your possession you can't have more than the total aggregate bag limit for a certain species or group (pheasants-ducks). I don't think GWs are making house raids because you and I have two years worth of duck and doves in the freezer though.

Plus all identification for individual speciems can be removed once you get home and then there is no way they could distinguish between animal meat parts in general.

Interesting question.

Another thing to keep in mind, especially for those of you hunting in STX for the southern dove opener: the possession limit on the first day of hunting is the same as the bag limit.

quote:

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I had a buddy on opening morning tell me that you could only have 2 limits per license in your home at one time. Is this true? I am not one to break game laws but I would imagine there are many hunters who have more than 30 birds in their freezer at home.

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Based on my reading of the regs, your buddy is wrong. Once the birds reach their final destination (which in this case is the house) the possession limit no longer applies.

quote:

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Possession: The possession limit shall apply at processing facilities and until the birds have
reached the personal residence of the possessor and are finally processed (cleaned for
consumption).

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Works like this: Say you go on a three-day dove hunt away from your home. If you shoot limits on days 1 and 2, you cannot possess any additional doves on day 3 of the hunt, and thus your hunt is effectively over, as you've reached your possession limit.

[This message has been edited by HTownAg98 (edited 9/7/2011 11:22a).]

Permanent residence = my freezer. I can shoot a limit of dove a day and fill my freezer if I so choose. But it means you can't go on a 3 day dove hunt and transport 3 limits back to your house.

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

I've often wondered about this situation. Say I have some land and a house in the country which is my permanent residence. I shoot a limit, clean them, and put them in the freezer. Theoretically, it would seem I could shoot as many birds as I wanted, as long as I didn't have more than a limit on my person. It seems like I would be in the clear, but I'm not one to go up against the feds on migratory bird laws.

quote:

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Theoretically, it would seem I could shoot as many birds as I wanted, as long as I didn't have more than a limit on my person.

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Well, you would still be subject to the daily bag limit of 15 (or whatever it is for your zone/species). You couldn't shoot 15 in the morning, freeze them (or even eat them), then shoot 15 more in the afternoon.

On opening day several years ago, a game warden came into our camp and told us about the last camp he visited: a hunter told him he shot his limit that morning, ate the birds, then shot the limit that afternoon.

We had a good laugh, but I can see how some could make that error if all they look at is the possession limit.

[This message has been edited by Ark03 (edited 9/7/2011 4:21p).]

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a hunter told him he shot his limit that morning, ate the birds, then shot the limit that afternoon

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Why on earth would you even admit to that? Granted so many hunters have "gotten used to" morning and evening hunts I think they forget or don't even realize that the bag limit is a Daily thing, not a morning and evening thing.

Now, here's a question... You have a hunting camp/house/cabin with a deep freeze. So throughout the fall you shoot, process, eat, and freeze game of various types. Each weekend you take a bit home, but a lot of it gets left. If that freezer is it's final destination, no problem?

At a later date you decide to pack it all up and take it to your home. Is that basically a case of don't get your butt pulled over?

My question was more on the point of....

1st day - limit of 15, cook, but only 7 are eaten
2nd day - limit of 15, freeze
3rd day - limit of 15, freeze

So am I over the possession limit if I take the cooked dove plus what is frozen?

I imagine the GW would ask why you have 38 doves, if you told him that(what you said) I think he prolly wouldn't give you a ticket but could possibly.

Fry... no. You are not.

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011