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I was hunting with my neighbor Saturday, and every time I shot a bird he would ask "Does it have a band." To which I would reply "I don't know." and he would ask "Well didn't you check?" This was a foreign concept to me, I have never actually looked at the legs of a bird after I shot it, and looked for a band. I have always assumed if I shot a banded bird I would either just see it, or find it later while cleaning the birds.
Do any of you guys check birds for bands after you shoot them?

ducks~n~bucks wrote:I was hunting with my neighbor Saturday, and every time I shot a bird he would ask "Does it have a band." To which I would reply "I don't know." and he would ask "Well didn't you check?" This was a foreign concept to me, I have never actually looked at the legs of a bird after I shot it, and looked for a band. I have always assumed if I shot a banded bird I would either just see it, or find it later while cleaning the birds.
Do any of you guys check birds for bands after you shoot them?

I do usually check while I'm hunting. But I have missed them in the past, and found out I had a banded bird while at home cleaning them. If it's banded it is not like it's going any where. You'll find it eventually.

I'll usually take a quick look if I think of it when I pick the bird up.

OP, next duck you shoot...bite its leg of, THEN tell your buddy there was no band. This is why I check every bird. Group limits is the norm in Arkansas.

I pick birds up by their feet half the time so it would be obvious. But checking every single time isn't something I intentionally do.

Of course I check, how else I would I know if I'm going to pick it up or leave it?