The crux is legality, which in a civilized world would determine whether one is an exceptional sportsman of the highest caliber, or an asshat.

It could go either way depending on which side of the border you're standing on.

48 without chicken wire and rebar? I doubt the old man is that good.

Trapped them birds....just sayin.

How do you trap with lead shot?

Besides there have been plenty days I could have shot 48 birds but I've never wanted to clean more than 6 per day

I take it you've never had to get ducks out of a trap?

Trap 48 wild ducks. Try removing said birds from trap while alive. While standing in water.

If given a choice, you'd shoot them too.

Well, I try to follow game laws aerangis.

everyone knows you use a trotline to trap ducks

As do I.

Only time I've removed trapped ducks or assisted with trapping ducks was for banding. It was difficult getting the birds out safely without injury, and the hunter in me had me thinkin if these tree hugger volunteers only knew how many of these same ducks I'd killed over the years, and how much easier it would have been to get them out of the trap if we could just shoot them first

fwiw, it's OK for the biologists to know you hunt, but never ever let the other volunteers find out you hunt, particularly if they're female, and particularly if they find out you've hunted the same birds you're working with. Otherwise, you'll end up with a not-so-nice nickname.

aerangis you never struck me as an old trapper, and you started to move up in my book...that is until you screwed it up and said it was only done in the same of conservation and banding

Don't go gettin all sweet on me bro, I don't roll that way.

dont worry Jim, I still think your an old crusty know it all

Nice cover story aerangis, I like your style

Wonder how many he could kill in Mexico. Probably wouldn't be as fun when it's "legal."

Good.

Lock em both up,and feed them poule d'eaux all day long.

Grandpa needs to lead by example.

Some here would cry if they knew the birds Phil killed back in his hay day.

Dats right beavo, OBAMMY OWNS DEM BIRDS!

I for one will say a prayer so that they might not be condemned to the fires of hell for the shooting of lead shot into the Kings fowl.

Why is it ok to shoot lead and way over your limit all of a sudden. (Twice, and under probation time)

Cause he was 67 yr old and need food to eat?

Come on man, i know u know better

Yep...I'm really surprised that so many people think this penalty is too harsh. The rules are the rules....if all people got was a really minor slap on the wrist when they were caught poaching (especially repeat offenders), we probably wouldn't have enough ducks left to hunt in 50 years. This guy apparently didn't get the message the first time when he was fined $5000 and given probation.

It is also about getting other people to follow the laws. If they can send a 67 year old to prison, it sends a message to all other hunters that they can be next. The punishment is also known as self compliance, there will be quite a few that will straighten up their act on their own, just because they now realize that it could have been them send to prison.

As with most cases of law breakers, most criminals think they are smarter than LEO and won't get caught. This guy has become a poster "child" for LEO.

Why? It's legal in Mexixo!!! So your saying because I do something legal and very fun in Mexico that I would come back home and break the law? That makes absolutely no sense.

Not to worry, Texas is ready to ban crow hunting and everyone will be backing the government and talking about the good old days when a pecan farmer could protect his crops.

I did not know Louisiana had real GWs.

Was it fun hunting with Phil? Is he as dry in person as he appears to be on TV?

They were in the GW's blind.

I had a "your momma" joke all typed out and ready to post, but decided against it...just FYI

lol...... I've damn near filled the bed of a pickup with crow and squirrel carcasses from my folks pecan orchards. And yes, crows eat a lot of pecans. Even propane cannons won't keep them away for long.