This seems like a totally simple question, but the more I ponder it, the more I'm slightly confused.
If you take a duck to competition, no paperwork is needed, though it is a migratory bird.
If you take a raptor, or song bird, or other migratory bird to comp, you need all the paper work from the museum (or where ever) which the bird is from, and your migratory bird info... sometimes even transport permit info.
Now I get all that... but which catagory do you put mourning doves? In Texas (I don't know about all other states) you can hunt the little grey feather balls, have them mounted, ect. So, if they are privately owned, do you have to have papers (what papers?) with them when you take them to comp?
I'm debating doing a pair of doves... or pigeons for, you guessed it comp, and the decision lies on the answer to this question. Its a simple question right?
Howl at ya'll later,
Amethyst aka Wolfie ;-)
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I think you must mean "possessed". Because the bird is migratory and shot legally in the wild, it cannot be bought or sold, therefore it cannot be "owned". You can possess it legally though.
Call TX game and parks for your best answer.
Off the cuff:
Why not get a pair of birds who are not protected for comp. instead?
Comp. depends on your skills, not the species you mount up.
Pigeons are just as good a choice as mourning doves, but without the hassles. Pigeons don't lose their feathers as easily, either.
Starlings are an even better choice because they are smaller, therefore they require more skill to "get right".
Best of luck to you.
Yep 9, your right. I just meant belonging to a hunter that shot it, possessed would be the right word, "owned" is what was on the mind. In TX I have no problems with the doves, its going to Montana for NTA that brought up the question. Guess I could call USF&W, or Montana's DNR.
As far as comp. I know skill matters more than species. Had a neat idea of what to do with the doves... haven't gotten a creative thought for the pigeons yet. If I'm going to go through the trouble of paperwork and transport permits, I'll get a nice raptor or songbird from the museum's freezer that I work for, verses these doves, you know. If there's no paperwork needed, I'll play with the doves.
...even if they are gifted, they still belong to you. The 50 CFR series covers all this under "migratory birds" PROVIDING we're talking ducks and doves here. They in fact do "belong" to you (unless you're a game warden and need to use that language, you "own" them.) for all intents and purposes and you may not sell, barter, or trade them.They do not "require" tags. Intrastate and interstate transportation is also protected by the same regulations.
Thank you George, I appreciate the clarification.