By DARYL GADBOW of the Missoulian
Federal wildlife officials want to know who killed 35 wild ducks and dumped them, without cleaning them or saving any of the meat, beside Deer Creek Road near East Missoula.
The ducks were not there the previous day, another witness at the scene told Branzell, who tallied the dead birds as he piled them in his truck to save as evidence. There were 16 drake mallards, 16 hen mallards and three gadwalls in the stack.
The birds appeared to have been recently shot, Branzell said.
The discarded ducks could represent several possible violations of state and federal wildlife laws, according to Branzell.
Depending on the number of shooters, the accumulated ducks could exceed the daily limit. Each hunter is allowed a daily bag limit of seven ducks in western Montana, including seven mallards. However, only two hen mallards are allowed in that limit. So the 16 hen mallards dumped along Deer Creek Road would be the legal daily limit for eight hunters. No hunter is allowed to possess more than one daily bag limit while in the field, or while returning from the field to vehicle, camp or home.
State law requires that, in ducks the size of mallards, the breasts and thighs must be retained for food. All the ducks Branzell recovered Wednesday were whole. The meat will be wasted, he said.
"This is a definite violation of state law," Branzell said. "They're not gutted or breasted. They could have given them to some needy people. Mallards are some of the finest eating ducks in North America and highly prized by sportsmen. I wish my boy and I had the opportunity to shoot these in the course of the season."
The waterfowl hunting season in western Montana is open through Jan. 16, 2004.
Branzell said he hopes that someone will come forward with information that will help him find the culprits.
"I'm looking for somebody who can tell me who this weekend warrior or warriors are," he said. "Any tips I get will be greatly appreciated."
Anyone with information about the ducks can call Branzell at 329-3000.
Reporter Daryl Gadbow can be reached at 523-5264 or at dgadbow@missoulian.com.
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